Look up to see the palace's original weathervane in the shape of a cog ship - the symbol of the city of Amsterdam.
Overlooking Dam Square is the magnificent Koninklijk Paleis. First built as a city hall during the 17th century Dutch Golden Age, the building’s ornate Baroque exterior and luxurious marble halls tell of the prosperity of the time.
Amsterdam at this point was thought of as the ‘Rome of the North’ - today it’s more commonly described as a Northern Venice - and the architect Jacob van Campen was inspired by Roman administrative buildings in its construction for the city’s councillors.
In 1806 the building began to serve a rather less civic function, as Napoleon Bonaparte’s brother Louis seized it for his palace upon becoming King Louis I of Holland. It changed hands between various French and Dutch regents over the following years, before finally becoming the property of the Kingdom of the Netherlands again in 1936.
Today, the royal family still use the palace for official and ceremonial functions around 10 times annually, and it is open to visitors most of the year. Audio tours explain the uses of its opulent rooms, which feature impressive chandeliers and marble sculpture. Particularly lovely is the Great Hall (Groote Burger-Zaal), which features three vast marble floor maps by famed cartographer Joan Blaeu, displaying the northern and southern hemispheres and one of the earliest maps of the heliocentric solar system.
Explore the highlights of Amsterdam, the charming Dutch capital famous for its cobblestone streets, iconic canal network, hundreds of old stone bridges, kilometres of cycle paths, beautiful architecture, and vibrant culture on this half-day walking tour with an expert guide. Also included, are tickets for a scenic cruise along the city's famous canals to enjoy at your leisure after the tour.
On your private tour, you will:
Your tour begins in the beautiful Jordaan District, historically an impoverished neighbourhood, that later attracted artists and poets, including Rembrandt and the famous 17th-century Dutch writer Joost van den Vondel. Now, it is a bustling centre of creativity, full of young artists, entrepreneurs, and students taking their coffee in the myriad of artisanal cafes and restaurants.
As a centre of Calvinist religious reform, you will also see Amsterdam's Westerkerk, which at its completion in 1631, was one of the first-ever Protestant churches. Amsterdam’s Oude Kerk and Nieuwe Kerk were originally built for Roman Catholic worship before the ‘Alteration,’ the bloodless Calvinist coup of 1578, that saw them converted.
See some of the city's hundreds of kilometres of cycle paths, admire the old stone bridges and especially the iconic Torensluis Bridge. Learn about the rise and fall of the Dutch East India Company and Amsterdam as the centre of the Dutch Golden Age.
From there, your guide will take you to Dam Square, which, along with the River Amstel lends its name to the city! It began life as a dam of the Amstel river nearly 750 years ago. As the city grew so did the dam, until it became large enough for a town square; the dam of Amstel became Amsterdam!
Paved with the Dutch capital’s distinctive cobblestones, the square today is a great place to browse and people-watch among some of the city’s most notable attractions: Madame Tussaud’s, the 15th century Gothic Nieuwe Kerk, the Royal Palace and the swish department store De Bijenkorf are all here.
You’ll also have the chance to see the famous Bloemenmarkt, which has floated on Amsterdam’s innermost canal since 1862. Historically, barges used to sail up the Amstel from their smallholdings; today daily fresh flowers arrive by van, and fifteen florists and garden shops display their colourful wares in an array of covered stalls.
Your tour will finish with tickets to board a canal cruise, to see the city from the water, one of the most iconic things to do in Amsterdam!
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