What is the name of the central square of Amsterdam, where the Royal Palace is located. Dam Square, Amsterdam: photo, review, how to get French lady in new amsterdam
Dam Square (Amsterdam, Netherlands) - description, history, location, reviews, photos and videos.
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From school, everyone knows very well that the Netherlands is a country located below sea level. Which, for some amazing circumstances, not only did not sink into the abyss, but, on the contrary, feels quite well. So the main square, probably one of the most cheerful cities of the old woman in Europe, is inextricably linked with the water element - after all, this is nothing more than an overgrown dam. It is very difficult to believe in this, looking at the majestic gothic cathedral, a neoclassical palace and other architectural charms of Dam Square, but that's just the way it is. The history of the square is interesting and amazing, as, indeed, everything related to the history of the Dutch land, which is literally and figuratively unsinkable.
The word "dam" in translation into Russian just means "dam".
An imposing dam appeared in this place on the Amstel River at the end of 1270 and connected the settlements located on opposite banks. Year after year, the dam was strengthened, and, in the end, turned into a fairly spacious square that became the heart of Amsterdam. Since trading and fishing vessels moored here, Dam became the commercial center of the city, and the fame of the famous fish market spread far beyond the lowlands.
Time passed, and the appearance of the main square changed. So, during the Napoleonic Wars, the local Chamber of Weights and Measures was demolished, as it prevented Louis Bonaparte, who settled in the Royal Palace, from enjoying the panorama of the city. In the 20th century, the building of the Old Zocher Stock Exchange was demolished, in its place today is the De Bijenkorf department store.
Dam Square
Dam Square, as it should be in the center of the ancient European city rich in attractions. Many of them were associated with a variety of historical events. For example, one of the main architectural dominants of the square - the Gothic Nieuwekerk church - was built at the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries. In its ancient walls, many glorious Dutch are buried and representatives of royal families are crowned in power.
In the western part of the square is Royal Palace, made in the neoclassical style, next to it - the 15th century Nieuwekerk church and the Museum wax figures Madame Tussauds.
The former town hall, which later became the Royal Palace, also attracts attention, the age of which is slightly younger, which, however, does not detract from its architectural merits. The building was built in the 17th century and served as the center of the city administration, and in 1808 a new tenant, Louis Bonaparte, arrived here. There is also a very modern monument here - the National Monument, erected in the 50s. last century in memory of the victims of World War II.
Practical information
Address: Amsterdam, Dam Square. The nearest stop is called Dam.
Dam Square, located in the very center of the city, got its name from the well-known dam. This dam in the XIII century served as the basis for the construction of Amsterdam. Every decade it grew and became stronger, eventually becoming the largest and most crowded square in the Dutch capital. At the very beginning there were two small sites, which eventually merged into one. Today it is perhaps the main tourist and political center of the city.
What is Dam Square
The area has impressive dimensions - 200 meters long, 100 wide. Two main streets along the river bank, Rokin and Damrak, join here. And it is from here that the world-famous Red Light District begins. The main square has been and is now considered the main place for various holidays and concerts. But even on ordinary days it is full of tourists from all over the world. No wonder - there is something to look at here.
In the western part, you can see the magnificent Royal Palace, which belongs to the current queen of the state. Initially, this building was the city hall, but then passed to the family of monarchs. Access to the palace is open to guests, anyone can see the real royal chambers. Not far from the palace rises the New Church, which, despite the name, was built in the 15th century. It was erected due to the fact that the previous church could no longer accommodate all the parishioners. Today the New Church does not function because there is no money to put it in order. But it sometimes hosts art exhibitions and music concerts.
Attractions Dam Square
The world-famous wax museum founded by Madame Tussauds is also located here. This is not the main museum, but its branch, but the very first of all existing ones. Here you can admire the figures of famous scientists, politicians, athletes, singers. The museum is very popular with tourists. You can not only look at the figures, but also take pictures with them.
In the middle of the square stands the majestic National Monument, rightfully considered the most important monument in the Netherlands. It was erected in memory of those who died in World War II. Every year in early May, Memorial Day is held here with a touching ceremony.
On Dam Square is the legendary 5-star Dutch hotel, known throughout the world - Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky. His rich story has been going on since 1866. The hotel has almost five hundred prestigious rooms for elite or just wealthy guests, and there is also a lot of entertainment here.
How to get there?
You have to try hard not to find Dam Square, because, as already mentioned, the main city roads lead to it. From the central station, you just need to walk along Damrak Boulevard, full of souvenir shops and other small shops, and here you are. famous square. Most travelers get there this way.
Tel. +31 14 020
Dam Square is located in the center of Amsterdam and has been the center and heart of the Dutch capital for seven centuries. Here are the most famous buildings in the city, including the Royal Palace and the New Church. Dam Square got its name from the word dam, on the site of which it was formed, in Dutch the dam is Dam.
Dam Square stretches for 200 meters from west to east and 100 meters from north to south, and in shape it is a rectangle connecting two ancient streets - Damrak - Damrak and Rokin - Rokin.
Festivals are held in Dam Square festive events there are always a lot of tourists here.
How to get to Dam Square
Ladies Square is located in the heart of the city. Walk 750 meters from the Central Station - about 10 minutes.
You can also take a tram from the Central Station - almost all routes go past Dam Square.
From the history
In the XIII century, local fishermen on the river Amstel - Amstel built a lock and a dam. Then there was a small village with a dozen houses, and at the beginning of the 14th century there was only an empty space in this place where they traded fish. But gradually the dam expanded, strengthened, and over time a city arose around it, which received the name Amsteledamme - Amsterdam, after the Amstel river and the dam - Dam, built on it.
Especially many changes took place in Dam Square in the 15th and subsequent centuries. Here they built stock exchanges and the mayor's office, scaffolds and monuments, houses and offices.
Today, despite the presence of buildings of different eras and styles, they all peacefully coexist and look harmonious. Among the main buildings are the Royal Palace and the New Church, the De Bijenkorf department store and Madame Tussauds, the National Monument and the ABN AMRO bank, as well as the Krasnopolsky Grand Hotel.
Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is a majestic building located in the western part of Dam Square.
The building was built in 1648-1655 by the founder of Dutch classicism Jacob van Kampen. This is the main building on Dam Square and many call it the eighth wonder of the world.
Church New Church on Dam Square
The New Church (Nieuwe Kerk) is one of the oldest places of worship in Amsterdam; it began to be built with the money of merchants from 1380 and was built for 70 years. The name Nieuwe Kerk means New Church, it was built instead of the Old - Oude Kerk, since it was small and could not accommodate all the parishioners. The temple was erected in honor of St. Mary and St. Catherine.
The fires of 1421 and 1452 damaged the temple, and the last one, in 1645, practically destroyed it. The church was completely restored in the Gothic style, and then the reconstruction was carried out in the late XIX - early XX century, when neo-Gothic elements appeared in its decoration. Last changes were introduced in the middle of the 20th century.
The church is National - it hosts the coronation and marriages of monarchs. On April 30, 2013, Willem-Alexander, the first man on the throne since 1890, became King of the Netherlands. Divine services are not held in the temple, exhibitions and concerts of organ music are often organized here.
In the Nieuwe Kerk church you can see colored stained-glass windows and a beautiful altar, as well as a carved ceiling above it and an old organ miraculously preserved in a fire in 1645.
Admiral of the Dutch Navy Michael de Ruyter, who won many naval battles of the Anglo-Dutch War and died off the coast of Sicily in battle with the French, is buried in the temple. Ruyter's monument is surrounded by symbolic figures of Strength, Prudence and Perseverance. Commanders Jan van Galen, Jan van Speijk and the famous poet and playwright Joost van den Vondel, who is called the Dutch Shakespeare, also lie in the temple.
national monument
On opposite side square, opposite the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky in 1956, an obelisk 22 meters high was installed - this is a National Monument glorifying the heroes who died during the Second World War. Every year on May 4, a solemn ceremony is held here in memory of the dead. The monument is made of cream travertine, and the victims are depicted as naked figures bound in chains, over which the crucified Christ stretches out his hands.
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
On Dam Square is famous Museum wax figures of Madame Tussauds, built in the 15th century. Its main exhibits are figures of celebrities. You will see not only the figures of famous personalities, but also a show that tells about the history of Amsterdam.
Dam Square will remind you of St. Mark's Square in Venice - there are also many pigeons of various breeds and "living" sculptures.
Dam Square is considered the progenitor of the capital of the Netherlands. It has gone through many reconstructions and reconstructions, turning from a fish market into a center of political, commercial and tourist life cities.
Today, every traveler seeks to visit the square, which is the heart of Amsterdam, first of all. locals gather here to celebrate important events and participate in various events. Dam is so popular that you can see it semi-desert only in the early morning, in extreme cold or heavy rain. Attention is attracted by peacefully adjacent buildings of different eras and styles, unusual monuments, street performers and brave pigeons.
Story
In the second half of the 13th century, a dam and a lock were erected on the Amstel River, intended for the passage of boats and the release of water. It has become much easier to overcome the path between two fishing villages located on different banks along the embankment. Gradually, the Middeldam dam was expanded and strengthened. Platse was added to its western part in 1390. The squares were perceived as separate objects until the 16th century, after which they merged into one. At the end of the XVIII - XIX centuries. de Dam was temporarily renamed Revolutieplein and Napoleonplein.
The name Dam Square has nothing to do with the fair sex. It only emphasizes its origin, since this word is translated from Dutch as "dam".
Already by the XIV century, the square began to form administrative center Amsterdam. The City Hall was erected on the Plats, which burned down as a result of a fire in 1652. The New Church (Niewe Kerk) was built nearby, which has survived, albeit in a modified form, to this day.
The square housed the Weight House, which ensured fair market trade. The first building appeared in 1341, in 1565 it was replaced by a more spacious one. The latter was demolished in 1808 by order of Louis Bonaparte, as the building spoiled the view from the window of the Royal Palace.
Until 1841, fishing boats and merchant ships moored at the dam, and a brisk trade in freshly caught fish and overseas curiosities was carried out on the square. After the next backfilling of the Amstel channel, the pier was moved to the beginning of Damrak Street. Since then trade area became national.
From the 1840s to the early 1900s, the Zocher Stock Exchange stood on the site of today's De Bienkorff department store. It was demolished as unnecessary after the construction of the Berlage Stock Exchange on Damrak Street, which today has been turned into a congress center. The Zeeman store building was also replaced. In its place, in 1917, a multi-storey shopping center "Peek & Cloppenburg" was erected. Since 1991, part of it has been occupied by the Amsterdam branch of the Madame Tussauds Wax Museum.
The square has been at the center of events more than once. In the 16th century, the Anabaptists rebelled here, at the beginning of the last century, workers violently rallied, during the Vietnam War, students protested, at the turn of 1960-70. the hippies spent the night. On May 7, 1945, two days after the liberation of the Netherlands by the Allies, the townspeople came to Dam Square to celebrate the end of the war. The Nazis, hiding in an ambush, opened fire on civilians. As a result, more than 100 people were injured and 31 were killed.
Features of Dam Square
The outlines of the square in plan resemble a curved trapezoid. The greatest width - from north to south - is 100 meters, and the maximum length - from east to west - about 175 meters. There are two main thoroughfares of Amsterdam adjoining the Dams:
- Rokin street (from the south) - partly runs along the section of the main channel of the Amstel river, which was filled up in 1936. Leads to Mint Square (Muntplein);
- Damrak street (from the northeast) - located on the site of the liquidated in 1845-83. channel. Starts at railway station.
The roadway located between the streets conditionally divides the area into two sections - western and eastern. The first is Dam Square, the second is the National Monument. For safety reasons, both parts along the entire perimeter are separated from the roads concrete blocks and vases with flower arrangements.
Dam Square is surrounded by multi-storey buildings built in the 15th-20th centuries. There are stylized lampposts in front of the Royal Palace. In 2001, the asphalt was completely replaced by a stone pavement.
Attractions
Most of the overviews start from de Dam. tourist routes across Amsterdam. There is something to see, where to look and where to eat.
The Royal Palace in the style of Dutch classicism was built by the Dutch architect Jacob van Kampen in the period 1648-55. Until 1808, the building was used as the City Hall, until Louis Bonaparte, being the king of Holland in 1806-10, placed his residence in it. Subsequently, the "Palace on the Dam" became the property of representatives of the Orange royal house, and in 1935 it was bought by the state. Today it hosts social receptions, royal ceremonies and official summits. Most of the year the Royal Palace is open to the public. More information about the object can be found in our article.
The Protestant church Nieuwe Kerk appeared on the square in the 15th century. Several times the building burned, in the XVI century. - subjected to vandalism by the Anabaptists, in the middle of the XVII century. - rebuilt, and in the twentieth century. - Refurbished and refurbished. There are several styles in its architectural appearance and interior decoration - Gothic, Neo-Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. According to the sundial erected on the Nieuwe Kerk tower, long time checked all city clocks. Noble people were crowned and married in the church (the last time was the current king of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander, with his wife). Today in the walls places of worship organ music concerts and exhibitions are organized. The church is not used for its intended purpose.
The building of the shopping complex "De Bienkorf" was built in 1914-15. designed by the architect van Straaten. Simon Goodsmith's small dry goods shop, which gave rise to a trading empire, appeared on the street adjacent to Dam Square in 1870. The business was expanded by the cousin of the first owner, Isaac. Today "De Bienkorf" is a multifaceted shopping center of the highest level. According to tourists, the windows inside the store are designer works. The facility is located on the corner of Damrak street.
Krasnapolsky Hotel is located in historic building XIX century, opposite the National Monument. In 1865, in its place was the Polish Coffee House, which the first owner of a five-star hotel, Adolf Krasnapolsky, turned into a popular restaurant with a billiard room. Subsequently, he bought the neighboring houses and ordered the architect G. Salm to design a new building in a modern style for that time. The hotel opened for world exhibition 1883. The hotel was the only one in town with hot water and a telephone.
Monuments
The national monument is a 22-meter pylon lined with travertine, a sculptural composition and a memorial wall with a bas-relief. It was erected in tribute to the memory of compatriots who died during the Second World War. The figures symbolize suffering, liberation, peace and the rebirth of life. The monument, designed by J. Oud, was solemnly opened in 1956. Earlier, since 1947, a temporary monument had been in its place. Nearby are the figures of two lions, which are the symbol of the Netherlands.
The Amsterdam Memorial Park is unusual monument to the victims of the execution on May 7, 1945. Slabs of various shapes with the names of the dead were laid in the body of the paving stones in 2016. The site is located between the tram line and houses in the north-east of the square.
Entertainment
The Ripley's Believe It or Not Amusement Museum is located in the southeast corner of Dam Square. Exhibits representing little-known and strange facts, unusual and exotic places of the planet are of interest to both adults and children.
The Cannabis Museum is a minute's walk from Ripley's attraction. It tells about the history of the spread of cannabis around the world and the products produced on its basis. On the ground floor there is a large assortment of products related to cannabis in one way or another.
Cafes and restaurants
There are a large number of catering outlets on the square and its surroundings. These are La Boca restaurant and La Piazza pizzeria, Subway sandwich shop and donut shop, Argentinean and Mexican cuisine restaurant, McDonald's, coffee shops, pastry shops, bars and other establishments.
The shops
There are many outlets on Dam. These are shops of clothes, shoes, souvenirs, leather goods, jewelry, children's toys.
The largest shopping facility is the multi-storey department store De Bienkorff. It presents various groups of consumer goods and wide range services, including - there is a return point Tax Free, restaurant, art Gallery and a trendy beauty salon. IN mall concerts and social events are often arranged. For more than thirty years, since the fall of 1984, the department store has held annual three-day sales of popular brands at significantly reduced prices. The action was called "Three crazy days."
Special Events
Every year on May 4, a ceremony is held in Dam Square to commemorate the Day of Remembrance of those who died during the Second World War.
Before Christmas, a city Christmas tree is set up on the territory of Dam Square and Christmas markets are organized.
In spring and autumn, the territory turns into a fun fair, during which folk festivals, concerts and entertainment shows are held.
How to get to Dam Square
Damrak Street leads directly from Amsterdam Central Station to Dam Square. The distance is no more than 700 meters, so it is recommended to walk along it on foot.
Stops public transport, having the same name "Dam", are located on different sides of the central square of Amsterdam. They can be reached:
- trams - No. 2, 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 24;
- buses - No. 282, 284, 285, 287, 288, 289, 291, 293.
The nearest metro stations of lines 51, 53, 54 are "Centraal Station" and "Nieuwmarkt", as well as line 52 - "Rokin". They are located 5-10 minutes walk from Dam.
You can order a taxi using the mobile applications Uber, TCA Taxi, My Taxi Centrale, etc.
Following the crowd of non-Dutch-speaking people, you will definitely get to Damrak (“Damrak”) - a wide boulevard, with souvenir shops, at the end of which is central square Dam (“Dam”). This route can be called traditional for numerous tourists who come to the city and is an ideal introductory walk with the sights of the city.
By the way, Dam Square is not named in honor of lovely women, everything is much more prosaic ... "dams", translated from Dutch, means "dam". So what is so special about this place? In addition to the fact that the square is the heart of the Dutch capital, there are five sights of the Dutch capital on it at once.
The obelisk, towering on the eastern half of Dam Square, is the main monument built as a tribute to the victims of World War II. monumental sculptures and the bas-reliefs on the obelisk symbolically depict the suffering and pain of wartime. The National Monument serves as the venue for the annual ceremony - - dedicated to the victims of the war, which takes place on May 4th.
Royal Palace.
One of the three palaces in, which is at the disposal of the ruling. The building, built in the 17th century, served as the city hall, and in 1813 became the property of the King of the Netherlands. The palace is located on the western side of Dam Square and is currently used for state visits and official receptions, as well as for royal weddings and the transfer of the throne. In June 2009, after a significant reconstruction, the palace opened its doors to the general public and anyone can see it if given time the palace is not used by the royal family.
New church.
Next to, located beautiful church 15th century Gothic style. The New Church (Nieuwe Kerk) was built as an alternative to the overcrowded Old Church (Oude Kerk), which could no longer accommodate everyone. Since 1979, the church has not been used for services, as another reconstruction was too expensive for the Dutch Reformed Church. Today, the New Church is a popular venue for art exhibitions and organ concerts.
Madame Tussauds museum".
They have their own, which is located opposite, and from the windows of the upper floor of the museum opens great view to Amsterdam Square. Museum visitors get an incredibly easy and fun way to get to know Dutch culture: the museum features figures famous people countries such as or Prime Minister Jan Balkenende, and of course world celebrities.
Madame Tussauds museum" Shop “De Bijenkorf”
"De Bijenkorf", translated from Dutch - "hive", luxury store, in. Founded in 1870, it has grown from a modest shop on a narrow street to its current monumental building at the intersection of Damrak Street and Dam Square, and a dozen shops across the country. "De Bijenkorf" perfect place for avid shopaholics.
Shop "De Bijenkorf" Here it is, Dam Square - the very heart of Amsterdam