Dam Square the Royal Palace
Situated in the Dam square, the Royal Palace is itself one of the
landmarks of Amsterdam. A fine example of the classical Dutch architecture,
it was designed by Jacob van Campen and built between 1648 and 1655.
Constructed on 13.659 piles, needed to create a solid base in the
marshy ground, it was originally built to take place of the previous
Town Hall, which had been completely destroyed by fire. Louis Bonaparte,
the brother of Napoleon I, made it his royal palace when he became
King of Holland in 1808, though he abdicated only two years later.
The simple facade strikes the viewers first. It has four orders of
windows, above which is a triangular pediment contain sculptures by
Artus Quelijn the Younger, an artist from Antwerp. The statues represent
the city of Amsterdam surrounded by Neptune and other mythical sea
creatures, including nymphs and tritons. The harmonious exterior of
the palace is completed by an octagonal tower and cupola. Severely
simple outside, the palace is splendidly decorated inside.
At some expositions that are held in the palace, it is opened to public.
Whatever exposition it is, go inside to watch from the higher promenade
to the mosaic works on the floor of the civilian’s chamber.
Though the palace looks quite sober on the outside (but don’t
forget that at the time it was an amazing construction), the interior
is of dazzling richness. This central hall is huge: 120 feet long,
60 feet wide and 90 feet high (1 feet = 28,3 cm). On the marble floor
one sees the two maps of the world Western and Eastern hemisphere
are shown and in it the colonial influential area of the Seven Provinces.
The hemispheres are mad in the 18th century, showing the paths that
the VOC-ships sailed over the whole world in the 17th century. Once
even more extensive then the English or Spanish properties.
Let's stir up the aesthetical controversy about this "8th wonder
of the world"!! No doubt it was a large building for its time,
no doubt that the architect Jacob Van Campen was not fully satisfied
of his work as he met important ground stability problems, no doubt
Louis Napoleon Bonaparte was not fond of it, no doubt there are many,
many, nicer town halls or palaces in Europe. No doubt also that the
Dam Palace is well known from world tourism. Actually the Dam Palace
looked better a few centuries ago. The facade in Bentheimer sandstone
was nearly white at the start as can be seen from the model at the
Amsterdam Historic museum or from a painting (1668) by Jan Van der
Heyden at Le Louvre museum. A clean up of the façade is on
the program but apparently there is no budget.
Since 1935 the building is property of the state and the queen is
the official in habitant of the palace. You can also visit some parts
of the palace, the Burgerzaal, de Rechtzaal, de Schepenzaal en de
Burgemeesterskamer (majors room).
Wilhelmina used it as working palace, but lived herself in "Het
Loo" in Apeldoorn. Juliana had her palace in Soest and present
Queen Beatrix lives (and works) in The Hague. Under Juliana (1960)
the palace was opened to public in certain events. However special
events for our royalty still take place here. Like in February 2002
the wedding of crown prince Willem-Alexander with Argentinean lady
Maxima Zorreguieta. On the balcony of this palace they gave each other
THE kiss.
On top of the – now slightly modest looking palace – is
a dome, with on top a wind pointer in the form of a “Koggeship”
(a small ship that was used in Amsterdam for the transport of goods
from the harbour to the warehouses). This ship is a symbol of Amsterdam.
Just underneath the dome there are a few windows, well, more lukes,
from where one could see the ships arrive and leave the harbour to
sail through the “IJ” into the Zuiderzee (Southern sea)
and on to the rest of the world.
Before visiting this palace please check first the opening dates and
times. |
