Andrew S.
Yelp
Came here and joined the CMYE tour. If it weren't for that I would not have had the privilege to view the handful of exquisite royal artifacts, artwork and architecture inside. And with a group of ten awesome people. I have passed by Dam Square countless times and I have noticed the palace only once, because I'm too busy trying to find which street I'm suppose to be going to while in this hub of a square: twisting my foot on these stone pathways. The only thing I ever notice is the National Monument.
The benefit of participating in the tour is that you get an organized and timely explanation on the details on particular objects on display. For example: statues, heirlooms, artwork...the history of Amsterdam besides the touristy side was explained. Some of the objects do not have written explanations of what they are. The tour guide explained the meaning behind the acronym SPQR (with royal crest under it), which she pronounced as Senatus Populusque Romanus . She also explained that the Brother of Napoleon had a rule in The Netherlands. The place definitely has a Roman and French influence. The God statues were of Greek? I did learn a few things.
The downside to the tour is that if you want to spend a little extra time viewing something on display, and you take a moment while the group moves on, you might miss what the tour guide has to say. But luckily at the end, you are relinquished from the tour and can go about on your own to have a second look.
Somethings that went through my head as we toured:
The tour guide was very knowledgeable and pleasant. She reminded me of a librarian with her chic glasses and accent, rrrrrrrr. Never mind, back to what I was saying.
Robert Langdon was here a decade or so ago. When I viewed the floor in the Central Hall where Atlas is holding the globe up, it immediately brought a picture of a scene from The Da Vinci Code. Minus the paintings.
How much to rent a room for a month? I would like to rent a room here, bling son :o Everything is gold or plated as such.
Ms Flip asked me what do I think. I was thinking what I can compare the Palace to and I was looking for a museum in New York City to compare it to: Metropolitan Museum of Art is the closest that came to mind for it's grand scale and for what's on display. Then I compared royalty of the past to government head of NYC present, does the billionaire Michael Bloomberg live this way? Does Amsterdam's government heads live this way?