Royal Concertgebouw

The Concertgebouw is the concert hall of Amsterdam, a pale neoclassical building at the Museumplein end of the Concertgebouwplein, a few steps from the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. It opened in 1888, designed by the architect Adolf Leonard van Gendt, and was built on what was then the edge of the city, by a group of citizens who wanted a hall worthy of a great musical city. The Main Hall, with its shoebox shape, high ceiling and rows of balconies, is often listed among the three or four best concert halls in the world for acoustics, and the quality of the sound is the reason that many of the leading musicians of the last century were eager to perform here.

Its resident orchestra is the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, which was founded at the same time as the hall and received the title Royal on the centenary in 1988. The orchestra has been shaped by a series of great conductors, from Willem Mengelberg in the early twentieth century, who worked closely with Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss, through Eduard van Beinum and Bernard Haitink to Mariss Jansons and others in recent decades. It is regularly ranked among the best in the world, and its rich, warm sound is the result of long traditions as well as of the hall. The orchestra plays a large part of its season in the Main Hall and tours widely.

The building holds more than the orchestra. The Main Hall seats nearly two thousand people, and a smaller hall, the Recital Hall, is used for chamber music and solo recitals, as well as a smaller room for other events. The programme is broad, ranging from symphonic and choral works and opera concerts to chamber music, jazz, world music and cabaret, and visiting orchestras, soloists and ensembles perform here throughout the year. Many events are very popular and sell out, so booking in advance by internet or telephone is wise, and group reservations are possible. Discounted tickets are often offered to students, young people and others, and gift vouchers are on sale.

One attraction is free. On Wednesday lunchtimes during the season, short concerts are held in one of the halls, open to anyone who comes early enough to find a seat, a tradition that has made the Concertgebouw accessible to a wider public. Guided tours of the building can also be arranged, giving a view behind the scenes.

The hall suits music lovers, architecture fans and anyone who wants to hear a great orchestra in its home. Check the programme and ticket arrangements on the website. Tram lines serve the area, and the museum district is a pleasant place to walk before or after a concert. Dress codes are relaxed, but many people dress up for the evening.