DiTomasso
08-28-2005, 08:32 PM
Well i am living in Alkmaar, thats 45 km north of Amsterdam. Amsterdam is the capital city of the Netherlands.
Its the city were i was born and lived there for the first 16 years of my life.
We decided to visit the royal palace on the dam, because its going to be closed for a duration of two years for renovation.
Theres an organisation doing walkingtours through the city and we booked there.
Its a short journey by rail and a twenty minute walk from the railway station.
The Royal Palce is nowadays used by our Queen for represantations only.
Its was build during the 17th century, in a period called the golden age. At that time it was the townhall, Amsterdam was the centrepoint of trade in Europe and the old world.
Lot of rich traders wanted the city to stand out and they build this enormous building. Everything inside is a reflection of the universe with Amsterdam as centrepoint.
The guided tour only paid attention to the townhall part of the history. It took almost two hours and was very interesting.
In the main hall, the centre of the building, the common people, sailors and merchands could walk all over the world, represented, by the two halfs of the world and the northern hemisphere.
Above the entrence, you see the cityvirgin of Amsterdam. She is looking down on the world at het feet. Left of her is the Force, a women covered with a lionskin over her head and on her right Wisdom, a women equiped as Minerva, the goddess of Wisdom.
Oposite the hall is Atlas carrying the World.
The architect was Jacob van Campen and the sculpture Artus Quellien from Antwerp Belgium
Its the city were i was born and lived there for the first 16 years of my life.
We decided to visit the royal palace on the dam, because its going to be closed for a duration of two years for renovation.
Theres an organisation doing walkingtours through the city and we booked there.
Its a short journey by rail and a twenty minute walk from the railway station.
The Royal Palce is nowadays used by our Queen for represantations only.
Its was build during the 17th century, in a period called the golden age. At that time it was the townhall, Amsterdam was the centrepoint of trade in Europe and the old world.
Lot of rich traders wanted the city to stand out and they build this enormous building. Everything inside is a reflection of the universe with Amsterdam as centrepoint.
The guided tour only paid attention to the townhall part of the history. It took almost two hours and was very interesting.
In the main hall, the centre of the building, the common people, sailors and merchands could walk all over the world, represented, by the two halfs of the world and the northern hemisphere.
Above the entrence, you see the cityvirgin of Amsterdam. She is looking down on the world at het feet. Left of her is the Force, a women covered with a lionskin over her head and on her right Wisdom, a women equiped as Minerva, the goddess of Wisdom.
Oposite the hall is Atlas carrying the World.
The architect was Jacob van Campen and the sculpture Artus Quellien from Antwerp Belgium