Best for
History and architecture fans, anyone curious about Dutch royal history
Time needed
45–75 minutes
Worth it?
Yes — a genuinely grand interior with a unique civic-to-royal history
Skip if
It's closed for a royal event, or you're not interested in interiors beyond the facade
About Royal Palace Amsterdam
The Royal Palace was built between 1648 and 1665 not as a palace at all, but as Amsterdam's city hall — a monument to the city's staggering commercial wealth at the peak of the Dutch Golden Age, designed by architect Jacob van Campen on a scale so far beyond any other Dutch civic building of the era that contemporaries dubbed it the 'Eighth Wonder of the World.' Built on 13,659 wooden piles driven into Amsterdam's marshy ground to support its weight, it served as the seat of city government for over a century.
Its transformation into a royal palace came via Napoleon: in 1808 his brother Louis Bonaparte, installed as King of Holland, requisitioned the building as his royal residence, and it has remained a palace ever since, passing to the Dutch royal House of Orange-Nassau after Napoleon's defeat. It's still formally one of three palaces available to the reigning monarch, used today for state visits, official receptions and the odd royal event — meaning opening hours can occasionally close around palace business.
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Inside, the interiors reflect that transition from civic pride to royal residence: vast marble-floored halls built to intimidate visiting merchants, ceiling paintings by Golden Age artists including work connected to Rembrandt's circle, and Empire-style furniture added during the Napoleonic-era royal occupation.
Sitting directly on Dam Square next to the Nieuwe Kerk, it anchors the historic centre both physically and symbolically — a building that traces Amsterdam's entire arc from independent merchant republic to constitutional monarchy under one roof.
What to See: Highlights
- 1Built 1648–1665 as Amsterdam's city hall, dubbed the 'Eighth Wonder of the World'
- 2Built on 13,659 wooden piles driven into the marshy ground
- 3Converted into a royal palace under Napoleon's brother Louis Bonaparte in 1808
- 4Golden Age ceiling paintings and Empire-style royal furnishings
- 5Still an active royal palace used for state functions today
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Insider Tips
Check the opening calendar before visiting — occasional closures for royal events
Free audio guide included in the ticket, available in multiple languages
Only card/contactless payment accepted, no cash
Pair with a visit to the neighbouring Nieuwe Kerk and Dam Square
Interiors are grander than the plain exterior suggests — don't judge it from outside
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Getting There
Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 147, 1012 RJ Amsterdam
Open in Google Maps →- 1Trams 2, 4, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17 or 24 to Dam Square, right outside.
Where to stay
Hotels in Amsterdam
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you visit.
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Should You Visit?
Visit if...
- You want to see how a city hall became a royal palace
- You appreciate Golden Age interiors and grand civic architecture
- You're already on Dam Square for the Nieuwe Kerk or National Monument
- You're interested in the Dutch royal family's history
Skip if...
- The palace happens to be closed for a royal event on your travel dates
- You're satisfied seeing the exterior from Dam Square and don't need the interior
Ready to Book Your Visit?
More to See in Amsterdam
Amsterdam Museum
The city's own history museum — from a medieval fishing village to global trading power to modern metropolis — currently operating from temporary venues while its historic home is restored.
Dam Square & National Monument
Amsterdam's founding site and historic heart — the square where a 13th-century dam gave the city its name, now anchored by the Royal Palace and a 22-metre WWII memorial obelisk.
Nieuwe Kerk
A 15th-century Gothic church on Dam Square where Dutch monarchs are inaugurated — no longer used for regular worship, now a major exhibition space for art and history shows.