Dam Square is Amsterdam’s historic centre: a broad, busy public space where royal ceremony, street performers and everyday city life meet. Its name recalls the dam built across the Amstel River in the 13th century, around which the city grew.
The square is framed by the Royal Palace, built as Amsterdam’s city hall in the 17th century, and the Gothic Nieuwe Kerk, the setting for Dutch royal inaugurations. Across the square, the white National Monument commemorates victims of World War II. The contrast between these weighty landmarks and the crowds, pigeons and buskers is part of what makes Dam Square worth visiting.
The square itself is free to enter and easy to reach on foot from Amsterdam Centraal. For a quieter look, come early on a weekday; if you want to see the Royal Palace’s marble Citizen’s Hall, check its opening schedule in advance, as it still hosts official events. Keep bags zipped in the crowds, and wander a few streets away from the square when looking for a café.