Dam Square - "The Dam" Just a five-minute walk down the Damrak from Central Station takes you into this jam-packed square, jostling with locals and tourists day and night. It was created in the 13th century when a dam was built around the river Amstel to prevent the Zuiderzee sea from swarming the city. During the sixties, the square was renowned for its Dam Square hippies, and the laid back and relaxed character of this densely pigeon populated square lives on. . . History As the dam was gradually built up it became wide enough for a town square, which remained the core of the town developing around it. Dam Square as it exists today grew out of what was originally two squares: the actual dam, called Middeldam; and Plaetse, an adjacent plaza to the west. A large fish market arose where ships moored at the dam to load and unload goods. The area became a center not only of commercial activity but also of the government, as the site of Amsterdam's town hall. As a market square, the Dam had a weigh house that can be seen in some old paintings. It was demolished in 1808 by order of Louis Bonaparte who, upon taking up residence in the newly converted Royal Palace, complained that his view was obstructed. The Damrak, or the former mouth of the Amstel River, was partially filled in the 19th century; since then, the Dam square has been surrounded by land on all sides. The new land made room for the Beurs van Zocher, a stock exchange that was built in 1837. After the stock trade moved to the Beurs van Berlage in 1903, the Zocher building was demolished. In its place, De Bijenkorf department store has stood since 1914. In 1856, a war memorial named De Eendracht (The Unity) was unveiled inside the square before King William III. A stone column with a female statue on top, the monument acquired the nickname "Naatje of the Dam". It was taken down in 1914. Several tram lines traverse the Dam and have stops there. In the time of the horse tram (end 19th century) the Dam was the most important tram hub of Amsterdam. After 1900 this function moved to the Stationsplein (Station Square). Over the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, Amsterdam's main square became a "national" square well-known to nearly everyone in the Netherlands. It has frequently been the location of demonstrations and events of all kinds, and a meeting place for many people. On 4 May every year, the Dutch celebrate National Memorial Day  (Nationale Dodenherdenking), in observance of which the last addition to the square, the National Monument, was set up in 1956 . Several times a year, such as on Queens Day or near Christmas, there is a big funfair on Dam Square. Below a Google Street View today of Dam Square Use your mouse to rotate or click the arrows to move down the street: Just follow the yellow and white lines in the streets and roam to your favorite destinations.   View Larger  Interactive Map - With this map you can tour Amsterdam   There are food stalls, restaurants and shops galore, including the trendy Bijenkorf, Magna Plaza, Bonneterie and the Amsterdam Diamond centre. Such is the popularity of Dam Square that you might even have to wait for a seat at one of the many cafés and bars. Whatever the weather, there is always something going on here so expect lots of entertainment. In spring, there may be a carnival on or you can have a go on the colorful Ferris wheel. In the summer months, mimes and other street performers come out to surprise unexpected onlookers. But without doubt, of all the attractions in Dam Square, Royal Palace (Koninklijk Palace) is quite literally the jewel in the crown. Although no longer home to the Dutch Royal family, this grand 17th century Royal Palace is still used to hold official receptions. Opposite the Royal Palace you will see hotel Krasnapolsky and on the south side of Dam Square stands the controversially phallic National Memorial statue, erected in memory of Dutch soldiers and members of the resistance who died in World War 2. Unveiled in 1956, the monument stores soil from all of Holland’s provinces as well as from the Dutch East Indies and if you go to the back of the obelisk tower, you'll find the provinces' crests. Other must-sees in Dam Square are Madame Tussauds, the world famous wax works museum, the New Church (Nieuwe Kerk) often used for important art exhibitions and Beurs van Berlage, an old Stock Exchange building now used as a concert hall and an exhibition space on Damrak located adjacent to the Bijenkorf department store. Leidseplein One of Amsterdam's biggest centres for nightlife with many restaurants, cafés and clubs. With hundreds of restaurants, bars, pubs, coffeeshops and popular clubs like the Melkweg and Paradiso as well as cinemas and theatres, the Leidseplein area is one of Amsterdam's most popular centres for nightlife. On warm summer evenings, tourists and locals alike take advantage of the pubs' outdoor seating for a long, lazy drinks with friends. View Leidseplein in a larger map  Street musicians, jugglers, fire-eaters and other performers make the square a lively place until the early hours. The square developed in the 17-th century as a wagon park for farmers and peasants to leave their carts here before entering the city centre. The name is because of Leidsepoort, which once marked the end of the main road from Amsterdam to Leiden. Nowadays, Leidseplein is a busy tram intersection and centre of night-time transport. Leidseplein is one of Amsterdam's popular centers for nightlife, with theatres, lots of cafes, restaurants, cinemas, the casino, the Lido theatre with live entertainment and music centre's Paradiso and Melkweg. Street musicians, jugglers, fire-eaters and other performers make the square a lively place until the early hours, especially on warm summer evenings, when you can get there also a henna tattoo. At night, the square is the meeting point for youth, who hang out in the clubs and cinemas around. It is also popular with pickpockets as well with drunk groups of tourists. Locate Leidseplein on the map of Amsterdam. Tourist services Bike Tours MacBike Leidseplein - Bike rental & tire service. Amsterdam tourism office, Leidseplein branch. Taxi rank is in front of Stadsschouwburg. Entertainment Boom Chicago Housed in the historic and superbly situated Leidseplein Theatre, every night of the week Boom Chicago presents an English-language comedy show which is invariably hilarious. Leidseplein 12 Stadsschouwburg The neo-renaissance building hosts the city theatre. Amsterdam's football team Ajax uses the theatre's balcony to greet supporters after winning important games. Leidseplein 26 Uitburo. There is a central entertainment information and ticket reservation service called Uit buro (AUB) on the Leidseplein. http://www.aub.nl Multiplex City cinema Restaurants, cafes, bars and coffeshops Grand Cafe Heineken Hoek De Blonde Hollander serving Dutch food. Leidsekruisstraat 28 Burger King fast food Coffee shop Bulldog Leidseplein (see our coffeeshop reviews) Haagse Dasz tearoom De Balie A combination of culture and café with free wireless internet. Kleine Gartmanplantsoen 10. Open 16:00 pm - 1:00 am Café American The American Hotel's grand café is decorated in Art-Deco style and remains one of the most elegant in Amsterdam. Open 6:00 a.m. till 1:00 a.m. Rembrandtplein The square developed into a centre for nightlife with the opening of various hotels and cafés. The popularity of Rembrandtplein has arisen along with the café terraces, that are packed during summer with people enjoying a pleasant drink and watching the world go by. In the middle is a green rectangle of grass especially popular with youth during sunny days. Around the square there are some quality night clubs and gay venues; as well as respectable diamond factories and cozy souvenir shops. Places of interest around Rembrandtsplein: Cinema Tuschinski De Kroon, Rembrandtplein 17, Typical grand café dates from 1898. Cafe Schiller Bar, Rembrandtplein 26 Telephone booths are located at the square. A taxi rank is located right in front of the Schiller hotel. . Waterlooplein Flea Market Waterlooplein Flea Market is essentially a big outdoor bazaar. Traditionally the oldest and most interesting market of Amsterdam, You can buy trendy clothes, t-shirts, old military uniforms, art, musical instruments, your winter socks and gloves, Che Guevara posters, cheap canned spray paints for the graffiti artists, objects de 'art and brick-a-brack from the underdeveloped countries of Africa and Asia as well as get that long wanted tattoo. Relax and have a good cup of coffle, some lunch or even a beer or two while watching the passing parade of humanity. You may find yourself passing the day away looking for that rare and treasured item. Climbing over and through thousands of used household items like cups, plates, rare or antique tools, or some lamps. You can also find many types of "previously owned" (junk) furniture. In short ..a staggering variety of items are for sale at the Waterlooplein. We have often furnished out our places with some nice "finds" from The Waterloo. A bit of history: The square itself was first constructed in 1880, at the convergence of two canals, Leprozengracht and Houtgracht. Pleins were originally built to manage the feeding and waste of animals from wagons / carts of farmers and merchants transporting goods or just coming to the city to do business. Since most supply houses were built along the canals it was impractical, for many obvious reasons, for these animal drawn wagons to transverse down the canals streets. Thus the need for strategically placed squares all over the city perimeter to handle the job. Essentially Pleins have always been the staging areas for commerce. In 1893, a Jewish market was organized which was the biggest and the most important Jewish market in Amsterdam. The market was forced to close by the occupying Nazis in1941 evidence to the persecution of Jews with Nazi occupation of the country. After the World War II, the Waterlooplein market was re-established, first as a general bazaar, then in the 60s and 70s, as a trading place connected with the hippy youth / anti war culture. Amsterdam was a magnet for the hippies from all over Europe. For a long 6 years between 1977-1984, the market was necessarily moved, as on the Waterloo square, the Town Hall building (het Stadhuis) and the Opera (stopra) were being built. After construction was completed, the market returned to its present location behind and around the Town hall on the remaining space. Waterlooplein market has ultimately regained its popularity and importance with both visitors and locals alike. Caution: As at any market or close public venue ...in any country: Beware of the pickpockets. Keep your wallet secure. Located: Waterlooplein, 1011 PG Amsterdam Open: Monday - Friday 9.00 a.m. - 5.30 p.m.; Saturday: 8.30 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. Not organized on Sunday and Closed in Bad Weather How to get there: Walking: 15 minutes from the Dam square, East. Located behind the Red Light district, In the Plein between the back of Rembrandt's House and the Stadhuis / Stopra complex. Tram: #1, 2, 5, or 13 from Magna Plaza or the #14 from Central Station (Stop: Stadhuis) Car: You should reach the Waterlooplein arriving from the IJtunnel or the Wibautstraat and park your car in a big, underground parking under the Town hall (het Stadhuis). The entry to the parking is clearly indicated. Parking at Waterlooplein: Valkenburgerstraat 238; hourly rate: € 3.40 (capacity 220 cars). If the Waterlooplein Parking happens to be full, drive further across the bridge over Amstel, take a left and try your luck on one of the canal streets. Remember to pay for your parking at the machine, and to place a ticket behind the windshield.  ...more about our city Markets Museumplein View Museumplein from Gabriel Concertgebouw (Concert Hall) in a larger map  Use your mouse to rotate or click the arrows to move down the street: The Fair Days at Museumplein Ice skating in January on Museumplein The Museumplein (English: Museum Square) is a square in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The square is called "Museum Square" because four museums are located around the square: the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum, and the Diamond Museum. The square was reconstructed in 1999 by Sven-Ingvar Andersson. It is used for (mass) events such as festivals, celebrations, and demonstrations. Nestled south of Leidseplein is the plush 19th century Museum quarter (Museumplein). The Museum quarter is the pinnacle of sophistication and home to the three major and most important museums in Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum, the Stedelijk Museum of Modern Art and the Van Gogh Museum makes this an art lover’s paradise par excellence. Without doubt, any culture vulture will be in their element in this recently renovated quarter. Also, in amongst the stylish hotels and cafés, lays the majestic Concertgebouw. The Concertgebouw is located on Van Baarlestraat and is home to the famous Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest). In the early 1800’s, architects fiercely competed over plans to build a proper concert hall in the district but the battle came to a head with the prize going to architect A.L. van Gendt. Soon after, the Concertgebouw opened its doors to an excited public in 1888. Today, the concert is renowned the world over for its breathtaking acoustics and locally, for its free lunch time classical concerts. Every year, some 650 concerts reverberate in this venerable hall but if you want to catch a show, book early to avoid disappointment. If however, you don’t get a chance to see a concert inside the Concertgebouw itself, you might just be in luck as the orchestra occasionally holds a concert outdoors. The Museum quarter is arguably the cultural hub of the city, offering a kaleidoscope of activities and attractions. A stroll down the exclusive P.C. Hooftstraat, Pieter Cornelisz or Van Baerlestraat will take the fashionista into some of the world’s most chic couture houses. From diamonds to leather shoes to designer handbags, just don’t forget to take your credit card! Museum square also caters for children or even the child in us with its skateboard - park and wading pool, which in the winter doubles up as an ice rink. Another attraction of the district is Vondelpark where relaxing is the order of the day unless it is Queens Day or Uitmarkt when the park is swarming with hoards of visitors. ...lots more about our Parks >> Marie Heinekenplein A square in De Pijp neighborhood, at the place of the old Heineken brewery Heineken beer was first brewed on January 22, 1868 at what is now Marie Heinekenplein. Marie Heineken was a cousin of the brewery's founder (Gerard Adrianus Heineken) and in her time a famous painter of still lifes. Nieuwmarkt A square in the old centre dominated by a mediaeval city gate Nieuwmarkt is a square in the centre of Amsterdam. It is located next to the De Wallen which are also known as the Red Light District. There are over 20 cafés and coffeeshops facing the square, and on the middle of the square is a building known as De Waag (weighhouse), which used to be the building where you would enter the city, and pay your taxes. De Waag was built in the 15th century and is surrounded by 17th and 18th century facades and many nice cafés and restaurants. In summer the square is transformed into a big outdoor café where you can see all of colourful Amsterdam pass by. There is a daily market on the square, as well as an organic food market on Saturdays and a market for antiques and books on Sundays in the summer months. The surrounding area is known as the Nieuwmarktbuurt (Nieuwmarkt district) Max Euweplein This square is named after the world chess champion (1935 to 1937). A chess club dedicated to the champion, where enthusiasts can challenge each other, is also located here; as is one of the biggest casinos in Europe, Holland Casino and Amsterdam's Hard Rock Cafe. Max Euwe Centrum An institute unparallelled in the world of chess. Hundreds of thousands of people in the Netherlands play chess or are interested in one of its numerous aspects. Some 20,000 have been organized: they belong to a chess club. Quite a few people have found the way to the Max Euwe-Centrum, but many have no idea at all of its facilities and possibilities. Perhaps you would like to know more about the technical aspects of chess, or delve into chess literature yourself, or attend a chess course. Or maybe you are interested in the long history of chess, in the games of the old international masters, in problem- and computer chess, correspondence chess, endgames, chess and artificial intelligence, chess and psychology, chess and art history, chess and philately, to mention a few aspects. Of course one can explore the field oneself, un-doubtedly a fascinating voyage of discovery. However, it is much easier to pay a visit to the Max Euwe-Centrum sometime. You will be surprised at what our centre has to offer. It is unparalleled in the world. Our expert staff members are quite willing to show you around and will gladly answer your questions. In preparation to your future, or renewed, visit to the Max Euwe-Centrum we will take you on a guided tour through 'our home' so as to make you rapidly feel at home (again) in familiar surroundings. During this (guided) tour we will tell you about our main activities. The Max Euwe-Centrum is found at the Max Euweplein 30-a in Amsterdam, between the Leidseplein and the Vondelpark. From the Vondelpark side it is reached via the Donnerbrug. Address:  Max Euweplein NL - 1017 MB Amsterdam . http://www.maxeuwe.nl Spui The Spui is the 'cultural books square of the Netherlands', with a high-quality weekly book market and a wide variety of bookstores on or near the square, including two shops dedicated to English-language literature (the American Book Center and Waterstone's). Another famous shop at the Spui is the Athenaeum bookshop that is specialised in books on Amsterdam history. You can also find here a lot of cultural travel guides, dissertations on Amsterdam and restaurant guides. Nextdoor is the Athenaeum Newscentre offering foreign and local newspapers and magazines plus a selection of travel guides and books on design, jazz and pop music. The book market is held every Friday. There is also a weekly art market on the Spui, every Sunday. A small statue, "Het Lieverdje" ("The Little Darling"), stands on the square. The statue represents the youth of Amsterdam, always playing pranks yet with a heart of gold. The Spui provides entry to the Begijnhof, an enclosed courtyard dating from the early 14th century. Other notable buildings at the Spui are: the Maagdenhuis The administrative centre of the University of Amsterdam dating back to 1780 Arti et Amicitiae (1841), an artists' society and art gallery at the corner of Rokin and Spui Gebouw Helios (1895-96) at Spui 15-19, in Art Nouveau style, that nowadays houses a Japanese restaurant called Tokyo. The Oude Lutherse Kerk (1632-1633), the Old Lutheran Church, across the Singel canal. On Sundays the church is still used for services by the Evangelical Lutheran Community in Amsterdam; on other days it is used as an aula by the University of Amsterdam (UvA). How to get there: The Spui square is located very centrally. You can easily go here on foot from the Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein or Dam Square. Tram lines 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 14, 16, 24 and 25 stop at or near the Spui. Picturesque Spui Square with the inconspicuous entrance door to the Begijnhof