Magna Plaza

Magna Plaza, located in the heart of Amsterdam, is a majestic example of neo-Gothic architecture and a luxury shopping center that combines history and modernity. Situated right behind the Royal Palace and near Dam Square, this historic building is one of the city’s main landmarks. Built between 1895 and 1899, Magna Plaza was originally designed as the Central Post Office of Amsterdam by Cornelis Hendrik Peters, a prominent architect of the time. The building replaced a previous post office from 1854, designed by Frederik Willem Conrad and Cornelis Outshoorn. The new structure, with its pear-shaped crowned towers and elaborate decorations in polychrome bricks and carved stone, was quickly nicknamed “Perenburg” (the pear castle) by the citizens of Amsterdam.The architecture of Magna Plaza is characterized by a combination of neo-Gothic and neo-Renaissance styles, with an aesthetic reminiscent of the works of Petrus J.H. Cuypers, the architect of the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Central Station. The building’s facade is adorned with pointed arches, gargoyles, and a variety of ornamental details that emphasize its grandeur and stylistic complexity.Inside, Magna Plaza features a large central hall with galleries on two upper floors, surrounded by arcades and topped by a skylight that floods the space with natural light. Originally, only the ground floor was accessible to the public, while the upper floors were reserved for postal service staff. In 1987, the Dutch postal service (PTT) announced its intention to leave the building, which was sold the following year to Larmag, a Swedish real estate company, to be transformed into a luxury shopping center.Conversion work began in 1991 under the direction of architect Hans Ruijssenaars. The restoration respected the building’s historical integrity, maintaining the original supporting structures and decorative elements, while the interior was renovated to create modern and functional commercial spaces. Magna Plaza was inaugurated as a shopping center on August 17, 1992, offering a wide range of high-fashion stores, restaurants, and event spaces.Today, Magna Plaza hosts over 40 exclusive shops, including boutiques of international designers and luxury brands. Among the most well-known stores are MANGO, Lacoste, and OU. Boutique Stories, which attract a sophisticated clientele in search of high-quality products. The shopping center is also home to “The Food Department,” an area dedicated to dining with a variety of food stalls offering culinary specialties from around the world. The building, considered a national monument, is one of the best examples of how historic architecture can be adapted to meet contemporary needs without losing its cultural and artistic value. During the coronation of King Willem-Alexander in 2013, Magna Plaza was beautifully decorated, demonstrating its importance as a place of national celebration.An interesting anecdote concerns the building’s foundation. During the renovation work in the 1990s, it was discovered that many of the original beams were hollow, which necessitated significant reinforcement of the foundations to ensure structural stability. This unforeseen issue delayed the work, but ultimately contributed to preserving the building’s integrity for future generations.