{"id":1459,"date":"2011-08-02T20:29:17","date_gmt":"2011-08-02T20:29:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/?p=1459"},"modified":"2014-07-18T15:11:39","modified_gmt":"2014-07-18T15:11:39","slug":"dam-square-amsterdam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/dam-square-amsterdam\/","title":{"rendered":"Dam Square, Amsterdam"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Dam in 1544, as an actual dam in the river Amstel. View faces roughly southwest. On the right hand side are the old town hall and the Nieuwe Kerk. (Image from Wikipedia Commons)<\/p><\/div>\n

As you exit Amsterdam Centraal station and are smacked in the face with the sights, sounds and smells of busyness you will probably find yourself following the natural flow of people heading off into the city of Amsterdam.\u00a0 If you manage to navigate the bikes, tram tracks and traffic intersection successfully, then you will quite likely find yourself heading down Damrak.\u00a0 What once was the city\u2019s busiest canal has since been filled in and developed into a hectic and touristy shopping street.<\/p>\n

If you continue down this street, you will find yourself in a big square (perhaps even standing next to a street performer or at least a pigeon or two) with Madame Tussauds and the Royal Palace on two sides.\u00a0 This is Dam Square.<\/p>\n

The history behind Dam Square is quite interesting and here are some things you might not have known about it:<\/p>\n