Perfectly placed on Dam Square in the middle
of the city, The Royal Palace of Amsterdam was initially constructed
as a city hall for the magistrates of Amsterdam. During that
time it was regarded as the biggest secular building of Europe.
Renowned for its impressive decorations, Royal Palace’s
interior was designed by celebrated sculptors and painters of
yesteryears. Names like Rembrandt and Ferdinand Bol feature
in the long list of such contributors.
This exquisite palace is mainly utilized for
official receptions, official state functions and Queen’s
New Year reception. This building mirrors the supremacy and
prosperity of the city of Amsterdam in the lately established
Republic of the Netherlands. Every year this palace acts as
the setting for offering a variety of royal and official prizes
to artists.
Prearranged tours are conducted by appointment
through out the year. In summer the palace remains open to the
public.
The Palace is located at Dam Square, just 10
minutes' walk from Amsterdam Central Station.
Parking facility
Amsterdam city centre is overcrowded and parking is easier
said than done. Visitors are requested to park their cars
to the southeast of Amsterdam at the Transferium. Parking
facility is provided here at a very reasonable price.
Timings
Here are the details of the opening dates and times of the
Royal Palace:
The Royal
Palace is open to the public (individuals and groups) when
it is not being used for official occasions
In the summer
(July, August), the Palace keeps open daily from 11.00hrs.
to 17.00 hrs.
Throughout
the rest of the year, the Palace remains open from Tuesday
till Thursday and during the weekend, from 12.30-17.00 hrs.
History
The construction of the Royal Palace started
in 1648 and was finished in 1665. Initially this palace was
constructed as a city hall for the magistrates of Amsterdam.
An architect called Jacob van Campen initially designed this
marvelous palace. In order to provide technical insight the
city architect Daniel Stalpaert was appointed. But after a
dispute with the town authorities Jacob van Campen left Amsterdam.
So in 1654, the authorities gave Stalpaert the charge of the
whole operation. The Flemish sculptor Artus Quellijn along
with his associates created the sculptures. The palace at
the time of its inauguration, in 1655 was still unfinished
and it took ten more years to complete the entire palace.
However, the interior decoration of the palace went on for
a much longer time.
Prior to the construction of this building
in 1648, there existed an old Gothic town hall, which was
used for the same purposes. Due to its bad condition it was
slowly becoming a very unsafe place; moreover the authorities
of this developing city had out grown its accommodation. This
new town hall was thus constructed and the old town hall was
brought down.
In the year 1806, Louis Napoleon brother
of the French Emperor became the King of Holland as the Batavian
Republic was forced to accept him. Initially Louis Napoleon
lived in The Hague, but later in 1807 he chose to move to
Amsterdam. He resided in the city hall in 1808 and transformed
it to a Royal Palace decorating it in the Empire style. One
of the major attractions of the Royal Palace is the famous
collection of Empire furniture bought by Louis Napoleon.
In 1813, after the fall of Emperor Napoleon
in 1813 Prince William, who afterward became King William
I, returned the Palace to the city of Amsterdam. After ascending
to the throne the King understood the importance of having
a habitat in the capital, and thus the city authorities made
the Palace available to him once again.
In 1936 the Royal Palace became a state property.
Special Corners of the Palace
The different sections of the palace are as follows:
Front facade
The Royal Palace is situated in the centre of Amsterdam at
Dam Square. The palace, its design and the plan of Dam Square
were all designed by the architect Jacob van Campen. The proportions
of the structure are as per the classical. The marble tympanum
on the front facade is engraved with figures representing
the oceans of the world.
The Tribunal
The Tribunal is placed beside the main doorway. This
was the uppermost court of law and in the 17th century this
was the room where the death sentence was given to criminals.
Sculptures of this room mirror its previous purpose. Decorations
showing justice scenes, Medusas, serpents, and plants bristling
with thorns features can be found in this room. Trials were
conducted in open. To make possible access the Tribunal was
positioned at street level, with arc opening on to the gallery.
Spectators could follow the actions through the gates and
see justice being done. The Tribunal was transformed into
a private chapel during the time of Louis Napoleon. The walls
were wrapped with blue silk and the ceiling was lowered to
make the room look more elegant.
Citizens' Hall
Located at the centre of Royal Palace is the Citizens'
Hall. Its dimensions were encouraged by the wonderful proportions
of traditional times. The hall resembles the cosmos, and the
eastern and western hemispheres are drawn on them with utmost
care while the northern sky is inlaid in the marble floor
of this room. Previously there was an assumption that the
southern sky has been painted on the wooden ceiling, but there
is no proof to support this.
The Throne
This room previously served as a part of the Magistrates'
Court. Presently the Throne Room it has a low ceiling with
a mezzanine floor below it. This was also the sheriff's office.
There is a painting above the fireplace in the region below
which is a depiction of Justice by Jurriaan Ovens. On the
other side of the room is the brilliant painting, which represents
Ferdinand Bol's image of Moses descending from Mount Sinai
with the Tablets of the Law. Created in 1662 this image suggests
that sound legislation is the cornerstone of order and public
authority.
Former Burgomasters’ Cabinet
In the 17th and 18th centuries this place was used chiefly
for important meetings attended by the four serving burgomasters
and their eight predecessors. The wonderfully designed room
was frequently open to the community. The most startling aspects
of this room are the two fireplaces on opposite sides with
the large paintings hanging above them. Students of Rembrandt
did these paintings.
Govaert Flinck painted the image of the consul
Marcus Curius Dentatus, which is placed above the south fireplace.
Ferdinand Bol made the pendant of the consul Gaius Fabritius
Luscinus. The moral is that courage and integrity are necessary
qualities for those who exercise power. The room became part
of Louis Napoleon's private suite in 1808.
Burgomasters' Cabinet
In this room the burgomasters met four times in a week.
It has a table and four chairs with velvet cushions, which
bear the arms of Amsterdam in silver and gold embroidery.
The tenure for the chairman of these meetings was changed
after every three months. The presiding burgomaster sat at
the head of the table. The room is adjoining to the Tribunal,
where the death sentence was given. The burgomasters observed
the official proceedings through the window in the north wall.
Louis Napoleon converted this room to a salon
for Grand Officers. The two very old 17th century portraits
displayed in this room are by Bartolomeus van der Helst. One
depicts burgomaster Joan Huydecooper while the other is the
portrait of his wife Maria Coymans.
Execution Chamber
After announcing the death sentence in the Tribunal the
court used to retire to this room. The condemned men, the
judges and a minister of the church would go down on their
knees in a circle on the swords of justice and Amsterdam’s
coat of arms represented on the floor. Looking down on them
from the ceiling was Amsterdam embodied as Justice, which
was painted by Nicolaes van Helt Stockade.
The minister murmured a last prayer, after which the prisoners
were led through the north window onto the wooden gallows
that had been erected on the previous day. The ‘Lords
of the Court' bend over the windows to observe with their
elbows resting on cushions. The execution, by beheading or
hanging then took place before the spectators. These days,
this room is used as a conference room or a salon.
The Moses Room
This former Council Chamber is named after the wonderful painting
of the Hebrew prophet. It is called the Moses Room. Previously
in the 17th and 18th centuries this room was utilized as the
town council’s conference room. During those days, the
burgomasters took decisions; although they usually consulted
the council on key matters. The 36 councillors exercised little
authority. Still membership of the council had great status
and was often a stepping-stone to a career as sheriff, burgomaster
or magistrate. The room was especially designed to denote
the conception of peace and unity, which is the Dutch term
for both counsel and council. These are depicted in Govaert
Flinck's painting of 1658, which denotes King Solomon praying
for the wisdom to rule his people properly.
The biggest painting in the building is Jacob de Wit's canvas
made in 1737. It measures 5.20 x 12.55 metres. The picture
demonstrates Moses assign seventy elders to share the load
of administration with him, before they set off on their journey
through the desert. The picture above the fireplace to the
left side of De Wit’s huge canvas shows a previous picture
from the Old Testament. Here Jethro counsel his son-in-law
Moses to choose seventy wise and virtuous men to help him
preside over the people of Israel. This painting was done
by Jan van Bronckhorst in 1659. The subject was clearly suitable
for a council chamber.
English Quarter, bedroom
This room was the office of the treasurer’s, whose chief
task was to manage the city's finances and supervise community
works. They also bought supplies of grain and in times of
natural calamities they provided food to the poor at a very
cheap rate. The image above the fireplace exemplifies the
significance of the treasurers' work. It was painted by Nicolaes
van Helt Stockade and depicts Joseph, the viceroy of Egypt,
issuing corn to the starving public. The Treasury had many
valuable objects, including many of the pictures, figures
and other priceless works of art that belongs to the city’s
collection. Louis Napoleon later transformed the Treasury
room into a private room.
Cupola
The cupola provides an excellent view of the city centre.
It houses the belfry, which was finished in 1665. The bells
are signed by the Hemony Brothers.
Rear façade
Standing sentinel over the palace is Atlas holding the world
on his broad shoulders. The marble tympanum is carved with
figures signifying the four continents. Along with its counterpart
on the front facade symbolising the seven seas, it stands
for whole of the world, as it was known at that time.
Gallery
A later addition to this wonderful building
is the gallery that shows the way to the balcony. Here, the
city council made important announcements. The bells rang
to make the people of the city aware of significant events,
such as the signing of a peace treaty, the outbreak of war
or the passing of a new law. The death sentence also pronounced
from the gallery. The judgment was read out in the presence
of the accused, while a birch rod, symbolising justice, was
shown from the window. Keeping with the traditions these days,
wedding banns are read from the gallery. Previously, this
convention applied only to non-Calvinist couples. Calvinists
use to read the banns in church. The gallery’s large
windows offer a view into the Tribunal.
Free tours
Free tours are offered for individual visitors
on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons when the Palace is open
to the public. In the summer months they are conducted in
both Dutch and English. All tours begin at 14.00hrs.
Entrance
fee
Here are the details of the entrance fees:
For Adults: Euro 4.50 (Euro 6.50 with audio tour)
CJP/Stadspas/pensioners/students:
Euro 3.60
Children
between 6 to 16: Euro 3.60
Children
under 6: admission is free
For wheelchairs,
a cloakroom is present
Conclusion
Built in the 17th century, this historic
monument is a symbol of Dutch art and culture. Showcasing
the works of famous masters who over the ages contributed
to the construction of this palace remains one of the major
tourist attractions of Amsterdam.
