Dam Square

Dam Square

About
All roads lead to Dam Square, the real heart of Amsterdam, where The Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk and the War Memorial overlook this vast and bustling open space.
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Top ways to experience Dam Square
The area
Neighbourhood: Burgwallen-Nieuwe Zijde
How to get there
  • Nieuwmarkt • 8 min walk
  • Centraal Station • 10 min walk
Reach out directly
See what travellers are saying
  • Bertie1224
    Northamptonshire, United Kingdom1,446 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Unassuming square
    There is an ambience about the space as people hustle and bustle by. The Riyal Palace is being cleaned and looks underwhelming which takes something from the square. There are shops and restaurants dotted around but it lacked any real wow factor.
    Visited March 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 30 March 2024
  • Buse S
    8 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    It is beautiful during the day and beautiful at night. It was cold when I went, go in a nice season. Watch out for cyclists!
    It is beautiful during the day and beautiful at night. It was cold when I went, go in a nice season. Watch out for cyclists! By the way, you should definitely visit Amsterdam by boat, it is a completely different experience. Especially if you don't have a lot of time (and I think even if you have time, you can visit it by boat, I really liked it), you can't visit so many places so quickly and informatively with a guide in any other way.
    Visited February 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 14 April 2024
  • Catharina50
    Eindhoven, The Netherlands7,128 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Monument on Dam Square
    The heart of Amsterdam and therefore the Netherlands: the location of the dam in the Amstel river, where it all started. Now a large square with the Palace on Dam Square (royal palace, used for state banquets, for example), the New Church, the Krasnapolsky hotel with the winter garden, the beautiful Bijenkorf storefront. And of course the Monument on Dam Square, known for the annual wreath laying during Remembrance Day on May 4. It has recently been completely cleaned and looks beautiful again.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 10 May 2024
  • Ralf K
    Wurzburg, Germany1,738 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Busy place central Amsterdam
    We have been in a hotel directly a the Dam Place. From here you can walk in all directions and all streets will ending finally at the Dam. ( like all streets leading to Rome ) The Dam has the royal palace, the war monument, shops, coffees and at the other side the red light district. Always a lot of people there.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 17 May 2024
  • chrissieb94
    Dorset, United Kingdom3,302 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Very Busy Square
    A very busy but central square on the Damrak. You’ll find the Royal Palace, NienweKerk and National Monument here and all are architecturally impressive. Madame Tussaud’s is also here along with numerous shops and restaurants, hence the busy nature. Well worth a visit!
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 26 May 2024
  • hirorumi
    Chuo, Japan1,496 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dam Square
    Dam Square is a very famous tourist spot in Amsterdam. It was very lively with many people taking photos. I walked there from Amsterdam Station. With department stores, churches, and the Royal Palace facing it, it makes you want to take photos all around. When I went there, there seemed to be an event being held there, so there were tents and chairs lined up, which unfortunately ruined the view.
    Visited May 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 31 May 2024
  • Luis M
    Boadilla del Monte, Spain7,814 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nice square
    In the center of Amsterdam you find Dam Square…. Near the famous Red Light District, it is small but with emblematic buildings that make it different from others. When coming to the city you must always stop by here
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 13 June 2024
  • BobN06
    Avondale, Pennsylvania721 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Classic town square
    Nice open space near the Royal Palace. Always crowds and always some forms of entertainment going on. The historic significance of the square is really not fully evident unless you tour the adjacent sites and hear about their relationship to the square.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 18 June 2024
  • Thomas V
    Oakland, California19,064 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Can Be Chaotic
    One of the centers of the city and you will surely pass through here. Several important buildings are here and you are in the middle of all the shopping. But this is also the middle of all the tourism, so be prepared for wandering crowds. Some construction going on during our visit, making it a bit of chaos.
    Visited June 2024
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 22 June 2024
  • IanMcD76
    Gloucestershire, United Kingdom58 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Okay but no wow factor
    Square itself was reasonably quite but surrounding street were particularly busy. Nothing special but surrounded by historic buildings, would probably have been more interesting for us if we'd been part of a tour. Felt the square was let down by having two burger vans plying their trade at opposite corners of the square.
    Visited August 2024
    Travelled with family
    Written 12 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles15,499 reviews
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3,299
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Randy S
Stansbury Park, UT72 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
Dam Square is the beating heart of Amsterdam, offering an exciting blend of history, culture, and vibrant city life. As one of the most iconic and central locations in the city, it’s a must-visit for anyone exploring Amsterdam. The square is surrounded by stunning architecture, including the Royal Palace and the National Monument, creating a picturesque backdrop for a stroll or a rest.

What makes Dam Square so special is the lively atmosphere. It’s always buzzing with energy, whether it's the street performers entertaining passersby, the hustle of tourists and locals alike, or the many shops and cafés that line the square. It’s a place where history meets modern life, and you can feel the pulse of the city as you take it all in.

The Royal Palace, with its majestic exterior, is a highlight of the square, and if you have the time, a tour of the palace is highly recommended to learn about Amsterdam’s royal history. The National Monument, a tribute to those who lost their lives in World War II, adds a solemn yet significant touch to the lively surroundings.

Dam Square is also the gateway to other great Amsterdam attractions, making it an ideal starting point for your exploration of the city. Whether you're stopping by for a quick photo op, people-watching, or simply enjoying the energy of this central spot, Dam Square captures the essence of Amsterdam in a way few places can.

If you're in Amsterdam, a visit to Dam Square is an absolute must. It’s an iconic and dynamic place that showcases both the history and the spirit of this incredible city.
Written 14 January 2025
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Marvin G
Ogdensburg, NY1,673 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2024 • Couples
After arriving from the airport into Central R.R. Station, we exited and rounded the corner of the building in search of a tram to our hotel and encountered this huge open square bounded on one side by the station and inner harbor wharfs, on another by De Bijenkorf Department Store (easily recognizable by its beehive shaped dome on top), on others by hotels, cafes, sandwich shops, and private buildings.

The square was bustling with traffic including trams, buses, cars, people on bicycles, and walkers. There was activity everywhere which elicited excitement on our part. This is the place to be to pick up a bite to eat from street vendors including the “famous” French fries with mayonnaise sauce, listen to buskers imparting both instrumental and vocal music, and just watching people who are in somber black and grey (popular with Europeans), the favorite bright orange (color de jour for Netherlanders), or other day glow colors.

Dam square is the center of everything in Amsterdam and all public transport either starts, terminates, or runs through the square. It’s the place to start your excursion through Amsterdam whether it be on land or water.
Written 11 November 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

sokolalene
Bergamo, Italy3,293 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2023 • Friends
If you are a tourist, you will definitely find yourself in the central square more than once. Here you will find the royal palace, Madame Tussauds, and a luxury department store (with free toilet, large restaurant and beautiful views of the city). And in April there were still tulips here, so the square did not seem gray. It is very interesting to stand and watch the people - there are many colorful characters. A street with more affordable shops also departs from the square. You can safely start exploring the city from this place.
Google
Written 4 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

S4136XSdavidb
Texas465 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2022
This huge plaza has the Royal Palace, the New Church, the National Monument, Madame Tussaud's wax museum, and other buildings to explore. Worth the time to visit. Easy access trams are cheap and frequent, to get around various parts of the city. Bicycles have the right of way, so keep a sharp eye before crossing or entering bike lanes.
Written 24 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Lance_Wanderweg
Salt Lake City, UT49 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
I don't know if every tourist HAS to go to this spot, but it seems like they all do. When the weather is good, the square is filled with hawkers, street performers, tourists and pigeons. It seems that all roads lead to Dam Square.
Written 10 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Siso
Milan, Italy2,134 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Family
The name of the city is the combination of two words: "dam", which in Dutch means "dam", and "Amstel", the river which centuries ago was
diverted to allow the reclamation of the marshy area on which Amsterdam was later built. Right on the spot where the dam, built in 1270, once existed, today stands Dam Square, the best-known square in the city and the central point for every walking route around the city.
Google
Written 1 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Herbert C
1,867 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022 • Couples
Centrally located in Amsterdam city centre, Dam Square is the beating heart of this city. Dating back to the 13th century when a dam was constructed on the River Amstel, this is effectively the birth place of the city. Throngs of people gather and cross-cross this plaza which is also popular with pigeons and street performers. The square is home to the Royal Palace, National Monument and Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), in addition to shops, department stores and a Madame Tussaud’s wax museum. From this square, streets radiate out to all the popular neighbourhood and attractions in the city, all of which are within walkable distance.
Written 7 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Rich_PL
Grimsby, UK42 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2019
A real hub to the city, and with all the transport links you'd care for with pretty easy to understand route details. As this is the nexus to the city you can either walk or tram to nearly anywhere you'd like.

There are lots of tourist focused shops, including the gaudy 'pot shops' but all the same it's wonderful to explore, there are many great places to find among the busy streets including attractions and restaurants. It's very easy to lose an entire day just exploring.

It can get very busy, and while I'm overly anxious of tourist pick-pocket traps when I travel Amsterdam feels a lot more secure than nearly every other city I've ever visited. The streets are kept clean so it's just a good place to be.

There are public toilets (the easiest one's are inside the tourist information centre) but there is a fee, so make sure you have change!
Written 23 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

KJ1
1 contribution
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022 • Couples
Was top floor went there for the smoke lift wasn’t working so every time we wanted to smoke we had to walk down 4-5 flights of steep stairs then back up. Room was good shower/toilet was a very modern wet room. Staff were very polite. Restaurants and main strip right outside the door everything you need very close
Written 21 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Kevin M
Columbia, SC201 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2022
So it's just a large square with roads and trams running through it. But it's very active, lots of pigeons, a guy who brings his piano, various protests and marches and speeches. Lovely to look down at from our hotel. Lovely to walk through.
Written 26 October 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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DAM SQUARE: All You MUST Know Before You Go (2025)

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