|
The roots of the modern Ahoy date back to 1950. Rotterdam had worked day and night to rebuild the city after the devastation of World War II. The port was all but complete and an exhibition entitled 'Rotterdam Ahoy!' was therefore organised. The exhibition hall, on the site where the Medical Faculty of the Erasmus University now stands, was named the Ahoy' hall. (The apostrophe was a remnant of the original exclamation mark.) In the following years, the hall hosted a series of national and international events, including the exhibition of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. During the disastrous flood of 1953, the hall was even used as temporary accommodation for the victims.
Ahoy Rotterdam, the multifunctional facility we know today, was opened in 1971. A striking venue that won Dutch and foreign prizes for its special steel constructions. Ahoy has been further expanded since then. A renovation and redevelopment followed in 1998, and in the ensuing years, we have worked increasingly intensively on innovation in our services.
And the next renovation is a fact. From 2009 until end 2010 the Arena has been overhauled and expanded to create a maximum capacity over 15,000 (standing or seated). So Ahoy is, and will remain, one of the main venues for major (sporting) events, concerts, shows and other forms of entertainment, both in the Netherlands and beyond.
|
