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Royal Palace of Amsterdam

Coordinates:52°22′23.2″N4°53′29.0″E/ 52.373111°N 4.891389°E/52.373111; 4.891389
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Royal Palace of Amsterdam
Koninklijk Paleis van Amsterdam
Paleis op de Dam
The Royal Palace of Amsterdam in 2016
Map
Interactive fullscreen map
Former namesStadhuis op de Dam
General information
Architectural styleDutch Baroque architecture
LocationAmsterdam,Netherlands
AddressNieuwezijds Voorburg147
Coordinates52°22′23.2″N4°53′29.0″E/ 52.373111°N 4.891389°E/52.373111; 4.891389
Current tenantsKingWillem-Alexander
Construction started1648[1]
Completed1665
Inaugurated20 July 1655
Costƒ8.5 million
OwnerKingdom of the Netherlands
Technical details
Floor area22,031 square metres (237,140 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s)Jacob van Campen,Daniël Stalpaert
Other designersArtus Quellinus,Govert Flinck,Jacob Jordaens,Jan Lievens,Ferdinand Bol
References
DutchRijksmonument5941

TheRoyal Palace of AmsterdaminAmsterdam(Dutch:Koninklijk Paleis van AmsterdamorPaleis op de Dam) is one of three palaces in theNetherlandswhich are at the disposal of the monarch byAct of Parliament.It is situated on the west side ofDam Squarein the centre ofAmsterdam,opposite theWar Memorialand next to theNieuwe Kerk.

The palace was built as acity hallduring theDutch Golden Agein the 17th century. The building became the royal palace of KingLouis Bonaparteand later of the Dutch Royal House.

History[edit]

Town hall[edit]

Jacob de Graefflaid the foundation stone for the New Town hall Op de Dam in 1648, painted byBarend Wijnveld Jr.(19th century)

The structure was built as theTown Hallof the City of Amsterdam[2]"facing the landing wharfs alongDamrak,which at that time would have been busy with ships ".[3]The town hall was opened on 29 July 1655 byCornelis de Graeff,the mayor of Amsterdam.[4]De Graeff's sonJacob de Graefflaid the foundation for this along with three other children. The main architect wasJacob van Campen,who took control of the construction project in 1648.[2]It was built on 13,659wooden piles.[2]

Palace[edit]

After thepatriot revolutionwhich swept theHouse of Orangefrom power a decade earlier, the newBatavian Republicwas forced to acceptLouis Bonaparte,brother ofNapoleon Bonaparte,as King Louis I ofHollandin 1806. After holding his court at The Hague and Utrecht, Louis Napoleon moved to Amsterdam, and converted the Town Hall into a royal palace for himself.[2]

It was made property of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1936.[1]

The palace is used by the monarch for entertaining and official functions duringstate visitsand other official receptions, such as New Year receptions. The award ceremonies of theErasmus Prize,of the Silver Carnation, of the Royal Awards for Modern Painting, and of thePrince Claus Awardsare also held in the palace.[1]

The balcony of the Royal Palace was used during the investiture of QueenBeatrixin 1980, where her motherJulianaannounced the new queen to the people.[5]

The palace was renovated from 2005 until June 2009, during which, among other things,asbestoswas removed. Since 14 June 2009, the palace is open again to visitors.[6]

Notable features[edit]

The sandstone of yellowish hue has darkened considerably in the course of time. Astride the rear of the building is a 6-metre-tall statue ofAtlascarrying the Globe on his shoulders.[7]

Gallery[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcThe Royal Palace, AmsterdamArchived18 May 2011 at theWayback Machine.The Dutch Royal House. Retrieved on 18 February 2011.
  2. ^abcdMartin Dunford (2010).The Rough Guide to The Netherlands.Penguin. pp. 63–64.ISBN978-1-84836-882-8.
  3. ^Berlitz (March 2017).Berlitz Pocket Guide Amsterdam (Travel Guide eBook).ISBN978-1-78573-023-8.
  4. ^Frijhoff, Willem; Spies, Marijke (2004).Dutch Culture in a European Perspective: 1650, hard-won unity.ISBN978-90-232-3963-5.
  5. ^Geert Mak, Eymert-Jan Goossens.350 jaar geschiedenis op de Dam.Amsterdam, 2005. P. 109.
  6. ^Renovatie Paleis op de Dam in opbouwfase.Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment.Retrieved on 18 February 2011.
  7. ^"Atlas".Archivedfrom the original on 3 September 2017.Retrieved3 September2017.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Royal_Palace_of_Amsterdam&oldid=1233492707"