AFAS Live (formerly known as the Heineken Music Hall) is a concert hall in Amsterdam, Netherlands, near the Johan Cruyff Arena. The big hall, named "Black Box" has a capacity of 6,000 and is 3000 m2; a smaller hall for after parties (Beat Box) has a capacity of 700.

AFAS Live
Map
Former namesHeineken Music Hall (2001–2016)
AddressArena Boulevard 590
1101 DS Amsterdam
Netherlands
LocationAmsterdam-Zuidoost
Coordinates52°18′43″N 4°56′40″E / 52.3120°N 4.9444°E / 52.3120; 4.9444
OwnerGovernment of Amsterdam
OperatorLive Nation
Capacity6,000
Construction
Built1996–2001
Opened1 February 2001 (2001-02-01)
Construction cost30 million
ArchitectFrits van Dongen
Website
www.afaslive.nl

History

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"Black Box" interior (October 2018)

The venue was specially designed for amplified music by architect Frits van Dongen of Architekten Cie. The building was constructed between 1996 and 2001,[1] and cost €30 million.

On 16 September 2016, it was announced that the name will be changed to AFAS Live on 1 January 2017.[2] It is named after the venue's partner and sponsor AFAS Software BV (the acronym stands for Applications for Administrative Solutions) a business software developer in Leusden, the Netherlands with 450 employees.

Events

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Many artists, both national and international, have performed at AFAS Live, including Olivia Rodrigo,[3] Sleep Token,[4] Bob Dylan, Floor Jansen, Beth Hart, Kelly Clarkson, Rag'n'Bone Man, Daft Punk, Take That, Westlife, Toto, Kylie Minogue, Korn, Avril Lavigne, Bring Me the Horizon, Rihanna, Selena Gomez, Louis Tomlinson, Michael Bolton, Katy Perry, Sam Smith, Within Temptation, Demi Lovato, Troye Sivan, Fifth Harmony, Tyler, the Creator, Monsta X, Blackpink, Twenty One Pilots, J. Cole, Halsey, Simple Minds, Disturbed and Spice Girls. Alter Bridge's Live from Amsterdam was recorded at the venue. The second concert featured in Within Temptation's live album Let Us Burn – Elements & Hydra Live in Concert was also recorded at the venue.

On 1 December 2012, AFAS Live (as Heineken Music Hall) hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2012.

On 7 April 2019, AFAS Live hosted the first out of five promotional events for the Eurovision Song Contest. Eurovision in Concert featured 28 acts, most of which competed amongst the 41 in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019, in which the Netherlands went on to win.

References

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  1. ^ Groenendijk, Paul; Vollaard, Piet (2006). Architectuurgids Nederland: 1900-2000. 010 Publishers. p. 293. ISBN 9789064505737. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  2. ^ "Heineken Music Hall wordt AFAS Live" [Heineken Music Hall is AFAS Live]. Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (in Dutch). Publieke Omroep. 16 September 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2017.
  3. ^ "Facebook". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
  4. ^ "kerrang". www.kerrang.com. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
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  Media related to Heineken Music Hall at Wikimedia Commons