The stately Royal Palace stands on the west side of Dam Square, the most famous public space in the Netherlands. The two have been inextricably linked since they were built in the seventeenth century. Situated in the heart of the city, they have witnessed some of the most momentous events in the country’s history. In people’s minds they are associated with many different things – royal ceremonies and public celebrations, academic debate and political protest, moments of remembrance and commemoration.