Royal Palace of Amsterdam

Last updated

Royal Palace of Amsterdam
Koninklijk Paleis van Amsterdam
Paleis op de Dam
Palacio Real, Amsterdam, Paises Bajos, 2016-05-30, DD 07-09 HDR.jpg
The Royal Palace of Amsterdam in 2016
Royal Palace of Amsterdam
Interactive fullscreen map
Former namesStadhuis op de Dam
General information
Architectural style Classicism
Location Amsterdam, Netherlands
Address Nieuwezijds Voorburg 147
Coordinates 52°22′23.2″N4°53′29.0″E / 52.373111°N 4.891389°E / 52.373111; 4.891389
Current tenants King Willem-Alexander
Construction started1648 [1]
Completed1665
Inaugurated20 July 1655
Cost ƒ 8.5 million
Owner Kingdom of the Netherlands
Technical details
Floor area22,031 square metres (237,140 sq ft)
Design and construction
Architect(s) Jacob van Campen, Daniël Stalpaert
Other designers Artus Quellinus, Govert Flinck, Jacob Jordaens, Jan Lievens, Ferdinand Bol
References
Monumentenbordje 2014.svg
Dutch Rijksmonument 5941

The Royal Palace of Amsterdam in Amsterdam (Dutch: Koninklijk Paleis van Amsterdam or Paleis op de Dam) is one of three palaces in the Netherlands which are at the disposal of the monarch by Act of Parliament. It is situated on the west side of Dam Square in the centre of Amsterdam, opposite the War Memorial and next to the Nieuwe Kerk.

Contents

The palace was built as a city hall during the Dutch Golden Age in the 17th century. The building became the royal palace of King Louis Napoleon and later of the Dutch Royal House.

History

Town hall

Jacob de Graeff laid the foundation stone for the New Town hall Op de Dam in 1648, painted by Barend Wijnveld Jr. (19th century) Anno 1648- De eerste steenlegging van het Amsterdamse stadhuis.jpg
Jacob de Graeff laid the foundation stone for the New Town hall Op de Dam in 1648, painted by Barend Wijnveld Jr. (19th century)

The structure was built as the Town Hall of the City of Amsterdam [2] "facing the landing wharfs along Damrak, which at that time would have been busy with ships". [3] The town hall was opened on 29 July 1655 by Cornelis de Graeff, the mayor of Amsterdam. [4] De Graeff's son Jacob de Graeff laid the foundation for this along with three other children. The main architect was Jacob van Campen, who took control of the construction project in 1648. [2] It was built on 13,659 wooden piles. [2]

Palace

After the patriot revolution which swept the House of Orange from power a decade earlier, the new Batavian Republic was forced to accept Louis Napoleon, brother of Napoleon Bonaparte, as King Louis I of Holland in 1806. After holding his court at The Hague and Utrecht, Louis Napoleon moved to Amsterdam, and converted the Town Hall into a royal palace for himself. [2]

It was made property of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1936. [1]

The palace is used by the monarch for entertaining and official functions during state visits and other official receptions, such as New Year receptions. The award ceremonies of the Erasmus Prize, of the Silver Carnation, of the Royal Awards for Painting, and of the Prince Claus Award are also held in the palace. [1]

The balcony of the Royal Palace was used during the investiture of Queen Beatrix in 1980, where her mother Juliana announced the new queen to the people. [5]

The palace was renovated from 2005 until June 2009, during which, among other things, asbestos was removed. Since 14 June 2009, the palace is open again to visitors. [6]

Notable features

The sandstone of yellowish hue has darkened considerably in the course of time. Astride the rear of the building is a 6-metre-tall statue of Atlas carrying the Globe on his shoulders. [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rijksmuseum</span> National museum in Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands dedicated to Dutch arts and history and is located in Amsterdam. The museum is located at the Museum Square in the borough of Amsterdam South, close to the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam, and the Concertgebouw.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Holland</span> Puppet state of Napoleonic France (1806–1810)

The Kingdom of Holland was the successor state of the Batavian Republic. It was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in March 1806 in order to strengthen control over the Netherlands by replacing the republican government with a monarchy. Since becoming emperor in 1804, Napoleon sought to extirpate republican tendencies in territories France controlled, and placed his third brother, Louis Bonaparte, on the throne of the puppet kingdom. The name of the leading province, Holland, now designated the whole country. In 1807, East Frisia and Jever were added to the kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louis Bonaparte</span> King of Holland from 1806 to 1810

Louis Napoléon Bonaparte was a younger brother of Napoleon I, Emperor of the French. He was a monarch in his own right from 1806 to 1810, ruling over the Kingdom of Holland. In that capacity, he was known as Louis I.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capital of the Netherlands</span> References to The Hague in the Constitution of the Netherlands

In the Netherlands, the Constitution refers to Amsterdam as the capital city. However, the States General and the Executive Branch, along with the Supreme Court and the Council of State, have been situated since 1588 in The Hague as the seat of government. Since the 1983 revision of the Constitution of the Netherlands, Article 32 mentions that "the King shall be sworn in and inaugurated as soon as possible in the capital city, Amsterdam". It is the only reference in the document stating that Amsterdam is the capital. In contrast, The Hague is customarily called the residentie ("residence").

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soestdijk Palace</span> Buitenplaats in Baarn, Netherlands

Soestdijk Palace is a palace formerly belonging to the Dutch royal family. It consists of a central block and two wings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noordeinde Palace</span> Working Palace in The Hague, Netherlands

Noordeinde Palace is one of three official palaces of the Dutch royal family. Located in the city center of The Hague in the province of South Holland, it has been used as the official workplace of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima since 2013. The Noordeinde Palace and its surrounding palace grounds are property of the Dutch State.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dam Square</span> Town square in Amsterdam

Dam Square or the Dam is a town square in Amsterdam, the capital and most populated city of the Netherlands. Its notable buildings and frequent events make it one of the best-known and most important locations in the city and the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Huis ten Bosch</span> Palace in The Hague, Netherlands

Huis ten Bosch is a royal palace in The Hague, Netherlands. It is one of three official residences of the Dutch monarch; the two others being the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague and the Royal Palace in Amsterdam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob van Campen</span> Dutch artist and architect (1596–1657)

Jacob van Campen was a Dutch artist and architect of the Golden Age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas de Keyser</span> 17th-century Dutch portrait painter

Thomas de Keyser was a Dutch portrait painter and a dealer in Belgium bluestone and stone mason. He was the most in-demand portrait painter in the Netherlands until the 1630s, when Rembrandt eclipsed him in popularity. Rembrandt was influenced by his work, and many of de Keyser's paintings were later falsely attributed to Rembrandt.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Palace of Brussels</span> Palace in Brussels, Belgium

The Royal Palace of Brussels is the official palace of the King and Queen of the Belgians in the centre of the nation's capital, Brussels. However, it is not used as a royal residence, as the king and his family live in the Royal Palace of Laeken in northern Brussels. The website of the Belgian Monarchy describes the function of the Royal Palace as follows:

The Royal Palace is where His Majesty the King exercises his prerogatives as Head of State, grants audiences and deals with affairs of state. Apart from the offices of the King and the Queen, the Royal Palace houses the services of the Grand Marshal of the Court, the King's Head of Cabinet, the Head of the King's Military Household and the Intendant of the King's Civil List. The Royal Palace also includes the State Rooms where large receptions are held, as well as the apartments provided for foreign Heads of State during official visits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Artus Quellinus the Elder</span> Flemish sculptor (1609–1668)

Artus Quellinus the Elder, Artus Quellinus I or Artus (Arnoldus) Quellijn was a Flemish sculptor. He is regarded as the most important representative of the Baroque in sculpture in the Southern Netherlands. He worked for a long period in the Dutch Republic and operated large workshops both in Antwerp and Amsterdam. His work had a major influence on the development of sculpture in Northern Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornelis de Graeff</span> Regent and Mayor of Amsterdam

Cornelis de Graeff, often named Polsbroek or de heer van (lord) Polsbroek during his lifetime was an influential regent and burgomaster (mayor) of Amsterdam, statesman and diplomat of Holland and the Republic of the United Netherlands at the height of the Dutch Golden Age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornelis Krayenhoff</span>

Corneli(u)s Rudolphus Theodorus, Baron Krayenhoff was a physicist, artist, general, hydraulic engineer, cartographer and – against his will and for only a short time – Dutch Minister of War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">De Graeff</span> Dutch patrician and noble family

De Graeff is an old Dutch patrician and noble family,

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andries de Graeff</span> Dutch statesman (1611–1678)

Andries de Graeff was a regent and burgomaster (mayor) of Amsterdam and leading Dutch statesman during the Golden Age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacob de Graeff</span>

Jacob de Graeff was a member of the De Graeff-family from the Dutch Golden Age. He was an Amsterdam regent and held the title as 20th Free Lord of Ilpendam and Purmerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trippenhuis</span> Neoclassical canal mansion in Amsterdam

The Trippenhuis is a neoclassical canal mansion in the centre of Amsterdam. It was built in 1660–1662 for the wealthy Amsterdam weapons traders Louis and Hendrick Trip. Many references to weaponry can be seen on its facade. Since 1887 it has been the seat of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mantle (royal garment)</span> Garment worn by a ruling monarch as a symbol of authority

A royal mantle, or more simply a Mantle, is a garment normally worn by emperors, kings or queens as a symbol of authority. When worn at a coronation, such mantles may be referred to as coronation mantles. Many princes also wear such a mantle. Sometimes the mantles are worn only once, but in other instances they may be worn or used on other occasions, such as during the opening of a session of the nation's legislature. Mantles also feature prominently in state portraiture and artwork featuring monarchs and princes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katharine Fremantle</span> English art historian, architectural historian and academic

Katharine "Kay" Dorothy Honor Fremantle, was an English art historian, architectural historian and academic based in the Netherlands.

References

  1. 1 2 3 The Royal Palace, Amsterdam Archived 18 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine . The Dutch Royal House. Retrieved on 18 February 2011.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Martin Dunford (2010). The Rough Guide to The Netherlands. Penguin. pp. 63–64. ISBN   978-1-84836-882-8.
  3. ↑ Berlitz (March 2017). Berlitz Pocket Guide Amsterdam (Travel Guide eBook). ISBN   978-1-78573-023-8.
  4. ↑ Frijhoff, Willem; Spies, Marijke (2004). Dutch Culture in a European Perspective: 1650, hard-won unity. ISBN   978-90-232-3963-5.
  5. ↑ Geert Mak, Eymert-Jan Goossens. 350 jaar geschiedenis op de Dam. Amsterdam, 2005. P. 109.
  6. ↑ Renovatie Paleis op de Dam in opbouwfase. Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment. Retrieved on 18 February 2011.
  7. ↑ "Atlas". Archived from the original on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.