Koninklijk+Paleis

Koninklijk Paleis is the Royal Palace of Amsterdam. It was built as the town hall for the city. Construction on the palace was started in 1648 and was finished in 1665. The architect of the building, Jacob van Campen, was inspired by Roman architecture. The building was constructed using a yellow sandstone which has darkened over time. Much of the interior material is marble. The palace is around 171 feet and it was the largest secular building in the 17th century. In 1935 the palace was sold to the state of the Netherlands and was restored to preserve its condition. Koninklijk Paleis has been converted between a town hall and a royal palace a few times throughout the years.

The main hall of the palace is 90 feet high, 60 feet wide and 120 feet long. There are 2 large maps of the world on the marble floor. There is a large domed cupola on top of the building with a weather vane shaped like a cog ship, which is the symbol of Amsterdam. Below the cupola is a famous carillon, which is a set of bells. The bells were created by Francois and Pieter Hemony in 1664. Over time, there have been additional bells added and the original bells were moved inside of the palace. There are also many paintings on display inside of the palace, including works by Jacob Jordaens, Govert Flinck and Jan Lievens and Rembrandt.

The palace is used for Dutch Monarchy today and it is open to the public. The palace is also used for royal events and New Year’s celebrations. In 2002, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima shared a kiss on the balcony on their wedding day. You are welcome to visit and discover the rich history of this magnificent building in Amsterdam.