The Famous Amsterdam Arena – Football and More in the Dutch Capital
The Famous Amsterdam: Amsterdam is one of Europe’s most captivating cities to visit, with its elegant network of canals, beautiful architecture, and famously welcoming and laid-back atmosphere. However, among it’s many hugely popular attractions is one location that doesn’t appear in quite so many tourist guides, despite welcoming many hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. That destination is the Amsterdam Arena, an impressive stadium just to the south-east of the city’s central districts.
A Footballing Icon
Opened in August 1996, the arena is home to the renowned Dutch football club Ajax, as well as the Netherlands national team, and has a capacity of some 54,000 attendees. It was among the stadia used in the Euro 2000 championships, and is one of the select number of European arenas awarded the highest 5-star rating by UEFA thanks to its modern design and facilities. This strong footballing heritage is about to be further commemorated when the stadium is renamed the Johan Cruiff Stadium, after the Ajax and Dutch national legend who sadly passed away in March 2016.
Beyond Match Day
It’s not only on match days that it’s worth visiting the arena. Throughout the year football fans can enjoy guided tours of the stadium, along with the Ajax Museum which features a huge collection of memorabilia and historical information. The stadium is also a popular venue for corporate events, including conferences and exhibitions, which can of course be combined with match day hospitality.
Music and More
The arena is also host to a wide variety of other events, including regular musical concerts from bands of international status, and sporting events from kickboxing to American football. It is also a part of the annual Amsterdam Dance Event which brings over 2,000 DJs and 350,000 visitors to the city over five days each October.
Whatever your reason for visiting the Amsterdam Arena, you’ll find an affordable, comfortable, and convenient place to stay at the Amsterdam Hostel Uptown, right in the heart of this vibrant city.
