As the name suggests ("dam" means dyke in Dutch), this square, which was created in the 13th Century, is on the location of the Amstel dyke - the geographical and historical foundation of Amsterdam. Once the central market place and today the junction of two broad avenues (Damrak and Rokin), Dam has always been bustling with people and life. On it stand the Koninklijk Paleis and the Nieuwe Kerk, both very interesting architecturally.