The Amsterdam ArenA is the biggest stadium in the Netherlands and also home ground of Ajax Amsterdam and the Dutch national soccer team.
Facts and Figures
The stadium in the capital of the Netherlands has a capacity of 53,052 seats and was built between 1993 and 1996. On August 14th 1996, the Amsterdam ArenA was opened by the formerQueen Beatrix. In the stadium of Ajax the stands are remarkable, since they have a slope of 37 degrees and thus are among the steepest stands in Europe.
Another striking feature of the Amsterdam ArenA is the roof, which can be, in case of bad weather, mechanically closed in 18 minutes.
The stadium is not only used for soccer matches, fairly regularly also artists perform at the Ajax home ground. In the past, among others, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Bon Jovi, Luciano Pavarotti and the Red Hot Chili Peppers gave a concert in the Amsterdam ArenA. American football was also played in this stadium: the ArenA was the homeground for the NFL Europe-team Amsterdam Admirals.
Amsterdam ArenA Stadium Tour
Five times a day, an enthusiastic guide takes sports lovers on a Amsterdam ArenA Stadium Tour in Dutch and English. This World of Ajax Stadium Tour brings you to the VIP area, the mixed zone where the players of Ajax and the Dutch national team are always interviewed and you will walk past the soccer pitch. The tour lasts approximately one hour. If no match is scheduled , you will visit the area where the dressing rooms are located in the stadium.
For groups larger than twenty people, it is also possible to get a group tour.
Kids Tour
For children from 5 to 12 years, there is also the Kids Tour , where they perform a variety of fun assignments , sit in the press room behind the microphone and play soccer in the canal that’s surrounding the soccer pitch. If Ajax Amsterdam or the Dutch national soccer team are not playing, then the kids may also go to the locker room.
Match Tour
The most special tour is de Amsterdam ArenA Match Tour, which takes place on match days. Prior to the game, you get a 2 hours stadium tour, after which you can watch a home game of Ajax. All Match Tours start 4.5 hours before kick-off in the Amsterdam ArenA.
(Source: Wiki, Ajax)