Amsterdam Arena is a fascinating place to visit for anyone spending some time in Amsterdam. Opened in 1996, Amsterdam Arena is home to the world-famous, Ajax Football Club as well as host to many international football matches and other events. Capable of accommodating over 54,000 fans, it’s the largest stadium in the Netherlands and is an architectural masterpiece. Amsterdam Arena is scheduled to be renamed. In honour of Johan Cruiff, the legendary, world-class, Dutch football player, who died on March 24, 2016, the Amsterdam Arena will be renamed the Johan Cruiff Stadium.
Take a Tour
Guided tours are available several times per day on most days when there are no games scheduled. The popular Arena Stadium Tour lasts around 75 minutes and gives visitors up-close views of locker rooms, news rooms and other behind-the-scenes areas. The tours are presented in Dutch and English by very informative guides who don’t just recite facts and figures but who bring the arena to life with their enthusiasm and their colourful and vivid descriptions of major events and tales of star players at the stadium. There are also tours for groups, kids’ tours and school tours. Tickets can be purchased through the Amsterdam Arena Webshop.
Attend a Match
Alternatively, attending a home match by Ajax football club provides another way to see the stadium and also experience the thrilling, live atmosphere of a match, and hopefully see Dutch football at its best.
Getting to the Arena
Thanks to Amsterdam’s efficient public transport system, getting to Amsterdam Arena is no problem. It’s located in Arena Boulevard in the southeast of the city and can be reached in less than 20 minutes by train from the Central Station to Bijlmer. From there it’s just a five-minute walk to the stadium.
For those intent on spending more time in Amsterdam, there are some good, affordable accommodation options available such as the friendly and welcoming Amsterdam Hostel Sarphati, in the city centre. It’s ideally located as a base for exploring the many other attractions of Amsterdam, such as its famous art galleries, classy restaurants and colourful markets.
