Het Koninklijk Concertgebouw

Neoclassical styled concert hall

The Concertgebouw in Amsterdam is one of the finest concert halls in the world. It is praised for its excellent acoustics and its international, renowned and edifying programme.

The beautiful building, both inside and out, can seat more than 2,500 people at a time and about 750 concerts take place in the Concertgebouw every year. The Concertgebouw receives 750,000 visitors per year, which makes it the second most-visited concert hall in the world.

The hall opened in 1888, with an inaugural concert in which an orchestra of 120 musicians and a chorus of 500 singers participated, performing works of Wagner, Handel, Bach, and Beethoven. With this grand opening, the bar was raised and the list of famous performers who have appeared here is unrivalled. Furthermore, the Concertgebouw is home to the worldwide renowned orchestra, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. 

The Concertgebouw was designed by Dutch architect A.L. van Gendt, who also designed the Hollandsche Manege, the oldest riding school in the Netherlands, and the Amsterdam Central Station. The façade of the Concertgebouw is decorated in the Neoclassicism style and shows that Van Gendt was inspired by classical antiquity. Unique characteristics of this style are the decorated pediment, the immense pillars emphasizing the façade and the grand symmetrical entrance. 

With the wide range of phenomenal performances including classical concerts, opera and rock gigs, art exhibitions, lectures, tours and many other musical events,  the Concertgebouw offers one of the world’s best musical escapes.

During its 125 anniversary in 2013, the Concertgebouw received the "Koninklijk" title from Her Royal Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands. The designation of "Royal" status has a long tradition in Holland, introduced in 1807 by Lodewijk Napoleon, the first king of the Netherlands. In order to qualify, an organization must meet several conditions and must be at least a hundred years in existence.