Royal Palace Amsterdam: tickets, opening hours and what to see inside
The palace on Dam Square is open to tourists from June 26 through November 11, 2026. An audio guide is already included in the ticket (as of 09/2026, palace rates). This is not a museum in the usual sense: the building serves as the official reception residence of King Willem-Alexander and opens to the public on days free of official events. Inside you will see the Citizens' Hall with world maps in the floor and a statue of the titan Atlas.
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Royal palace on Dam square
💡 In short:
- The palace stands in the center of Amsterdam, on Dam Square, about 1 km from Central Station.
- It is the reception palace of King Willem-Alexander, not his home: the royal family does not live here.
- An adult ticket costs 13.50 €, a student ticket 9 €, children under 17 enter free.
- Prices and opening hours: 09/2026, verified on the official website.
Dam Square got its name from the dam built on the Amstel River in the 13th century. It grew out of two old squares, Plaetse and Middeldam. Next to the palace stands the Nieuwe Kerk (15th century). The Madame Tussauds wax museum operates on the same square.
For more than 200 years, foreign delegations have been received here, along with New Year's receptions, gala dinners, and ceremonies (as of 09/2026, palace page). Under an act of the parliament of the Netherlands, the palace is one of three residences available to the monarch. From Dam Square you can see the entire facade.
© Diego Delso · CC BY-SAPhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsTickets and opening hours (as of 09/2026)
In 2026, the palace welcomes visitors from June 26 through November 11, every day from 10:00. On days of royal receptions the building is closed, so it is worth checking the calendar before your trip (as of 09/2026, calendar of open days).
Category | Admission |
|---|---|
Adults | 13.50 € |
Students | 9 € |
Visitors under 17 | free |
Museumkaart and ICOM | free |
The audio guide is included in the ticket for all categories, no extra payment needed. Tickets are sold online with a choice of date and time of visit or at the palace ticket office (as of 09/2026, visitor information).
If you are traveling in July or August, book a time slot in advance. Check tickets and available time slots on Tiqets.
Tours and tickets in Royal Palace Amsterdam
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How to get to the palace
The palace stands on the west side of Dam Square, opposite the war memorial. It is about 1 km from Amsterdam Centraal station, roughly a 12-minute walk (on the map). Public transport runs through the square; check current routes with the operator GVB.
From Schiphol Airport, the easiest way to reach the center is by train. A detailed guide is in our article How to get from the airport to the center of Amsterdam.
Construction history
The palace was designed by architect Jacob van Campen and completed in 1665. It was originally Amsterdam's city hall, not a royal residence. The building rests on 13,659 wooden piles up to 12 meters long (according to Wikipedia).
The architect chose classicism so the building would reflect the city's power and wealth in the Golden Age. The palace became the prime example of Dutch classicism and a model to emulate. In the 17th century it was the largest secular building in Europe.
Citizens' Hall and Atlas
The palace's main room is the Citizens' Hall (Burgerzaal). Its dimensions: 34 meters long and 25 meters high (as of 09/2026, official website). Three maps are inlaid in the floor: the eastern hemisphere, the western hemisphere, and a star chart. The idea is simple: Amsterdam is the center of the universe. Walk along the gallery and all three maps in the floor will open up to you.
© Superchilum · CC BY-SAPhoto: Superchilum, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia CommonsA sculpture of the titan Atlas with the globe on his shoulders stands by the wall. Also look up: a dome rises above the hall, and at its top a weather vane in the shape of an old cog ship, the symbol of the city, rotates. Through the small windows of the dome, people once watched ships entering and leaving the port.
Inside, everything is finished in marble and gilding. The poet Joost van den Vondel called the building "a bride who draws all eyes on her wedding day."
From city hall to palace
The first city hall appeared on the site of today's Dam Square around 1400. In 1452 a fire destroyed it, and the building was rebuilt with a courtroom added. The city's chief judge worked here.
Plans for a new building kept falling through. The city council wanted to demolish residential houses in the center, but residents were against it. Once that issue was resolved, it turned out there was no money: a war with Spain was underway. A few years later the city nevertheless decided to build an administrative building on the same site, but considerably larger than the previous one. In 1652 the old city hall burned down, and the new building was already under construction by then.
The government argued for a long time about the budget and dimensions. The city hall was built in strict classicism and light tones, with allegories and philosophical references used in the decoration. Opponents of the high costs gave in: they were told that all the reliefs and paintings showed the order of the world.
In the early 19th century, Louis Bonaparte, Napoleon's brother, came to power in Holland. He turned the city hall into his personal residence, and from that point on the building was called a palace. Louis was 27 when he arrived in a ruined country. His older brother banned trade with England, but Louis allowed the Dutch to continue it.
For Louis's arrival, the government was moved out of the city hall, but the bank was left in place. This is the only case in history where a bank operated inside a palace building. Empire-style furniture was commissioned for the new owner: wooden chairs upholstered in expensive fabric, brass lamps, and tapestries. You will see part of this furnishing during your visit.
In 1813 the palace was transferred to the city of Amsterdam. Soon after his coronation, the new king realized he needed his own residence in the capital, and the city provided him with the building. In 1936 the Amsterdam city council finally sold the palace to the state. In 1938 a ceremony was held here in honor of the fortieth anniversary of Queen Wilhelmina's reign.
Restoration and exhibitions
In 2009 a large-scale restoration was completed in the palace, and the building opened to the public. The interiors display paintings by Golden Age masters, including works by Govert Flinck and Ferdinand Bol (as of 09/2026, palace collection).
Exhibitions change. In 2026, until September 27, the exhibition "The Netherlands and Japan: connections through time" is on display. In summer, works from the Golden Age are usually shown; in autumn, contemporary artists are featured. The best time to visit is the open season, from late June to mid-November (as of 09/2026, current exhibitions).
If you want to bring something back from Amsterdam, check out our guide to souvenirs and prices.
⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
How much does a ticket to the Royal Palace cost?
An adult ticket costs 13.50 €, a student ticket 9 €, and admission is free for visitors under 17. An audio guide is already included in the ticket, so there is no extra charge for it. Tickets are sold online with a choice of visit time and at the palace ticket office (as of 09/2026, tickets and prices).
When is the palace open to visitors?
In 2026, the palace is open from June 26 to November 11, daily from 10:00. On days of royal receptions, the building is closed, so check the current opening hours before your trip.
Does the royal family live in the palace?
No. The palace serves as the official reception residence of King Willem-Alexander. Foreign delegations are received here, and New Year's receptions, gala dinners, and ceremonies are held here. For the family, this is a place for official events, not a home (as of 09/2026, official palace website).
What should you definitely see inside?
The main hall is the Citizens' Hall (Burgerzaal) with world maps and a star chart in the floor. A statue of Atlas holding the globe stands by the wall. Be sure to look up at the dome with its weather vane shaped like an ancient cog ship. Walk through the halls with the audio guide: it is included in the ticket (as of 09/2026, official website).
How to get to the palace?
The palace stands on Dam Square, about 1 km from Central Station, roughly a 12-minute walk. Public transport runs through the square; current routes are available on the GVB website. From Schiphol Airport, you can get there by train; details are in our article about getting from the airport.
In short: what to book
If you want to take your time viewing the Citizens' Hall and the world maps, book the first slot at 10:00: by midday, the number of groups increases. If you are traveling with children, remember that admission is free for those under 17. In July and August, it is best to book your ticket and visit time in advance, otherwise you will have to work around the available slots.
Check available slots and tickets on Tiqets.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.