Amsterdam RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre
Encyclopedia
The Amsterdam RAI Exhibition and Convention Centre (Dutch
: RAI Congrescentrum), or RAI for short, is a complex of conference and exhibition halls in the Zuidas
business district of Amsterdam
, the Netherlands
. The complex gives its name to the nearby Amsterdam RAI railway station
. In 1970 the Eurovision Song Contest
was held at the RAI.
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 halls and has a total floor space of 87,000 m². The largest hall can seat 12,900 people. The complex also includes a musical and concert theatre and underground parking space for over 3,000 cars.
The RAI completed construction of a 47 metres tall expansion named Elicium in 2009, serving as Europe’s largest conference center.
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 a number of 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 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 replaced by the current building complex on Europaplein square, which was opened by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands on February 2, 1961. The RAI trade association still owns 75% of the complex, with the remainder in the hands of the municipality of Amsterdam.
Dutch language
Dutch is a West Germanic language and the native language of the majority of the population of the Netherlands, Belgium, and Suriname, the three member states of the Dutch Language Union. Most speakers live in the European Union, where it is a first language for about 23 million and a second...
: RAI Congrescentrum), or RAI for short, is a complex of conference and exhibition halls in the Zuidas
Zuidas
The Zuidas is a large, rapidly developing business district in the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The Zuidas is also known as the 'Financial Mile'. It lies between the Amstel river and the turnaround of the ringway A10. The greatest influences for the development of the Zuidas are La...
business district of Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. The complex gives its name to the nearby Amsterdam RAI railway station
Amsterdam RAI railway station
The railway station Amsterdam RAI is situated in southern Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It lies between the two directions of the A10 Amsterdam ring road. It is also a metro station at which GVB operates two routes...
. In 1970 the Eurovision Song Contest
Eurovision Song Contest
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual competition held among active member countries of the European Broadcasting Union .Each member country submits a song to be performed on live television and then casts votes for the other countries' songs to determine the most popular song in the competition...
was held at the RAI.
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 halls and has a total floor space of 87,000 m². The largest hall can seat 12,900 people. The complex also includes a musical and concert theatre and underground parking space for over 3,000 cars.
The RAI completed construction of a 47 metres tall expansion named Elicium in 2009, serving as Europe’s largest conference center.
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 a number of 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 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
Ferdinand Bolstraat
The Ferdinand Bolstraat is a street in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. The street was named after the artist Ferdinand Bol in 1872...
in Amsterdam. This building, the "old RAI", was replaced by the current building complex on Europaplein square, which was opened by Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands on February 2, 1961. The RAI trade association still owns 75% of the complex, with the remainder in the hands of the municipality of Amsterdam.
Events
Trade shows and other events held annually at the RAI include:- Art Amsterdam, an art fair
- AutoRAI, an automobile trade show
- HISWAHISWAThe voluntary association HISWA is an industry trade group for the Netherlands water sports business. HISWA is famous for a twice-yearly organized consumer trade show for the water sports public. At these trade fairs one will find many pleasure boats, from small to large luxury motor and sailing...
, a boating and watersports trade show - HorecavaHorecavaThe Horecava is a Dutch annual hospitality trade fair held in Amsterdam since 1957 It is the largest hospitaly fair in the Netherlands. It hosts the annual Dutch national championship hospitality since 2007.-History:...
, a trade fair for the hospitality industry - Horti Fair, a trade show for the horticultural industry
- International Broadcasting ConventionInternational Broadcasting ConventionThe International Broadcasting Convention, more commonly known by its acronym IBC, is an annual trade show for broadcasters, content creators/providers, equipment manufacturers, professional and technical associations, and other participants in the Broadcasting industry...
, an annual trade show for broadcasters - Jumping Amsterdam, an equestrian sporting event
- Miljonair Fair, a trade fair aimed at the very wealthiest