The Royal Palace in Amsterdam is King Willem-Alexander’s official reception palace, used for important official events and is one of three palaces used by the Dutch Royal Family. It was originally Amsterdam’s town hall rather than a palace and was designed by Jan Van Campen in the 17th century.
It was Louis Bonaparte, brother of Napoleon, who first turned the building into a palace in 1808.
On the top of the building is a statue of Atlas – apparently he is there to symbolise the entire universe and the central position Amsterdam was seen to occupy in the Golden Age.
It is open to the public but I didn’t have time to go in on this trip. Definitely on the list though.
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