The Dam Square in Amsterdam is a busy plaza that is considered to be the birthplace of the city. The square is a popular congregating place for both tourists and locals, and is the site where the river Amstel was dammed, allowing the town to be built on dry land. The Dam Square is a very central location, with lots of shops and restaurants nearby, as well as other attractions such as the Royal Palace and the Nieuwe Kerk. Special tours by horse-drawn cart depart quite frequently from the Square.
