Dam Square

Dam square is one of the most famous destinations in the city center of Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. The place is the heartbeat of the city, it stays lively for most of the time during the whole day and will always be hosting some event for your entertainment. Being one of the most popular tourist spots, you can explore Dam Square with our Europe tour packages. You can just follow the crowd of tourists from Amsterdam Central station to the Damrak that leads you to Dam Square. The square street connects the main artery streets Damrak and Rokin and provides passage to the main shopping streets of Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk. You can also hop on to a tram line as most of them traverse the Dam Square. Dam square is a wide boulevard that is having Royal Palace of Amsterdam on one side and the National Monument on the other. It also provides several shopping facilities, food stores, restaurants, and souvenir stores.

Take a walk across the Dam square and you will find a lot of fun things to watch like comedy shows, fire shows, live music, dance shows and lots of other activities that will keep you occupied throughout the evening.

You can also opt for a bicycle ride. The prices of the things here will be on the higher side, so make sure to dig a hole in your pockets on your visit to the square. It’s advisable to carry an international debit/ credit card like MasterCard, American Express, etc. so that you don’t face any trouble while paying bills.

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• Discover the rich history of the area by visiting the Royal Palace and the National Memorial Statue.
• Visit Madame Tussauds Museum to see celebrity wax figures or Ripley's Museum to discover the bizarre and wonderful world.
• Explore Nieuwe Kerk's exhibitions to see collections of art, photography, and culture.
• Shop for fashion, cosmetics, shoes, toys, and household goods in De Bijenkorf Mall or at one of the many shop outlets that line the square.
• Taste some delectable meals at fine dining restaurants and cafés, or savor street food at little food vendors.
• Party the night away at any of the pubs or enjoy a relaxing stay in the famous NH Grand Krasnapolsky or Hotel TwentySeven. 
• Visit Dam Square in Amsterdam for a family outing, a night out with friends, or a dinner date.

The best time to visit Dam Square is between 10 am and 12 pm when crowds are low, and you will have more time to see the key attractions. Furthermore, most of Dam Square's attractions open at about 10 am, so you will be able to tour them without much crowding. If you want to experience the region's bustling nightlife, the best time is after dusk.

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History of Dam Square

Dam Square derives its name from the dam itself, which was made on the Amstel River. The dam was quite popular because of its size, it was made wide enough to develop a town square and the whole town around it. As a result, Dam Square was built around the dam only. The current dam originally consisted of two squares, the actual dam, called Middle Dam; and Plaetse, a plaza situated in the west.

A war memorial named De Eendracht (The Unity) was built in 1856 inside the square before King Willaim III. Monument was given the nickname of “Naatje of the Dam”, it was a column made up of stone with a female statue on top. The monument was demolished in 1914.

The place witnessed a shooting in 1945 when the Germans opened fire on Canadian troops with a machine gun. Around 120 people were injured and 22 were announced dead. The Dam Square was also the central stage of the largest civil disturbance in the Netherlands on 30th April 1980, called Coronation Riots.

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Places to Shop in Dam Square

1. De Bijenkorf: Most renowned premium departmental store, you can find an endless number of brands here for shoes, toys, hardware, accessories and much more.

Location: Dam 1,1012 JS Amsterdam

2. Magna Plaza:  An indoor shopping center built in the former Main post office of Amsterdam. It’s got over 20 stores on 4 floors of popular brands. Also, this place has a lot of dining options in various cuisines.

Location: Nieuwezijdse Voorburgwal 182, behind the Royal Palace of Amsterdam.

3. Kalvertoren: It’s a huge modern shopping arcade located at the back of the main shopping street, the Kalverstraat. Kalvertoren holds a departmental store, several fashion stores, cosmetics shops, music stores and much more to meet your basic needs.

Location: Located within a triangle formed by Kalverstraat, Heiligeweg, and Shingle.

4. Hudson’s Bay: The biggest departmental store in Amsterdam focuses mainly on middle-class citizens. The prices and quality are provided accordingly.

Location: Rokin,21-49

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Tips to Visit

• Early mornings are the best times to visit Dam Square because you will have more time to explore and see everything.
• It would be simpler if you made a list in advance of the sites you wanted to visit.
• Try the delicacies from street vendors like Herring, Bitterballen, Patat, Poffjertes, and Frikandel, and browse the souvenir stores that line the plaza for some locally made items.
• Choose the Go City, Amsterdam City Card to receive discounted admission to some Dam Square attractions as well as unlimited access to the city's public transportation (tram and bus only)./

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By Train: Amsterdam Centraal station is approximately 750 meters from Dam Square and is well served by metro lines 51, 52, 53, and 54. Arrive at Da Square by exiting the train and walking there.

By Taxi: Take a private cab to Dam Square from any area in Amsterdam. It is one of the quickest and most efficient modes of transportation, but it is also one of the most expensive.

By Bus: Lines 4, 14, 24, and others stop at Rokin, which is only a 2-minute walk from Dam Square, whereas lines 1, 4, 14, 22, and 43 stop at Nieuwmarkt bus stop, which is an 8-minute walk from Dam Square.

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