The Royal Palace Koninklijk Paleis

1. Arrival
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The Royal Palace, located on Dam Square, is one of the most spectacular buildings in Amsterdam. Your holiday home in Amsterdam will have you within easy reach of Dam Square, and venturing inside the palace is sure to be a memorable experience.

The palace was originally built as a city hall in the 17th century. When Louis Napoleon (brother of Napoleon Bonaparte) became King Louis I of Holland in 1806, he moved his court to Amsterdam and converted the town hall into his new royal palace. Over the following century the palace changed hands frequently before being made property of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1936. Today, through an Act of Parliament, the Royal Palace is one of four palaces in the Netherlands officially at the disposal of Queen Beatrix.

While the Dutch royal family no longer resides at the palace, it is still used for official state functions. Visitors can now enter the palace in order to marvel at the opulence within. The central hall is magnificent: the marble-floored room is 120 feet long, 60 feet wide and 90 feet high and decorated with all the richness one would expect of a royal palace.

Dam Square can easily be reached from your holiday home in Amsterdam. All of the trams that leave from Central Station stop near the palace (get off at the “Dam” stop). Alternatively, take a 10 minute walk from the station to the square. Many forms of public transport can be taken to Central Station from your holiday home. In Amsterdam, public transport is often the best option as car parking is difficult and the city centre can become congested.

Admission to the Royal Palace is €7.50 for adults, €6.50 for pensioners, students and children between 5 and 16, and free for children of less than 5 years of age. Guided group tours are available, but these often need to be booked in advance. Opening hours are subject to change but generally run from midday until 5.00pm.

Be sure to check the latest opening hours and dates from your holiday home in Amsterdam, before making a special trip to the palace. For all the latest information have a look at the Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis) website: www.paleisamsterdam.nl. The website includes detailed opening schedules and advanced booking information.