Ahoy makes it happen

Big names

For the past 45 years, Rotterdam Ahoy has been creating the top location for large and small experiences. Artists like Pink Floyd, Frank Sinatra, Frank Zappa, James Brown, Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Golden Earring, Coldplay, David Bowie, Genesis, Neil Diamond, Elton John, U2, Stevie Wonder, Queen, ABBA, Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, The Police, UB40, Prince, Jimi Hendrix, Julio Iglesias, Neil Young, Eminem, Paul McCartney, Brian Ferry, Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker and George Michael all played the venue. Music is a big part of the succes of the complex with recurrent festivals like De Vrienden van Amstel, Nacht van Oranje and off course world renowned North Sea Jazz. But Ahoy also attracts people with conventions, trade fairs, sporting events like the returning ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament and Premier League Darts. So it's only appropriate the Venue was awarded with The Marketing Award Rotterdam as it's annually given to people who make an important contribution to the image of the city.

Ahoy also played a big part in getting the Eurovision Song Contest to Rotterdam. This coming may the festival will attract thousands of people to Rotterdam. Riva can provide accommodation for visitors. We have several apartments near Ahoy at our disposal. In different price ranges. Like this luxurious apartment, fit for a winner or a more afforable one like this one. We offer houses for short stay 

According to the jury of the Marketing Awards, Rotterdam Ahoy has for years been able to bind "wonderful international events such as North Sea Jazz, League of Legends, multi-day concerts such as Vrienden van Amstel and of course the Eurovision Song Contest," to the city. For almost 50 years, Ahoy has been able to offer a home base to international artists, top athletes and other prominent figures. The jury finds it praiseworthy Ahoy cooperates with small local social initiatives.

Lee Towers at Vrienden van Amstel Live, photo: Paul Bergen

Transformation of South

Rotterdam Ahoy is part of the transformation of Rotterdam South where Hart van Zuid is to become a new bustling city center. "Rotterdam Ahoy is an important part of this development and is also an important attraction for the entire city and far beyond," said the jury. The renewed and expanded Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Center will open at the end of 2020, making it one of the larger conference centers in the Netherlands.

Upcoming

Predecessors of Ahoy are Feyenoord, Kunsthal, chef Francois Geurds and architect Winy Maas (MVRDV) for creating the Markthal. There is also an award for up-and-coming initiatives. It has been provided to Merwe-Vierhavens (M4H), Soufiane Touzani and Better Future Factory. This year TV chefs Job Pattinasarany and Perry de Man (De Toko Rotterdam in Blijdorp) deserved to win. They are already well known in the city, working at several restaurants. They presented a cooking show on a local network and were scouted by 24Kitchen. They're now the host of Wat eten we vandaag? (What do we eat today?) and they do that the Rotterdam way according to the jury. "They put things upside down, are rough, raw and unimpressed. And ensure a huge smile on your face with their Rotterdam tongue, sobriety and jokes. Rotterdam is regularly mentoined in their cooking show, that way they make a great contribution to the positive image of the city.''

Job and Perry, photo: 24kitchen

 

 

Mayor Aboutaleb presented both Marketing Awards during the Rotterdam New Year's drink, organized by Rotterdam Partners, together with the municipality of Rotterdam and Rotterdam Festivals. The New Year's reception took place at the Maassilo. During the New Year’s meeting it was also announced the Make it happen-alliance was extended. The City of Rotterdam, the Port of Rotterdam Authority, Erasmus University Rotterdam and Rotterdam Partners joined forces on 14 December 2014 to put Rotterdam even more firmly on on the national and international map. The joint efforts through the payoff ‘Make it happen’ reflects the typical Rotterdam mentality and showcases what the city, its port and its inhabitants are all about: pioneering, pushing boundaries and a general no-nonsense vibe.

In the next years Cruise Port Rotterdam, Blijdorp Zoo, Euromast, Feyenoord Rotterdam, RDM Rotterdam, Rotterdam Ahoy, Rotterdam The Hague Airport, Rotterdam Port Promotion Council, Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Spido and Erasmus MC also became partners. They all signed a formal agreement to extend the collaboration by five years during the reception.