Ahoy Rotterdam

Ahoy Rotterdam
Address Ahoy-weg 10
3084 BA Rotterdam
Netherlands
Owner Ontwikkelingsbedrijf Rotterdam
Operator AEG
Opened 18 May 1950 (1950-05-18)
Renovated 1971, 1980, 1988, 1998, 2011
Banquet/ballroom 650 (Congreszaal)
Theatre seating
15,818[1] (Sportpaleis van Ahoy)
5,225 (Club Ahoy)
4,000 (Theater Hal 1)
Enclosed space
  Exhibit hall floor 32,230 m2 (346,900 sq ft)
  Breakout/meeting 2,825 m2 (30,410 sq ft)
  Ballroom 30,000 m2 (320,000 sq ft)
Website Venue Website (Dutch)

Ahoy Rotterdam (often called merely Ahoy) is a convention centre and arena located in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Since opening in 1950, the centre has hosted many exhibitions, concerts and sporting events. The centre consists of three main parts: the "Beurs- & Evenementenhallen", "Congres- & Vergadercentrum" and "Sportpaleis". The main concert venue, the Sportpaleis van Ahoy, opened on 15 January 1971.

History

The basis of the present Ahoy was laid in 1950. After the devastation caused by the Second World War, the city of Rotterdam had worked on reconstruction and Rotterdam port was virtually complete. To mark the occasion, the Rotterdam Ahoy! exhibition was held in a purpose-built hall on the site where the medical faculty of the Erasmus University now stands.

The exhibition hall was called the Ahoy'-Hal. The apostrophe is a remnant of the original exclamation mark. The hall was used for a series of national and international events, such as the exhibition of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s work. During the North Sea flood of 1953 the hall also proved its worth as a reception centre for victims.

Ahoy Rotterdam, in its current form, was built in 1970. The complex’s striking design won various national and international awards for its special steel structures. The design of the venue took inspiration from the water, with the building laid out like a ship. The first event to be held there was the Femina family exhibition. Since then, Ahoy has been expanded on a number of occasions, and was renovated and refurbished in 1998 to create today’s multifunctional venue.

Notable events

Music events

Other events

See also

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ahoy Rotterdam.

Coordinates: 51°52′58″N 4°29′17″E / 51.88278°N 4.48806°E / 51.88278; 4.48806

Preceded by
Palais des Sports
Grenoble
European Indoor Championships in Athletics
Venue

1973
Succeeded by
Scandinavium
Gothenburg
Preceded by
None
FIFA Futsal World Championship
Final Venue

1989
Succeeded by
Hong Kong Coliseum
 Hong Kong
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