Concertgebouw
Het Concertgebouw52°21′ N 4°53′ E
The Concertgebouw is Amsterdam's main concert hall and the home of the Concertgebouw Orchestra, and it suits anyone who wants a Christmas concert in the city, with the orchestra's Christmas Matinee on 25 December as the date to plan around. The hall sits at the end of the Museumplein, so it pairs easily with the Christmas Village market outside.
Photo Ellywa · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 and others, credited in the gallery
The Concertgebouw Orchestra was founded in 1888 and played its first Christmas Matinee on Boxing Day that year. The concert now falls on Christmas Day, and Dutch television has broadcast it since 25 December 1975. The building stands on the southern edge of the Museumplein, a few minutes on foot from the Christmas Village stalls.
For wheelchair users, lifts go up to the Recital Hall and the Main Hall balconies, and staff are on hand to help. Walkers and wheelchairs cannot be left in the aisles, so ask about a place where you can keep yours beside you.
Worth knowing
- Book Christmas Matinee seats as soon as the orchestra opens sales; the 2026 programme was not yet listed in October.
Quick answers about Concertgebouw
Is the Concertgebouw wheelchair accessible?
Yes. The Concertgebouw has lifts to the Recital Hall and the Main Hall balconies, and both halls keep seats for wheelchair users and a companion.
When is the Concertgebouw Christmas Matinee?
The Concertgebouw Orchestra's Christmas Matinee takes place on Christmas Day. The 2026 date of 25 December is projected from that tradition until the orchestra publishes its programme.