Rotterdam Ahoy

Halls and capacities

Rotterdam Ahoy consists of three large, interconnected sections: the Ahoy Arena, the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre, the RACC, and the Trade Fair and Event Halls. The complex is designed to facilitate large visitor flows smoothly while offering top quality in terms of technology and comfort. The Ahoy Arena is the iconic concert and sports arena, with a flexible capacity of up to 16,500 visitors. Thanks to its raised and reinforced roof, the venue can also accommodate large international show productions. The RTM Stage serves as a concert venue for 7,800 visitors and as a theatre or auditorium with 2,750 seats. The six interconnected Trade Fair and Event Halls have a combined floor area of 45,000 m². The RACC has 35 flexible breakout rooms for meetings and conferences of various sizes.

Tickets

Tickets for events at Rotterdam Ahoy are usually not purchased directly from Ahoy, but through the organiser's or artist's official ticket partner. Go to the official Ahoy Agenda, open the event and use the ticket button on the event page. This will take you to the correct seller and help you avoid unreliable ticket resales. Depending on the event, official sales may be handled by Ticketmaster, Eventim, Paylogic or See Tickets.

Bags and lockers

Bags and backpacks may not be larger than A4 size and may be no more than 10 cm thick. Larger bags, suitcases and non-folding umbrellas will be refused at the entrance. Electronic lockers are available for a fee. Coats and bags larger than A4 size will not fit in them. During most events, there is no staffed cloakroom available.

Payment

Rotterdam Ahoy is completely cashless. Throughout Ahoy, you can only pay by debit or credit card. This applies to catering outlets, lockers and parking payment machines. Cash is not accepted.

Public transport and parking

Ahoy is about a five-minute walk from Zuidplein metro and bus station. From Rotterdam Central Station, the metro takes you there in about ten minutes. Parking on the premises costs €21 per event day. Up to two hours in advance, you can purchase a parking guarantee online via Ahoy Parking for €20 per event day. There are currently no charging stations for electric cars on the premises. You can find them at Q-Park Zuidplein car park, which is within walking distance.

Kiss & Ride, taxi and bicycle

If you are being dropped off or picked up, navigate to the official Kiss & Ride address at Jacob Kleiboerweg 80. Uber and taxi stands are located directly next to the forecourt. If you arrive by bicycle or scooter, you can park it free of charge and unattended in the bicycle parking area on Ahoy's forecourt.

Affordable alternative

You can also park your car for free or at low cost at P+R Slinge and take the metro one stop from there to Zuidplein.

Accessibility

The entire complex is step-free and equipped with lifts and accessible toilets. There are 18 designated disabled parking spaces close to the main entrance. If you need a wheelchair space in the venue, please specify this when purchasing tickets for the event in question. Ahoy Arena has a special wheelchair section, the Miva section, which is accessible by lift.

Age and lost property

For attending events independently without adult supervision, the recommended minimum age is 16. For night events, admission is strictly for those aged 18 and over. If you have lost something during your visit, Ahoy centrally registers lost property via the iLost platform.

Food and drink

Bar Restaurant Seventy One by the main entrance is suitable for a three-course dinner before a concert or show. RiVers is a self-service restaurant offering a changing selection of fresh and healthy dishes, salads and sandwiches. In the halls and around the Arena, you will find food plazas and permanent and mobile bars serving snacks, fast food and drinks.

The history of Rotterdam Ahoy

The history of Rotterdam Ahoy is inextricably linked to Rotterdam’s reconstruction after the Second World War. What began as a temporary exhibition on the other side of the city grew over more than 75 years into one of the Netherlands’ most iconic event venues.

1950: the origins at Land van Hoboken

To celebrate the restoration of the Port of Rotterdam, the large-scale port exhibition Rotterdam Ahoy! was organized. On 15 June 1950, Queen Juliana opened a temporary exhibition hall at Land van Hoboken, on the site where Erasmus MC now stands. The exhibition attracted 1.65 million visitors.

1968–1971: the move to Rotterdam South

The original hall was intended as a temporary structure, but due to its great success it remained in use until 1966. When the space became too small and the medical faculty needed the land, plans moved to Rotterdam South. Construction of a new, permanent complex at Zuiderpark began in 1968.

15 January 1971: the official opening

The new Ahoy Sports Palace and the three adjacent exhibition halls were officially opened by Prince Claus. From that moment on, Rotterdam had a state-of-the-art cycling track and indoor arena, which soon attracted world-famous artists.

The growth into a sports and music temple

In the decades that followed, Ahoy grew into the permanent home of the ABN AMRO Open, since 1974, and the North Sea Jazz Festival, since 2006. Artists including Led Zeppelin, Queen, U2, Beyoncé and Whitney Houston also created legendary concert moments here.

Modernization and RTM Stage

To keep pace with the development of new venues, the complex underwent several major renovations. In 2020, the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre opened, including the RTM Stage. In 2021, the renovated Ahoy Arena provided the setting for the Eurovision Song Contest.

The cultural and social legacy

The cultural and social legacy of Rotterdam Ahoy extends far beyond the walls of the building. The complex has played a fundamental role in Rotterdam’s identity, economy, and international profile.

Symbol of post-war reconstruction

Ahoy grew out of the ambition to put Rotterdam back on the map after the 1940 bombing. The first exhibition in 1950 showed the world that Rotterdam’s port and the city itself were once again thriving. To this day, Ahoy represents Rotterdam’s no-nonsense mentality: ambitious, large-scale, and always looking ahead.

The musical and cultural living room

For generations of Dutch people, Ahoy has been the place where they experienced their first major concert. Its legacy includes iconic moments from pop history, from Pink Floyd in the early 1970s to legendary shows by Queen, Whitney Houston, and Prince. Since moving from The Hague to Rotterdam in 2006, North Sea Jazz has developed at Ahoy into one of the most respected jazz and urban festivals in the world. The 2021 Eurovision Song Contest is also part of its recent history: in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ahoy delivered a technical and organizational masterpiece that was praised worldwide for its resilience and innovation.

A sporting institution

Ahoy has left an indelible mark on the world of sport. For more than 50 years, the complex has been home to the ABN AMRO Open, the oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament in the Netherlands, where tennis legends such as Björn Borg, Roger Federer, and Novak Djokovic made history. The cycling legacy of the Rotterdam Six-Day race is also deeply etched in the collective memory.

Economic and urban catalyst

Ahoy serves as an important economic catalyst for Rotterdam South. With the arrival of the complex and recent expansions such as the Convention Centre, the area attracts millions of business and leisure visitors every year. This has contributed to major investments in the surrounding infrastructure, hotels, and Zuidplein shopping centre as part of the Hart van Zuid project.

Rotterdam Ahoy as a combat sports arena

Rotterdam Ahoy is considered one of Europe’s most important kickboxing arenas and is a regular stop for the global elite of combat sports. The arena is known for its intense, electric atmosphere and deep roots in Dutch combat sports history.

GLORY Kickboxing

Ahoy has been one of GLORY Kickboxing’s most iconic venues for years. Major fights take place here in the Ahoy Arena or on the RTM Stage. The venue has hosted several spectacular 8-Man Heavyweight Tournaments, in which fighters had to win three times in a single night.

GLORY Collision and GLORY 109

During GLORY Collision 9 in June 2026, heavyweight champion Mory Kromah successfully defended his world title against Miloš Cvjetićanin in the Ahoy Arena. On September 5, 2026, the RTM Stage filled up for GLORY 109, where welterweight champion Chico Kwasi proved his status. Heavyweight legends such as Tariq 'Cookie' Osaro and Errol Zimmerman also stepped into the ring. In April 2026, Chico Kwasi also made history by becoming only the second fighter in GLORY history to simultaneously hold titles in two weight classes.

UFC and Mixed Martial Arts

The Ultimate Fighting Championship brought the absolute world elite of MMA to Rotterdam Ahoy with two legendary UFC Fight Nights. UFC Fight Night 87, Overeem vs. Arlovski, held in 2016, was the very first UFC event in the Netherlands. Dutch hero Alistair Overeem knocked out Andrei Arlovski in the second round before an ecstatic home crowd. In 2017, the UFC returned with UFC Fight Night 115, Volkov vs. Struve, a heavyweight clash between Dutch Skyscraper Stefan Struve and Alexander Volkov.

K-1 and It's Showtime

Even before the GLORY era, Ahoy was a place where combat sports legends were crowned. During the legendary K-1 World Grand Prix and It's Showtime events, Dutch icons such as Peter Aerts, Ernesto Hoost, Remy Bonjasky, and Badr Hari faced each other in the ring.

Architecture and development

The architecture of Rotterdam Ahoy is a prime example of brutalist and functional industrial design that has evolved over the decades into a modern and flexible complex. The design reflects Rotterdam’s mentality: large-scale, down-to-earth, and highly efficient.

The original brutalism of 1971

The original Sportpaleis and halls were designed by Ernest Groosman, Marnix Pinnoo, and Floor van der Stoep. The design was groundbreaking for its time and won the National Steel Award for architecture in 1972. The raw, functional aesthetic, with exposed steel and concrete, was fully focused on logistics and the movement of large visitor flows.

The transformation and the 2020 RACC

Around 2011, the Ahoy Arena underwent a major renovation by the ZJA architecture firm. The roof was raised and reinforced to support heavier concert productions. The most significant visual change followed at the end of 2020 with the completion of the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre, the RACC, and the RTM Stage. The extension was designed by David Hess of Kraaijvanger Architects.

Openness, orientation, and sustainability

Where the old Ahoy was closed-off and introverted, the new RACC opens up to the city with an imposing glass façade. The design strikes a balance between the dynamic stimulation of attending an event and the intuitive calm and orientation needed for large conference flows. The new roof is equipped with thousands of solar panels and contributes to the complex’s circular ambitions.

The RTM Stage as a building within a building

The venue can transform from an intimate theatre with 2,750 seats into a concert hall with standing room for 7,800 people. Thanks to advanced acoustic decoupling and movable stands, different events can take place side by side without noise nuisance reaching the surrounding conference rooms.

The atmosphere at Rotterdam Ahoy

The atmosphere at Rotterdam Ahoy is best described as raw, intense and distinctly Rotterdam: no-nonsense, grand and full of pure energy. Whether you are standing among thousands of dancing fans at a pop concert or feeling the tension rise at a kickboxing gala, the architecture and culture of the city enhance the experience.

The intense arena vortex

Ahoy Arena is known for its intimate atmosphere, despite having a capacity of more than 16,000 visitors. The stands are relatively steeply arranged around the floor, bringing visitors close to the stage or ring, whether seated or standing. Artists and athletes often praise Ahoy because the energy of the audience can be felt immediately. The audience forms a wall of sound.

The raw, industrial energy

The complex’s brutalist and industrial architecture, with exposed steel and dark concert halls, contributes to its unpolished and energetic atmosphere. Ahoy feels grand and international, while also retaining Rotterdam’s characteristic directness. It is a place where people can live it up and celebrate.

The transformation of the RTM Stage

The atmosphere in the newer RTM Stage is flexible. Thanks to its advanced acoustics and warm, modern finish, the experience can change within a few hours. During the day, international conferences are marked by a serene, professional and bright atmosphere. In the evening, it becomes an intimate theatre experience or a raw, energetic pop temple.

A melting pot of subcultures

The atmosphere in the corridors and halls changes completely with each event. One weekend, a chic, cosmopolitan vibe prevails during the North Sea Jazz Festival; the next, Ahoy becomes an explosion of healthy tension and adrenaline during a GLORY kickboxing event. A week later, the same place can transform into a quintessentially Dutch, exuberant party venue for De Vrienden van Amstel LIVE.