Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw began as a citizens’ campaign for a dedicated concert hall on the fields of Nieuwer-Amstel. Opened in 1888, its Main Hall became renowned only after years of acoustic adjustment; a memorial inside also recalls Jewish musicians dismissed during the occupation.
Quick facts
Six Amsterdam citizens formed a provisional committee for a new concert hall on 15 September 1881.
The Concertgebouw opened on 11 April 1888 with an ad hoc orchestra led by Henri Viotta; the resident orchestra’s first subscription concert followed on 3 November.
A 2020 memorial inside the building names 17 Jewish orchestra members dismissed during the occupation; three were murdered in the Holocaust.
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Guide
The Concertgebouw began with a practical problem: Amsterdam’s musical life lacked a large, purpose-built hall. On 15 September 1881, six citizens formed a provisional committee. The Parkzaal was due to be demolished, Felix Meritis was small, and the Paleis voor Volksvlijt was uncomfortable and known for poor acoustics. The group enlisted architect Pierre Cuypers, then working on the Rijksmuseum, to help find a site.
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