What is now the Royal Palace, was designed as the Town Hall in 1648, which was one of the largest civil structures in Europe at the time. The building, designed by architect Jacob van Campen, underlines the newly acquired power of Amsterdam in world trade, illustrated on the backside facing Raadhuisstraat. You can find a picture of this on your screen. There are three statues on top of the palace: on the left is Temperantia who stands for Moderation. On the right you see Vigilantia who signifies Vigilence and in the middle you see Atlas carrying the universe. The tympaan shows Amsterdam’s City Virgin with her arms outstretched receiving treasure, on her left from Europe and Africa and on her right from Asia and America. The massive tympan sculpture was designed by, Artus Quellinus, from Antwerp. It’s carvings expresses the power of Amsterdam as a trade town and newly formed colonial empire.
