Magna Plaza, Amsterdam
Magna Plaza is a grand 19th-century edifice located behind the Royal Palace on Dam Square. Constructed between 1895 and 1899, it showcases a blend of Neo-Gothic and Neo-Renaissance architectural styles. The building was designed by Cornelis Hendrik Peters and has been listed as a national heritage site of the Netherlands since 1974.
The structure is notable for its elaborate brick exterior adorned with polychromatic brickwork and dressed stone around windows and doors. The roof is distinguished by several dormers, each topped with crow-stepped gables, contributing to its nickname "Perenburg" (or “pear-castle”) due to the pear-shaped crowns atop its towers.
Originally serving as Amsterdam's central post office, the building symbolized the city’s economic resurgence in the late 19th century, a period marked by significant developments like the opening of the North Sea Canal and the hosting of a World's Fair in 1883.
In 1987, plans to transform this historic post office into a luxurious shopping mall were announced by Larmag, a Swedish real estate developer. The renovations, which began in 1991, involved meticulous exterior restorations and a complete rebuild of the interior while preserving the structural and decorative elements. Named after Larmag's CEO, Lars-Erik Magnusson, Magna Plaza opened on August 17, 1992, as a shopping center.
Today, Magna Plaza offers a shopping experience across four floors, complemented by several cafes and a variety of stores. Despite its commercial function, the building remains an architectural gem worth visiting for its aesthetic and historical significance alone.
The structure is notable for its elaborate brick exterior adorned with polychromatic brickwork and dressed stone around windows and doors. The roof is distinguished by several dormers, each topped with crow-stepped gables, contributing to its nickname "Perenburg" (or “pear-castle”) due to the pear-shaped crowns atop its towers.
Originally serving as Amsterdam's central post office, the building symbolized the city’s economic resurgence in the late 19th century, a period marked by significant developments like the opening of the North Sea Canal and the hosting of a World's Fair in 1883.
In 1987, plans to transform this historic post office into a luxurious shopping mall were announced by Larmag, a Swedish real estate developer. The renovations, which began in 1991, involved meticulous exterior restorations and a complete rebuild of the interior while preserving the structural and decorative elements. Named after Larmag's CEO, Lars-Erik Magnusson, Magna Plaza opened on August 17, 1992, as a shopping center.
Today, Magna Plaza offers a shopping experience across four floors, complemented by several cafes and a variety of stores. Despite its commercial function, the building remains an architectural gem worth visiting for its aesthetic and historical significance alone.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Amsterdam. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Magna Plaza on Map
Sight Name: Magna Plaza
Sight Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands (See walking tours in Amsterdam)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands (See walking tours in Amsterdam)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Create Your Own Walk in Amsterdam
Creating your own self-guided walk in Amsterdam is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Western Canal Belt Walking Tour
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Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Amsterdam Food Tour
Amsterdam's food scene is a delightful fusion of local traditions and global influences. Making your way through the interlocking canals, pretty bridges, and a maze of streets laden with diverse eateries and bars may easily render you hankering for a bite to eat and/or a drink to wash it down with.
The diverse culinary landscape of Amsterdam caters to a wide range of tastes and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
The diverse culinary landscape of Amsterdam caters to a wide range of tastes and... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Amsterdam's Historical Churches Walking Tour
The history of Amsterdam is deeply intertwined with its religious heritage. The city is home to several historical churches, each with its own unique charm and significance. These religious sites serve as both spiritual centers and architectural treasures that provide insight into the city's past.
Our walk starts in the Central Station area and leads you to visit the eight most prominent... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Our walk starts in the Central Station area and leads you to visit the eight most prominent... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.8 Km or 2.4 Miles
Amsterdam Introduction Walking Tour
The Dutch capital, Amsterdam, some say, “dances to its own beat.” Indeed, Amsterdam – where “hipness meets history” – has a rather unusual life rhythm and style, famously manifested in the air of legalized cannabis, coffee shops, and the Red Light District. In large part, this “air of freedom” attracts annually to the city over five million visitors.
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Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
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Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.8 Km or 3 Miles
Jewish Quarter Walking Tour
The Jodenbuurt (Jewish Quarter) of Amsterdam had been the center of the Dutch Jewish community from the 16th century up until the Second World War. The neighborhood is best known as the birthplace of Baruch Spinoza, the home of Rembrandt, and the Jewish ghetto under the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
Once crowded with open-air stalls, smoking factories and tenement buildings, the Old... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Once crowded with open-air stalls, smoking factories and tenement buildings, the Old... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.0 Km or 1.2 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
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