  dam square, or simply the dam (), is a town square in amsterdam, the capital of the netherlands. its notable buildings and frequent events make it one of the most well-known and important locations in the city. == location and description ==  dam square lies in the historical center of amsterdam, approximately 750 meters south of the main transportation hub, centraal station, at the original location of the dam in the river amstel. it is roughly rectangular in shape, stretching about 200 meters from west to east and about 100 meters from north to south. it links the streets damrak and rokin, which run along the original course of the amstel river from centraal station to muntplein (mint square) and the munttoren (mint tower). the dam also marks the endpoint of the other well-traveled streets nieuwendijk, kalverstraat and damstraat. a short distance beyond the northeast corner lies the main red-light district: de wallen. on the west end of the square is the neoclassical royal palace, which served as the city hall from 1655 until its conversion to a royal residence in 1808. beside it are the 15th-century gothic nieuwe kerk (new church) and the madame tussaud's wax museum. the national monument, a white stone pillar designed by j.j.p. oud and erected in 1956 to memorialize the victims of world war ii, dominates the opposite side of the square. also overlooking the plaza are the nh grand hotel krasnapolsky and the upscale department store de bijenkorf. these various attractions have turned the dam into a tourist zone. == history == right|thumb|dam square as it appeared c. 1890-1900 with the "naatje of the dam" statue   the dam derives its name from its original function: a dam on the amstel river, hence also the name of the city. built in approximately 1270, the dam formed the first connection between the settlements on the 
National_squares Squares_in_Amsterdam