a real Royal Bedroom
in the Magistrate's chamber
in the distance Atlas (symbol for Amsterdam) carries the weight of the world
the majestic marble Citizens Hall with the inlaid globe and sky in the floor
the relief in the Tribunal (Vierschaar) , depicting Mercy to the left, Wisdom in the center and Justice to the right
the Kings and Queens from the Kingdom of the Netherlands (1815-present)
a picture of a young Wilhelmina
pictures of Oranje-Nassau children
a bedroom with pictures of King William I and his wife Wilhelmina van Pruisen
it all started with William of Orange who led the Dutch revolution against Spain in 1568. The war would last for 80 years
the Dynasty exhibition at the Royal Palace (Paleis op de Dam)
The
City Hall that was completed in 1655 reflected Amsterdam's
powerhouse status.
During the short reign of
King Louis I (from 1806 till 1810), the city hall served as his royal palace.
After Napoleon's defeat the French left and the building was returned to the city of Amsterdam in 1813.
Afraid
of the costs the original function was not restored and when the House of Oranje-Nassau returned to power in 1815,
King William I used it as his Royal Palace, but only for official receptions.
In 1935 the city of Amsterdam, still
the legal owner, sold its former City Hall to the State of the Netherlands which then offered it to the royals
for permanent use.
Nowadays the Palace is used for State visits, royal marriages and receptions.
When not in use the
Amsterdam Royal Palace Foundation opens it to the public.
We visited in September 2016 to see the
Dynasty exhibition.
the domed cupola with the famous weather vane shaped in the form of a medieval kog ship
yes, the Royal Palace is open
inspecting the timeline for the Oranje-Nassau Dynasty
portraits of the women of Oranje-Nassau
past to present, 450 years separate them
