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DAM SQUARE

The very heart of Amsterdam, Dam Square—or “the Dam,” as the locals call it—marks the site of the original 13th-century dam on the Amstel river. By the 17th century, with the town hall here and the Exchange nearby, the Dam had become the focus of Amsterdam’s political and commercial life. Today an architectural parade spanning six centuries includes the glorious Nieuwe Kerk and the Koninklijk Paleis. The passage of years may have eroded some of the square’s grandeur but none of its color or vitality.

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Plan of Dam Square

NEED TO KNOW

prac_info Madame Tussauds Amsterdam: 020 522 1010; open 10am–9:30pm daily, closed April 27; Adm $28, children 5–15 $23, under 5 free, $6 discount when booked online; www.madametussauds.nl

prac_info Koninklijk Paleis: 020 522 6161; open 10am–5pm daily (except state functions); Adm $11, seniors/students $10, under 18 free; www.paleisamsterdam.nl

prac_info Nieuwe Kerk: 020 638 6909; open during exhibitions: 10am–5pm daily; Adm; www.nieuwekerk.nl

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  • Eat at the cafés in de Bijenkorf or the Nieuwe Kerk—the latter’s terrace overlooks the Dam.
  • Go to one of the concerts or exhibitions held at the Nieuwe Kerk.

1. Madame Tussauds Amsterdam

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Displays at this outpost of the London waxworks range from the fascinating to the bizarre. Special effects, including animatronics, bring to life scenes from Holland’s past.

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Madame Tussauds Amsterdam

2. Street Performances and Events

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Busking, mime acts, funfairs, book fairs, exhibitions, concerts—such things have gone on in the Dam since J. Cabalt introduced his puppet show in 1900.

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Street Performances and Events

3. Damrak

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Damrak was once the medieval city’s busiest canal, with ships sailing up to be unloaded at the Dam. In 1672, the canal was partially filled in, and Damrak became the vibrant shopping strip it is today.

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Damrak

4. Nationaal Monument

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This 70-ft- (22-m-) tall obelisk commemorates the Dutch killed in World War II. Embedded in the wall behind are urns containing soil from the Dutch provinces and overseas colonies.

5. Koninklijk Paleis

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Built as the town hall, Jacob van Campen’s unsmiling Classical edifice symbolizes the worldly power of 17th-century Amsterdam. The Royal Palace is still used by the Dutch Royal House for state occasions but is otherwise open to visitors to discover its rich history and interior.

6. De Bijenkorf

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De Bijenkorf (which literally translates as “the beehive”) is Amsterdam’s most famous high-end department store. It boasts a vast perfumery, designer fashion boutiques, and much more.

7. Kalverstraat

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Music shops jostle with both tacky and trendy clothes stores at the Dam end of this pedestrian shopping street.

8. Rokin

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The Rokin had its heyday in the 19th century, when its broad sweep was a promenade for the well-to-do.

9. Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky

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Adolf Wilhelm Krasnapolsky, an emigré Polish tailor with ambition, rented the down-at-heel Nieuwe Poolsche Koffiehuis in the 1870s, swiftly transforming it into a fashionable hotel.

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Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky

10. Nieuwe Kerk

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Now a venue for exhibitions, the Nieuwe Kerk has hosted royal events since 1814. Treasures include a Jacob van Campen organ case and an elaborately carved pulpit by Albert Vinckenbrinck.

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Nieuwe Kerk

INSIDE THE KONINKLIJK PALEIS

The ponderous exterior belies the magnificent interior—especially the dramatic Burgerzaal (Citizen’s Hall). See fine sculptures by Artus Quellien and Rombout Verhulst, ceilings and friezes by Rembrandt’s pupils, and Empire furniture owned by Louis Napoleon. The Vierschaar (Tribunal) is a macabre room, still intact, where judges once pronounced death sentences.

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