Royal Palace Amsterdam – Plan Your Visit

Photography: Visitors are welcome to take photos inside the palace using handheld cameras and smartphones for personal use. Flash photography and professional equipment are usually not permitted to preserve the interiors.

Conduct: As the palace remains a functioning royal reception venue, visitors are expected to respect the historical environment by maintaining a low noise level and adhering to all posted signage.

Accessibility: The Royal Palace is open to most visitors; however, due to the historic nature of the building and its old foundations, certain areas may have limited accessibility. It is advisable to inquire about specific needs in advance.

The Royal Palace is located on the west side of historic Dam Square at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 147, 1012 RJ Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is generally open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM, but because it remains an active working venue for the Dutch Royal House, hours and availability are subject to change.

A free audio tour is included with the price of every ticket and is highly recommended; this multi-language guide provides crucial context for the palace’s history and hidden symbolism. A special, engaging version of the audio tour is also available for families and children.

The palace provides a free cloakroom for visitors to deposit coats and smaller bags, but please note that large luggage, suitcases, and large backpacks (measuring over 30x30x15 cm) are not permitted and cannot be stored. Restroom facilities are available inside for all guests.

There are, however, no café, restaurant, or coffee facilities inside the building, so visitors are advised to enjoy refreshments at the many establishments located nearby on Dam Square.

The Royal Palace, despite its 17th-century heritage, is highly committed to ensuring accessibility for all visitors with special needs or reduced mobility. Most of the public route through the palace's grand halls and rooms is designed to be fully accessible.

A dedicated ramp allows for easy entrance to the building, bypassing the main stairs. Inside, visitors can utilize a lift to reach the main floor and other important areas, ensuring wheelchair users can experience the majestic Citizens’ Hall, the Throne Room, and the other major spaces.

Accessible, wheelchair-friendly toilet facilities are available on the ground floor. For convenience, the palace provides a limited number of wheelchairs and walking sticks that can be borrowed free of charge upon entry.

Furthermore, a non-paying companion or carer is granted complimentary admission to assist a visitor who cannot tour the palace unassisted. While the surrounding Dam Square does feature some cobblestones, the palace itself offers a comfortable and accessible route inside. Guide dogs are the only animals permitted within the palace grounds.

The Royal Palace is situated on Dam Square, the historic heart of Amsterdam, placing it within a few steps of several other major attractions and landmarks that can easily fill your day.

Immediately adjacent to the palace is the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church), a magnificent 15th-century Gothic church that no longer holds regular services but hosts impressive cultural exhibitions and the annual World Press Photo Exhibition.

Directly opposite the palace stands the towering National Monument, a powerful white stone pillar erected to commemorate the victims of World War II, where the country observes its annual Remembrance Day ceremony.

For entertainment, you can find the popular Madame Tussauds Amsterdam wax museum and Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum right on the square.

Luxury shopping is also readily available at De Bijenkorf, one of Amsterdam's oldest and grandest department stores, located at the edge of the square.