The Royal Palace Amsterdam is an active royal reception palace on Dam Square, open to visitors on selected days. It is about 0.6 miles from a hotel in Amsterdam, making it easy to include in a central-city walk.
- Location: Dam Square, central Amsterdam.
- Visit length: About one hour on average.
- Admission: Adult, student and youth prices are listed below; an audio tour is included.
- Access: The palace has a step-free route inside, including an elevator.
What is the Royal Palace Amsterdam?
The Royal Palace Amsterdam is King Willem-Alexander’s official reception palace, used for state visits and royal occasions such as receptions, gala dinners and award ceremonies.
Construction began in 1648. The building served as Amsterdam’s town hall for 150 years, then as a French Royal and Imperial Palace for five years, and later as a palace for the House of Orange for almost two centuries. It became state property in 1936 and was placed at the King’s disposal by Act of Parliament.
The palace also hosts exhibitions twice a year: the Royal Award for Modern Painting in spring and a changing seasonal exhibition in summer. Its public role and royal use sit side by side, so access for visitors can vary.
How do you get to Dam Square from the hotel?
The palace entrance is on Dam Square, on the right-hand side of the main façade. From Amsterdam Central Station, it is a 10-minute walk: leave through the main entrance at Stationsplein and continue straight down Damrak to the square.
You can also take a tram toward the city centre and get off at Dam, or use metro line 52 to Rokin. From Rokin station, the Dam exit is approximately 150 metres from the palace.
For a day that links the palace with other central sights, this one-day Amsterdam walking route offers a way to plan the order of stops.
The palace entrance is accessible by a sloping ramp, and an elevator connects the floors. Wheelchair-accessible toilets are on the ground floor, there are no thresholds, and mobility scooters are permitted.
Wheelchairs and walking sticks are available to borrow free; email the palace if you want to arrange one. A visitor who cannot move through the palace independently may bring one companion free of charge.
Royal Palace opening hours and tickets
Opening days and times change, and royal events can close the palace to visitors. Check the official site before you go; the palace advises checking its agenda for the actual opening hours.
Opening hours
- Tuesday to Sunday: 10:00–17:00
- Monday: closed
Last checked November 2026. Hours can change on holidays and for special events.
Admission is €13.50 for adults, €9 for students and free for visitors aged 17 and under. Dutch Museum Pass holders and ICOM members also have free admission. The audio tour is included, and the I amsterdam City Card is not valid for entry.
You can buy tickets online or at the palace ticket desk. Online tickets are for a chosen date and starting time and cannot be refunded; the ticket desk accepts debit or credit cards only.
Group visits without a guide are available for groups of 15 or more, while guided tours can be requested for groups of 10 or more. Guided tours cost €105 on weekdays and €135 on weekends, with admission extra.
For getting around beyond the palace, the Amsterdam metro and public transport guide covers the city’s transit options.
What should you know before going inside?
Visitors can see almost all the rooms on the main floor, including the Citizens’ Hall, Throne Room, Balcony Chamber and Mozes Hall. The Tribunal is open on the ground floor. The visit takes about one hour on average.
A free audio tour is available in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Russian and Mandarin; text displays are available in Dutch and English.
Only hand bags no larger than 30 × 30 × 15 cm are allowed inside. Larger bags can go in the free cloakroom, but large backpacks and rolling suitcases cannot be deposited there. Umbrellas, scooter helmets, back-worn child carriers and other large protruding objects are not permitted inside.
You may take photographs and short videos with a mobile phone or small handheld camera. Tripods, selfie sticks, gimbals and extra lighting are not allowed. Assistance dogs on a lead and wearing a harness are welcome; other animals are not. There is no café inside, though cafés and restaurants are in the immediate neighbourhood.
FAQs
Can you buy tickets at the palace?
Yes. Tickets are sold online and at the ticket desk, which accepts debit or credit cards only.
Is the palace accessible for wheelchair users?
Yes. The palace has a ramp, an elevator and accessible toilets on the ground floor. Mobility scooters are also allowed.
Can you take a large backpack inside?
No. Large backpacks cannot be left in the cloakroom, so arrange to store one elsewhere before your visit.