Concertgebouwplein 1
Finally we reached the highlight of this tour, the Concertgebouw, that magnificent building in front of you. Of course this is a KLM House, it's even a special edition.
Let me tell you it’s story. In the 1880s, a number of wealthy people had the idea of having a concert hall built. Pierre Cuypers, the architect of the Rijksmuseum, suggested using Dolf van Gent. On this tour, we have already seen a design by this architect, remember? When walking along the monumental shopping gallery on Raadhuisstraat. Both men knew each other well. They had worked both on the Amsterdam Central Station. Van Gendt was already a celebrated architect, but the Concertgebouw would become his Magnum opus.
Van Gendt meticulously studied the building plans of the Neues Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Germany, known for its excellent acoustics. Furthermore, he was inspired by the principles of Greek and Roman architecture. The foundation stone was laid in 1882, but it was not until 1888 that the Concertgebouw was opened. And it wasn't even finished then.
The Main Hall, with its flowing lines and rounded corners, could accommodate about 2,000 people. Because of its dimensions of 44 meters long, 27.5 meters wide and 17.5 meters high, the concert hall was especially suitable for classical music from the late romantic period, and less for chamber music. However, the building was not exclusively used for classical concerts. In 1894, for instance, a cycling championship took place in the Main Hall.
In the mid-nineteen eighties, the Concertgebouw was expanded with the inclusion of a modern wing by architect Pi de Bruijn. There was quite a bit or resistance to the design, but this was silenced with the argument that the wing was intentionally made of glass in order to reflect the original building. In 1988, during its centenary, the Concertgebouw Orchestra got the title 'Royal' added to its name to underline its status and cultural significance.
The Concertgebouw, together with the Symphony Hall in Boston and the Great Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna, is considered to be one of the top three concert halls in the world.
