Dam Square, Amsterdam

3 more images

This irregular rectangular square half a mile south of Central Station is a logical starting spot for any historically oriented visitor to Amsterdam. It is stated to be the site of the original dam across the Amstel River in the 13th Century, allowing for the first time direct communication by land between settlements on the banks. Historians are unsure of the exact year, even the century - it seems likely that earth dikes and other dams were present here for many years as the name Amsterdam is documented at least 100 years earlier. Gradually the dam grew in size, with two squares later combined to the present one. Ships sailed right up the river and loaded and unloaded cargo right onto the square, a safe harbor and one of the factors favoring the city's development as a world trade center. The river was filled in during the 19th Century becoming the main thoroughfare named Damrak, today a totally tourist oriented location.

The square is a natural gathering place for both visitors and locals, served by multiple tram lines and easily reached on foot from anywhere in the central city. Important buildings of historic import surround much of the square, although sadly Madame Tussaud's Wax Emporium also fronts. On one corner stands the venerable high class Krasnopolski Hotel. Important activities include people watching in good weather, gathering at the National Monument, watching street performers, and feeding fat pigeons. During the latter part of our visit, a travelling carnival ( image 4 ) set up a group of rides and food kiosks with resultant chaos - certainly hope that square view rooms in the big hotel are soundproof.

But Dam Square is lacking in some amenities normally seen in major squares both in other cities and in Amsterdam. The surrounding buildings are important tourist attractions but the facades are generally drab and grey and there were no cafes or open air restaurants directly on the square, detractions. The original high yellow sandstone exterior of the Royal Palace now offers the dull grey of auto exhaust. The square remains most important in the historical context.

I didn't visit much in Amsterdam, and the main images that I caught were this central square (and the smell of the canals...). My kids went there recently and enjoyed it, which means that I need to plan another visit.

Dam Square is in the historical centre of Amsterdam. Due to various various attractions such as memorials, monuments, The Royal Palace and Madame Tussaud's wax museum, Dam Sqaure has become a tourist hot spot.

During the day time Dam square is full of people dressed in various costumes where you can pay a donation to have your photograph taken with them. These costumes are usually notable people/characters from TV.

Dam Square is a nice place to hang out especially if the sun is shining and there is always usually something going on in the area.

2 more images

Dam square is the place where all the tourists go when visiting Amsterdam. There are a lot of attractions there and it makes for a nice photo stop.

There are lots of entertainers during the day, including clowns and musicians.

Here you will find the National Monument (a World War II memorial), Madam Tussauds (the wax museum), the Royal Palace, the New Church (Nieuwe Kerk) and maybe the most luxurious mall in the city: De Bijenkorf.

Damrak street is leading your way to the Dam square and it is full of touristy shops that you can check out. Do not expect to find unique or high quality items here. The only things we purchased from these stores were some chocolates and postcards.

4 more images

Dam Square, or simply the Dam is a town square. Its notable buildings and frequent events make it one of the most well-known and important locations in the city.
Dam Square lies in the historical center of Amsterdam, approximately 750 meters south of the main transportation hub, Centraal Station. It is roughly rectangular in shape, stretching about 200 meters from west to east and about 100 meters from north to south. It links the streets Damrak and Rokin, which run along the original course of the Amstel River from Centraal Station to Muntplein (Mint Square) and Munttoren.

You can watch my 2 min 11 sec Video Amsterdam Altstad out of my Youtube channel or here on VT.

4 more images

A large square in central Amsterdam,'The Dam'derives its name from its original function a 'dam'on the Amstel River.Built in 1270,the dam formed the first connection between the settlements on the sides of the River.As the Dam was gradually built up it became wide enough for a town square,which remained a core for the town developing around it.The 'Damrak'or the former mouth of the Amstel River,was partially filled in the 19th century,since then the Dam Square has been surrounded by land on all sides.In 1856 a War Memorial named 'De Eendracht'(The Unity)was built and unveiled before 'King William III'This monument was taken down in 1914.It was replaced by the National Monument in 1956 which still stands today.Notable buildings that make up the square include:The Royal Palace,The Nieuw Kirke(New Church)and the Madame Tussauds Building.There are also hotels,bars and shops surrounding the square.People often use this place for meetings,demonstations or to watch the many street performers and mimes that come here every day.

2 more images

You must see the Dam Square pigeons. Once at the DAM feed our feathered friends and have a look around. You will see De Bijenkorf department store, Hotel Krasnapolsky, The War Memorial, Madame Tusseau, shopping street De Kalverstraat, The Royal Palace, De Nieuwe Kerk en De Nieuwendijk shopping street.

I believe Dam Square is one the places to check out when in Amsterdam. It's a square surrounded by really good looking classic buildings: The Royal Palace, Nieuwe Kerk - a 15th century church, Madame Tussauds and a few other which I don't recognize. I think I saw De Bijenkorf from somewhere at the Dam but didn't get the chance to check it out.

I can't write about The Royal Palace since it was under construction and too bad my mum and my husband are not big fans of wax...so we didn't check out Madame Tussauds either.

During our visit, there were a group of musicians playing really good music. It was classical I think and everyone was enjoying the show in amazement.

Just across the street is a row of shops selling souvenirs and also restaurants. I think it was at the street towards Damrak.

Owhhh...there were many pigeons here. They seemed fat and friendly too. I was lucky that I had the chance seeing lots of pigeons there...my dream of seeing them at Trafalgar Square was a big disappointment.

Some people like to feed the pigeons and some people want to touch them i dont because a lot of the pigeons has diseases. So know what you are doing.
At the moment it is better that you dont touch birds at all there is a disease "vogelpest"
(i think the translation is something like birdplague)

1 more image

Dam Square is located in the historic center of Amsterdam, one of the largest in Europe. The square was named to the National Monument located in it, the Dam, a marble obelisk 22 meters high which is dedicated to soldiers killed during World War II. Construction of this plaza coincided with the founding of the city in the thirteenth century, when it was raised as to dam the river Amstel. Later, during the 60's, the square was the center of the hippie movement in the Netherlands, a fact that gave him international renown, and today, the Dam Square is a busy place for both travelers and locals.5c*

La plaza del Dam está situada en el centro histórico de Ámsterdam, uno de los más grandes de Europa. La plaza debe su nombre al Monumento Nacional ubicado en ella, el Dam, un obelisco de mármol de 22 metros de altura que está dedicado a los soldados que perdieron la vida durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial. La construcción de esta plaza coincidió con la fundación de la ciudad, en el siglo XIII, cuando fue levantada como dique para el río Amstel. Más tarde, durante los años 60, la plaza fue el centro del movimiento hippie en Holanda, hecho que le dio gran renombre internacional, y hoy en día, la Dam Square es una plaza muy concurrida tanto por viajeros como por locales.