Visit Amsterdam Concertgebouw is a place you won't see in any other country.
The concert hall is a unique venue that has been attracting crowds for over 130 years.
Today, I'd like to take a look at a place you can visit during your stay in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Concertgebouw: article summary
The Amsterdam Concertgebouw: at a glance
Inaugurated on April 11, 1888, Amsterdam's famous Royal Concertgebouw remains one of the most beautiful concert halls in the world. To give you an idea, the Musikverein in Vienna.
What's more, 10 years earlier, on April 11, 2013, on the occasion of the 125ᵉ anniversary, Queen Beatrix awarded the royal title "Koninklijk" to the famous building. An honor known to few monuments in Amsterdam.
A story centered on music
"Concertgebouw" is a Dutch term that can be literally translated as "concert building". Designed by the architect Adolf Leonard van Gendt, construction began in 1883 and the was completed in 1886.
The first concert took place on its opening day in 1888, with an inaugural concert featuring a 120-strong orchestra and a 500-strong choir, performing works by Wagner, Handel, Bach and Beethoven.
The Concertgebouw's resident orchestra is the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Koninklijk Concertgebouworkest), which gave its first concert in the hall on November 3, 1888. awarded the royal title "Koninklijk" by Queen Beatrix in 1988.
What to see inside the Amsterdam Concertgebouw?
The Concertgebouw has two famous concert halls:
- the Grote Zaal with 1974 seats
- The Kleine Zaal with 437 seats.
Recently, the Koorzaal (150 seats) was opened and now welcomes choirs from all over the world. The combination of the two world-class concert halls (Grote en Kleine Zaal) makes the Concertgebouw perhaps the best in the world. the most beautiful concert hall in the world.
The Concertgebouw has a long tradition of staging legendary concerts by such greats as Gustav Mahler, Richard Strauss, Bernard Haitink, Yehudi Menuhin, Jessye Norman, Vladimir Horowitz, Cécilia Bartoli, Louis Armstrong, Sting and many others.
What are the opening hours?
If there's an evening concert at the Concertgebouw, the box office is always open, even after 7 pm. If there is no concert, the box office closes at 5 p.m.
The Concertgebouw is open all week, but it's important to note that different opening times may apply on public holidays. For example, you can visit:
- Monday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
How much does admission to the Amsterdam Concertgebouw cost?
You can order tickets online at any time of day. As for concerts, you'll find some in the evening and others on Sunday mornings.
The Evening Concert starts at 8:15 p.m. (doors open at 7:35 p.m.) and usually lasts 140 minutes. Tickets are accompanied by a wine, beer or soft drink on arrival, and other refreshments during intermission.
I recommend to arrive at 7:45 p.m. to avoid queues and crowds.
Visit us on Sunday morning
The Sunday morning concert starts at 11 a.m. and lasts 60 minutes. I recommend to be there at 10:40 a.m. to avoid queuing. So you can reserve the best seats in the house. When you arrive during intermission, you'll be offered a free drink.
As far as prices are concerned, you can count on :
- From 46.50 for the evening
- from 27 € for Sunday mornings
Of course, these different rates depend on the group you are visiting on the day.
How do I get there?
The Royal Concertgebouw is easily accessible by car. streetcar from Amsterdam's various NS stations.
From the main station from Amsterdam to the Concertgebouw, get off at Van Baerlestraat (streetcar 2), Museumplein (streetcars 3, 5 and 12) or Roelof Hartplein (streetcar 24). These stops are all around the corner from the Concertgebouw.
Visit bus Connexxion can also take you to Museumplein, arriving behind the main entrance to the Concertgebouw.
Finally, you can take advantage of parking to leave your car. For parking near the Royal Concertgebouw you must 4 euros per hour.
Amsterdam's Concertgebouw is an exceptional venue dedicated to music. During your visit, you can discover this immense venue that is the pride of the people of Amsterdam. An appointment not to be missed by all music lovers.
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