The largest stadium in the Netherlands and the home of the great football club Ajax, the Johan Cruijff ArenA opened in 1996 in the Bijlmer district to the south-east of the centre, and was the first stadium in Europe to be fitted with a fully retractable roof. Built over almost three years at considerable cost and opened by Queen Beatrix with a match against the Italian giants of Milan, it was conceived as a multi-functional arena from the outset, able to host not only football but also concerts, sporting events and large gatherings beneath its sliding roof. Originally known as the Amsterdam ArenA, it was renamed in 2018 in honour of Johan Cruyff, the legendary player and coach who embodied the elegant, attacking style of football for which Ajax and the Dutch national team became famous around the world. For football, the stadium holds a little under fifty-six thousand spectators across its steep tiers, while for concerts the capacity can rise considerably higher depending on the stage configuration, and over the years its pitch and stands have hosted the biggest names in music as well as memorable European nights and international tournaments, including matches in major continental championships. The arena has been repeatedly modernised since it opened, gaining new corner stands, thousands of solar panels, an innovative battery built from recycled car batteries and an expanded main building, reflecting an ambition to be among the most sustainable and technologically advanced stadiums in the world. On match days the surrounding boulevard fills with supporters, and the venue forms the centrepiece of an entertainment district that also includes a concert hall and a multiplex, making it a hub of activity well beyond the football calendar. For visitors, stadium tours offer a behind-the-scenes look at the dressing rooms, the players tunnel and the pitchside, along with a museum celebrating the history of the club and its most famous son. Bound up with the identity of the city and the proud traditions of Dutch football, the Johan Cruijff ArenA is both a temple of the sport and a versatile arena at the heart of the cultural life of the capital.

Type: Stadium / Arena

Address: Johan Cruijff Boulevard 1, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Telephone: +31 20 311 1333

Website: https://www.johancruijffarena.nl

Capacity: 55865

Opening Date: 14/08/1996