The main town square and the very heart of Amsterdam is called Dam Square (simply "the Dam" to locals). Located just a short 10-minute walk from Centraal Station via the Damrak, it is home to the Royal Palace (Koninklijk Paleis), the 15th-century New Church (Nieuwe Kerk), and the National Monument obelisk, which memorializes the victims of World War II. In 2026, Dam Square remains the city's primary hub for both protests and celebrations, as well as a popular gathering spot for tourists visiting the nearby Madame Tussauds. It is a peer-to-peer "pro-tip" to be mindful of the hundreds of pigeons that congregate here—it's a classic photo op, but they can be quite bold! The square marks the site where the original dam was built on the Amstel River in the 13th century, which eventually gave the city its name: "Amstel-redam."