8 August 2023
Opening Ceremony marks start of the first ever European Para Championships
The countdown to Europe’s first multi-parasport championships is officially over after the Opening Ceremony of the European Para Championships 2023 in...
The ground-breaking ceremony for the new premises of the Rotterdam events venue took place in July 2018. After ten months, construction of the new premises reaches its next important milestone: the topping out point of the dual-purpose concert hall and auditorium venue RTM Stage has been reached. With RTM Stage and the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre, Ahoy has expanded the number of square metres by no less than 50%. The new premises, featuring a congress centre of international calibre and a concert hall, will open for business in the fourth quarter of 2020. Kraaijvanger Architects was responsible for the design which is one of the components of the large-scale Hart van Zuid area development.
Artist Young Mich Poetry (Y.M.P.) opened the ceremony with a playful spoken word act. Ramon Janssen (Hart van Zuid Project Director), Hiddo den Hartog (Municipality of Rotterdam Project Manager) and Jolanda Jansen (Director of Rotterdam Ahoy) explained the meaning of this majestic project for the different parties and for the city of Rotterdam and they thanked everyone - construction workers, planning engineers, the architect and Ahoy employees - for their efforts in the project. The official moment was marked by the unveiling of the RTM Stage logo.
I can’t describe how proud I am of everyone involved in this project. For years we saw this plan on paper and that’s when you realise what an ambitious project this is. But the incredible feeling you get actually standing here on the building site now is amazing. The first events are scheduled towards the end of 2020 and we can’t wait to celebrate our 50-year anniversary at this incredible new venue in January 2021!
Ahoy Director Jolanda Jansen
An additional 35,000 square metres of floor space
The expansion of Ahoy includes the addition of no less than 35,000 square metres of floor space. This is more than half of the existing 60,000 square metres comprising Ahoy Arena, Exhibition & Event Halls, and the current Congress and Meeting Centre. The topping out point was achieved at RTM Stage, a unique new multi-purpose hall. It’s not just the largest auditorium and theatre venue in the Netherlands (seating for 2,750): when the seats are removed it is transformed into a concert hall for concerts and events accommodating up to 7,000 people. This makes RTM a unique venue among both concert and theatre halls found in the Netherlands.
Together, the 35 additional break-out rooms and the RTM Stage auditorium make up the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre. The four-storey Convention Centre has an international flair and is directly connected to Ahoy Plaza and the Exhibition & Event Halls. The Municipality of Rotterdam sees Ahoy’s expansion as a boon to the city.
Rotterdam’s popularity as a tourist and business destination has increased tremendously over the past few years. The arrival of the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre will aid the city as it continues developing into a business hotspot; more and more business travellers are setting out for Rotterdam. This will have an extra economic spin-off effect and create employment opportunities for the city.
Project Manager Hiddo den Hartog
Hart van Zuid Rotterdam
Hart van Zuid is a qualitative boost that will enhance Zuidplein and the surrounding area. Hart van Zuid will create a pleasant, healthy and sustainable living environment with scope for leisure and work. A place where both residents and visitors to the area can shop and socialise. The goal is to create a new, vibrant city centre for Rotterdam Zuid.
Hart van Zuid is a unique collaboration in the Netherlands where the municipality, business operators, schools and residents are working together with Ballast Nedam and Heijmans to bring out the full potential of this area
Hart van Zuid Project Director Ramon Janssen
