RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre,[1] formerly Amsterdam RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre or simply RAI Amsterdam[1] (Dutch pronunciation: [raːi]ⓘ, acronym for Rijwiel en Automobiel Industrie), is a complex of conference and exhibition halls in the Zuidas business district of Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Opened in 1961, the RAI welcomed its 75 millionth visitor in February 2001. Up to 2 million people visit the RAI every year. Some 50 international conferences and 70 trade shows are held at the RAI annually. The complex consists of 22 conference rooms and 11 multi-functional halls and has a total floor space of 112,200 m2. The largest and oldest hall, Europahal RAI, has capacity for 12,900 people. The complex also includes a musical and concert theatre and underground parking space for over 4,000 cars. The convention centre gives its name to the nearby Amsterdam RAI railway station.
The origins of the RAI complex can be traced back to 1893, when the trade association RI (Rijwiel-Industrie, Dutch for "Bicycle Industry") was founded by several bicycle manufacturers. The first bicycle trade show of the RI was held in 1895 at the Paleis voor Volksvlijt ("Palace of Industry") building in Amsterdam. In 1900, the RI changed its name to RAI (Rijwiel en Automobiel Industrie) because many of its members had started manufacturing automobiles in addition to bicycles.
In 1922 the RAI occupied an exhibition hall of its own on the Ferdinand Bolstraat in Amsterdam. This building, the "old RAI", was demolished in 1975 and replaced by the current building complex on Europaplein square, which was opened by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands on February 2, 1961. Vesthallen was completed in 1963, and a separate conference center followed in 1965. Since then, the center has continued to grow with several new halls and meeting rooms.
The RAI completed the construction of a 47 metres tall expansion named Elicium in 2009, serving as Europe’s largest conference center.[2] A multi-purpose building, Amtrium, opened in 2015, and an underground car park followed in 2016. In January 2020, the center's first hotel was opened.[3]
Europahal RAI was declared a Rijksmonument in 2015 together with the advertising pillar in front of it. The RAI trade association still owns 75% of the complex, with the remainder in the hands of the municipality of Amsterdam.
Eventsedit
Trade shows and other events held annually at the RAI include:
amsterdam, convention, centre, railway, metro, station, amsterdam, station, formerly, amsterdam, exhibition, convention, centre, simply, amsterdam, dutch, pronunciation, raːi, acronym, rijwiel, automobiel, industrie, complex, conference, exhibition, halls, zui. For the railway and metro station see Amsterdam RAI station RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre 1 formerly Amsterdam RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre or simply RAI Amsterdam 1 Dutch pronunciation raːi acronym for Rijwiel en Automobiel Industrie is a complex of conference and exhibition halls in the Zuidas business district of Amsterdam Netherlands RAI Amsterdam Convention CentreRAI Elicium and statues within square 2016 LocationZuidas Amsterdam NetherlandsCoordinates52 20 29 N 4 53 18 E 52 34139 N 4 88833 E 52 34139 4 88833OwnerRAI VerenigingMunicipality of AmsterdamArchitectAlexander BodonOpened2 February 1961 63 years ago 2 February 1961 Renovated2007 2009 2018Expanded1963 1965 2009 2015Former namesAmsterdam RAI Exhibition and Convention CentreTheatre seating12 900 Europahal RAI 1 750 RAI Theatre Enclosed space Total space112 200 m2 1 208 000 sq ft Parking4 000 spacesPublic transit accessTrain Amsterdam RAIMetro RAI EuropapleinWebsitewww wbr rai wbr nl Opened in 1961 the RAI welcomed its 75 millionth visitor in February 2001 Up to 2 million people visit the RAI every year Some 50 international conferences and 70 trade shows are held at the RAI annually The complex consists of 22 conference rooms and 11 multi functional halls and has a total floor space of 112 200 m2 The largest and oldest hall Europahal RAI has capacity for 12 900 people The complex also includes a musical and concert theatre and underground parking space for over 4 000 cars The convention centre gives its name to the nearby Amsterdam RAI railway station Contents 1 History 2 Events 3 In media 4 Gallery 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksHistory editThe origins of the RAI complex can be traced back to 1893 when the trade association RI Rijwiel Industrie Dutch for Bicycle Industry was founded by several bicycle manufacturers The first bicycle trade show of the RI was held in 1895 at the Paleis voor Volksvlijt Palace of Industry building in Amsterdam In 1900 the RI changed its name to RAI Rijwiel en Automobiel Industrie because many of its members had started manufacturing automobiles in addition to bicycles In 1922 the RAI occupied an exhibition hall of its own on the Ferdinand Bolstraat in Amsterdam This building the old RAI was demolished in 1975 and replaced by the current building complex on Europaplein square which was opened by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands on February 2 1961 Vesthallen was completed in 1963 and a separate conference center followed in 1965 Since then the center has continued to grow with several new halls and meeting rooms The RAI completed the construction of a 47 metres tall expansion named Elicium in 2009 serving as Europe s largest conference center 2 A multi purpose building Amtrium opened in 2015 and an underground car park followed in 2016 In January 2020 the center s first hotel was opened 3 Europahal RAI was declared a Rijksmonument in 2015 together with the advertising pillar in front of it The RAI trade association still owns 75 of the complex with the remainder in the hands of the municipality of Amsterdam Events editTrade shows and other events held annually at the RAI include KunstRAI an art fair AutoRAI an automobile trade show until 2015 HISWA a boating and watersports trade show Horecava a trade fair for the hospitality industry Horti Fair a trade show for the horticultural industry International Broadcasting Convention an annual trade show for broadcasters Jumping Amsterdam an equestrian sporting event LXRY Masters previously Miljonair Fair a trade fair aimed at the very wealthiest In addition the 1969 Grand Gala du Disque 4 and 1970 Eurovision Song Contest were held at the RAI In media editParts of the film Trafic 1971 by Jacques Tati were shot at the RAI during the 1970 car show Gallery edit nbsp The convention centre in the 1970s nbsp Europahal RAI in April 2002 nbsp The Amtrium building in June 2016See also editList of convention centres in the NetherlandsReferences edit a b About RAI Amsterdam www rai nl Retrieved 17 June 2019 Our heritage the RAI Story Rai nl Archived from the original on 2011 11 07 Retrieved 2011 10 16 nhow Amsterdam RAI is open MarketingTribune in Dutch 13 January 2020 Retrieved 30 November 2022 Artist Are Listed For Amsterdam Grand Gala PDF Billboard March 15 1969 p 62 External links edit nbsp Media related to Amsterdam RAI at Wikimedia Commons Official website in Dutch Preceded byTeatro RealMadrid Eurovision Song Contest Venue1970 Succeeded byGaiety TheatreDublin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre amp oldid 1219223415, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
