Nieuwe Kerk faces Dam Square. Next to it is the Royal Paleis (Palace). It is one of thee used by the Dutch House of Orange. These days it houses special exhibitions, is the venue for various prestigious award ceremonies and for receiving important foreign guests. "Like you," I hear you say. Correct!!!
For a mere €7:50 I gained admittance to the palace. Sadly Queen Beatrix did not receive me, but her underlings were polite and friendly. (I needed the 'loo' there so can I claim a Royal Flush?)
The building was constructed as a Town Hall when Amsterdam was a rich and powerful city, and was keen to let all know about it. Symbolism is everywhere. Around various doorways are emblems and decorations representing the functions of the rooms. In one room was where Rembrandt settled his bankruptcy.
But when Napoleon Bonaparte appointed his brother Louis King of Holland, Louis converted the building into his palace. He added the balcony facing Dam Square that the Dutch royals still use to wave to the cheering crowds below. Now I walked right through the Balcony Room, where I could see through the glass balcony doors to workman below setting up for a concert.
The royal bedrooms were enormous. I couldn't bounce on the beds, as a glass barrier only allowed entrance just inside many rooms. But in various other ones, like spectacular sitting rooms, visitors could move right around inside. The free audio guide provided really interesting information at various points around the second floor formal rooms.
Louis furnished his palace with magnificent Empire furniture and it is the largest collection outside France still in its original location.
An unusual aspect of the Palace is how low key it is. We were in Dam Square yesterday and I didn't realise it WAS the Palace. No fence or barrier. No guards or police. You can walk right up and around it. The lowest windows are set up high and protected by heavy bars. Maybe there is a higher security presence when Royal functions are being held.
Today we also caught the free ferry from the Amsterdam Central Station across the water. Most
amusing to see it pull in, lower the front barrier, and see dozens of bikes ridden off, together with some motor scooters and a few pedestrians. On our journey back, two tiny cars drove onto the ferry
too. Plenty of room for more cars, as the ferry has only a few seats, and seems manly used by
cyclists for the quick crossing. One idea we admired was a digital clock either side which counted
down to indicate when the ferry would next sail.
We had lunch in a food area off a main, but narrow, shopping street. It was a variety of various stalls, all with their own cash registers, which made the most colourful, tasty, vibrantly displayed offering of fresh food. The freshly squeezed strawberry juice I had was sensational. Upstairs was a variety of eating areas, little tables tucked into various rooms, or under the glass ceiling in an area that was once between the buildings, as you could see the 'outside' wall and windows inside this space. And we had free wi fi there. Fantastic!!!
But when Napoleon Bonaparte appointed his brother Louis King of Holland, Louis converted the building into his palace. He added the balcony facing Dam Square that the Dutch royals still use to wave to the cheering crowds below. Now I walked right through the Balcony Room, where I could see through the glass balcony doors to workman below setting up for a concert.
The royal bedrooms were enormous. I couldn't bounce on the beds, as a glass barrier only allowed entrance just inside many rooms. But in various other ones, like spectacular sitting rooms, visitors could move right around inside. The free audio guide provided really interesting information at various points around the second floor formal rooms.
Louis furnished his palace with magnificent Empire furniture and it is the largest collection outside France still in its original location.
An unusual aspect of the Palace is how low key it is. We were in Dam Square yesterday and I didn't realise it WAS the Palace. No fence or barrier. No guards or police. You can walk right up and around it. The lowest windows are set up high and protected by heavy bars. Maybe there is a higher security presence when Royal functions are being held.
Today we also caught the free ferry from the Amsterdam Central Station across the water. Most
amusing to see it pull in, lower the front barrier, and see dozens of bikes ridden off, together with some motor scooters and a few pedestrians. On our journey back, two tiny cars drove onto the ferry
too. Plenty of room for more cars, as the ferry has only a few seats, and seems manly used by
cyclists for the quick crossing. One idea we admired was a digital clock either side which counted
down to indicate when the ferry would next sail.
We had lunch in a food area off a main, but narrow, shopping street. It was a variety of various stalls, all with their own cash registers, which made the most colourful, tasty, vibrantly displayed offering of fresh food. The freshly squeezed strawberry juice I had was sensational. Upstairs was a variety of eating areas, little tables tucked into various rooms, or under the glass ceiling in an area that was once between the buildings, as you could see the 'outside' wall and windows inside this space. And we had free wi fi there. Fantastic!!!
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