3 Venues in Amsterdam That Promise a Tailored Event Experience | MCI The Netherlands | EN

Ranked in Europe’s Top 5 Event & Conference destinations for 2018 (Cvent, 2018), Amsterdam is an ideal destination for corporate meetings and experiential events.

The city is full of historical, modern and conventional venues of all tastes and sizes. Whether you are in search of a large conventional center, a modern industrial warehouse or a historical venue, Amsterdam has it all.  

The Dutch capital is an architectural masterpiece with great infrastructure and public transport system, which allow for smooth navigation. It is home to over 170 nationalities, making it one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world. With nearly 200 venues and over 500 hotels, in Amsterdam, any experience is possible. Therefore, choosing the right event venue can become a real challenge.

How to select the right venue for a corporate event

So, if you want to have your event in Amsterdam, how do you choose the right venue? While success is dependent on the event’s format, objective, the number of expected attendees, budget limitations, and more, location always plays a key role. And how do you know if you’ve selected the right event location? Look at the surrounding accommodation options, food & drinks and off-site entertainment options. Even if the venue is outside the city center, Amsterdam’s public transport system allows for easy access to all parts of the city. Space capacity, parking availability and Wi-Fi accessibility are also vital elements to consider when selecting the most suitable event venue. 

But, as important as the venue type is, so is the relationship with the suppliers. Having the right partner can save you a lot of headaches, time and money.

How to convert a historical venue into a modern setting

The case of The Royal Concertgebouw

Photo Credit: Jan-Kees Steenman 

The Royal Concertgebouw is one of the world’s most famous concert halls renowned for its exceptional acoustics and royal atmosphere. Built in 1886, this historical gem is located in a popular area next to Museumplein, easily accessible by public transport. The monumental building offers various rooms and halls suitable for parties, gala dinners, receptions, meetings and conferences, with a capacity of 100 up to 3,000 people. 

Its historical ambience doesn’t take away its ability to transform into a modern and conceptual setting. Our in-house destination management brand, Ovation Holland, has experience in that, designing a gala dinner for 450 people. While the event started off in a very modest way, with award ceremonies and presentations, the event flow moved towards a conceptual level. The sessions were followed by a show with confetti streamers and lights. A DJ booth turned the gala dinner into a dance party. At the end of the show, a new concept of the company was presented on a massive drop-screen. With the right concept, execution, Audio Visual, and entertainment the key message is clear; historical does not necessarily mean traditional.

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Adding a unique, exclusive & modern flavor to a medical experience

The Case of The Loft



Photo Credits: Teo Krijgsman

The Loft, located on the 16^th floor, is the largest event space in the A’DAM Tower building. This elegant location is ideal for gala dinners and internal corporate events, with more than 600 square meters of interior space and the capacity for up to 225 guests. It also features an open kitchen and arguably has the most breathtaking views of Amsterdam, thanks to six high windows of almost 7 meters.

Despite all options, the Loft became the perfect location for a gala dinner for a large medical congress during their visit to Amsterdam in 2019, organised by Ovation Holland. The venue’s uniqueness, exclusiveness and modern touch did the trick. Located next to the IJ river, the guests arrived by boat, experiencing a short tour of the Amsterdam canals. After enjoying welcome drinks in the lobby, the guests were guided to the main hall, where the grand view of the city was unveiled, and the celebrations were off to a flying start.

Boosting the industrial vibe for a tech-themed event

The Case of Taets Art and Event Park

Taets Art and Event Park is one of the most unique event locations in the Amsterdam metropolitan area. The site offers neoclassical buildings on the water, unpolished raw industrial heritage and relaxed green areas. The 16,500 m2 event park spreads over 9 areas; Black Box, Gallery, Theater, Event Area, Meeting Area, YadaYada, Project Fabriek Event Garden and The Ship. The venue is suitable for small groups of 10 visitors, as well as for conferences, fairs or festivals for up to 10,000 visitors.

Looking back at our experience, the venue perfectly matched the requirements of Ernst & Young’s 2-day summit. The Black Box had no restrictions in terms of space and arrangements, which allowed us to play around with the ambiences. Further tailoring the venue to the needs of the event, inflatable domes were designed to host several breakout sessions for all 300 guests.


The planning of any corporate event, or experience requires operational knowledge and local expertise. And while there is a lot to think about, always remember to match the venue with the event’s format, goal and your resources. Selecting a trustworthy partner that will give you the right guidance will make the process much easier.