An Emperor on Dam Square
Moments
Following the abdication of King
Louis Bonaparte in 1810, the Netherlands was annexed by France. Amsterdam
became the third city of the French Empire and the Amsterdam Palace became an
imperial palace. In 1811, Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife, Marie Louise, were
met by large crowds in Amsterdam, while an enormous French flag flew from the
top of the Palace tower. The imperial couple spent exactly one night in their
Palace.