Concertgebouw

ART & CULTURE, MUSIC & CLUBS, ZUID/DE PIJP

The Royal Concertgebouw was originally built in 1888 and is home to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. The building is gorgeous both inside and out. Catch a concert soon, perhaps even for FREE!

Koninklijk Concertgebouw Amsterdam

Standing at Museumplein facing away from the Rijksmuseum, you will notice the stunning building across the street topped with a golden lyre. The Royal Concertgebouw was originally built in 1888 with the addition of the glass entry foyer in the 1980s.

The building contains four concert halls: the Grote Zaal, the Kleine Zaal, the Choir Room and the Mirror Room. The halls are beautifully decorated and you’ll notice names of famous composers on the walls.

The Grote Zaal holds 2,000 people and is commonly used for chamber music, amplified music and performances by solo artists. It houses an organ as well. Modeled after the Felix Meritis on Keizersgracht, the Kleine Zaal is most often used for chamber music performances.

The Mirror Room originally had mirrors on the doors, reflecting the views of the gardens outside. The mirrors have been replaced with glass since the gardens are no longer there. This room is used as a reception space and was originally designed as a bar area, as noted by the grape vines decorating the walls.

If you are curious about the building and would like to view behind the scenes, join one of their guided tours.

The Concertgebouw is home to the famous Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. You’ll also find chamber music performances like string quartets, piano recitals and piano trios. Jazz music can often be heard on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons are dedicated to concerts for kids.

Concertgebouw Tickets

You can buy tickets at the box office or online. Don’t want to pay full price for your tickets? There are several ways to get discounted tickets (or even free concerts!) for this venue.

Catch a FREE lunchtime concert during the week
Friends of the Concertgebouw always get discounted tickets
Those under 30 or over 65 years of age are also eligible for discounted tickets
Catch a Sunday morning concert for a discounted special experience
Another time to catch a free concert is at the opening of the cultural season: Uitmarkt

Eating and Drinking Near the Concertgebouw

Want to grab a coffee, a snack or a full meal before or after a visit to the Concertgebouw? Here are a few tips for dining in the area:

The cafe at the Concertgebouw is always a friendly place to meet with friends before catching a concert. The pastries are from famous baker Holtkamp and their coffee is tasty. The sandwiches are also quite good.
Our guide to eating and drinking around Museumplein will provide you with plenty of dining ideas.
Date night with dinner and a concert? A few places to dine in style nearby include Cafe Loetje, Rijks and Izakaya.
Craving late night eats after a concert? Head to Cannibale Royale on the Ruysdaelkade.

Concertgebouw
Concertgebouwplein 10, Amsterdam