Dam Square, Amsterdam

Favorite thing: These are some of the best spots for free people watching

Have a seat at our national monument (on pic) on Damsquare. It´s ideal for watching at all the fascinating people that come to Amsterdam and live there. The momument itself is for all Dutch people who died during World War II

If you don´t want to sit on cold stone try the Vondelpark, it´s situated near the Museumsquare. Jog with the locals, try on your skeelers, join in a soccerplay whatever. Also nice with a book and an icecream.

Last but not least is the Museumsquare. Join the crowd, sit back and relax. Once a year in August, there is an open air concert by the Concertgebouw orchestra, one off the best in the world.

Favorite thing: Check out this guy, he's a living statue. They are all over Europe, I don't really get it but people give them money. I give him credit, he was very much like a statue. So much so...a bird landed on his shoulder and left him a surprise. all right, maybe not. But, it could happen.

Favorite thing: There are quite a few places we should have visited, and would like to on a future trip. Seven days was a fairly long stay, but there's so much to see and do in the greater Amsterdam area it's hard to see it all in a week. The short Winter days decreased our time spent out and about. We found out quickly that the city didn't seem to really come alive until after nine or ten o'clock or so in the mornings, with a lot of the more popular attractions not being open any earlier than that. On our first few days there and when getting up early and ready to explore, the streets felt dead and fairly deserted except for locals going about their business. Also, some days were cold while we were there, and after spending the day out in the elements we were ready to hibernate in our apartment when the temps started to drop even more in the evenings.

Our list of "we'll do it next time" things would be:

The Royal Palace. Yep, it was right on Dam Square, and you can go inside and see parts of it. I'm sure it sounds goofy that it was right there where we stayed and we didn't even go in, but you just had to be there. So many places to see and visit, we somehow didn't think of it.

The New Church. Also right on the square, just to the right of The Royal Palace when facing it. We did, however, visit The Old Church not far from Dam Square, and listed on our Must-See Activities page.

De Molen van Sloten ("The Windmill from Sloten"). Located not too far outside the main Amsterdam city area, with as the name says, the 1000 year-old village of Sloten adjacent to it. I've read that the village still maintains it's picturesque appearance from the older times, and that the windmill is still operative. It's located at one of the Amsterdam ring canals, and is apparently used to pump water for maintaining water levels in the lower lying areas.

Favorite thing: When you reached to Dam square on your left is the Monument and just a bit a head is the Dam street.

Another busy street of Amsterdam is the dam street.. it is lively 24hrs.. it is also the main street leading to the Red light district.. So almost al vtors to Amsterdam do pass from this street..

The street is also the place where you might start to spot Coffeeshops..:))

Favorite thing: The monument in Dam square is the center for people to meet, wait and look around..

And once in an Amsterdam trip you would have such a chance to picture the monument without any people and just one car..

It looks so weird in the picture.. Cause it is almost not possible to see thiis place empty even in midnight.. But somehow I catch a picture like this.

It more looks like a place in a far east .. But this place is a real busy and active place in normal days..

Favorite thing: When you turn to right on the Dam square you will see the national building.. The building is only there for tourists to take some pictures in front ;)..

Many entertainments are taking place here in summer time... and it is the place for street art and entertainment...

Favorite thing: When you reach to Dam square, dont forget to turn back and look to the Damrak... Cause on the way back you will use a paralel street next to damrak..

And it is always good to look back.. You wont miss the nice girls :))

Favorite thing: Just keepwalking on the damrak and soon you will be in Dam Square..

Dam square isthe center of Amsterdam.. Everytime you will come around to this square.. And it is the best meeting point..

When you reached the square you have now three directions to continue...

Favorite thing: A famous song in the netherlands is: alle duiven op de dam (all the pigeons at the dam).
And there are a lot of pigeons there. as in every big city it is quit a problem. In some parts of the city it is unlawful to feed them.
They are descendants from rock pigeons, brought to Amsterdam in the middleages to be food for the population. The city did some research on the pigeon population, they counted at 225 locations in Amsterdam. There are 15.000 pigeons in the city. An average of 250 live on the Dam. And the Central Station is a good second with 125 pigeons.

Favorite thing: Besides the boat tour you must walk the Damrak towards the 'Dam' (Damsquare). This is the centre of Amsterdam and here are – among others – the Royal Palace, the monument (WW-II) and the New Church. Buildings that you must have seen while visiting Amsterdam. The square is located at the place where in early medieval times a dam was constructed to control the river “Amstel”, leading to the place “Amstelerer-dam”, which later became pronounced as “Amsterdam”. From the river, nor the dam, you will see any reminders here. It all is now redirected through the canals that form perfect half circles around this square (see picture). This pattern is unique in the world and makes Amsterdam actually what it is today.