Opening Night 2025: letter to residents
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra is hosting a free, open-air concert in the Sloterpark on Friday 12 September. This marks the opening of the new cultural season. It promises to be a memorable evening full of rhythm and energy. We are delighted to invite you to celebrate the start of the season with us at Opening Night 2025. Everyone is welcome!
We would like to inform you about the impact of the event on you as a local resident or business owner.
Programme Friday 12 September
- 5 pm – Opening food trucks (Abi Patat, Goudhaantje, Şerifoğlu, Komproeven, De Koffiekar and others)
- 6.45 pm - 7.30 pm - Opening acts including Young String and Wind Players of the Netherlands, reArt World Music Choir & Ensemble conducted by Selim Doğru and Nico Schippers.
- 8.15 pm - 9.35 pm - Free concert by the Concertgebouw Orchestra, with a special guest performance from ISH Dance Collective.
Read more about the programme of Opening Night >
Set-up, take-down and rehearsals
- The stage will be set up on the west shore, next to the artwork ‘Groot Landschap’
- Set-up commences on 1 September and take-down finishes on 17 September 2025
- During the set-up and take-down days, work will take place from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm
- Rehearsals take place on Thursday 11 September from 10 am to 1 pm, and 4 pm to 10 pm
- On the day of the concert, Friday 12 September, the audience is welcome from 5 pm onwards
- There will be a limited number of picnic benches available. Of course, you are also welcome to sit on the grass. Just bring a blanket and join us in celebrating the opening of the new season!
- Accessible seating for wheelchair users is available. The other public areas are on the grass, where the ground may be uneven
Accessibility park
The park will remain fully accessible during set-up and take-down. For safety reasons, one bicycle path will be temporarily closed. Cyclists are asked to walk their bikes for approximately 100 metres along the adjacent footpath.
Parking
Due to limited parking, we kindly ask visitors to come on foot, by bicycle, or by public transport. There is no additional parking available near the concert area, and parking in nearby neighbourhoods is discouraged.
Sound amplification
We play classical music. In a concert hall, amplification is often not needed, but for this open-air concert, we will use sound amplification so that everyone can fully enjoy the performance.
Rubbish
The organisers will ensure that enough rubbish bins are available, including along the entry and exit routes. Once the concert has ended, the site will be properly cleaned up.
Television
The concert will be recorded and broadcast on Saturday 13 September, at 10:45 pm on Dutch television NPO 2. A repeat broadcast is on Friday 19 September at 1.20 pm on NPO2.
Contact
We are doing everything possible to ensure that the event, including set-up and take-down, runs smoothly. If you experience any nuisance, please contact the City of Amsterdam at telephone number 14020 (Monday - Friday from 8 am to 8 pm) or online.
If you have any questions regarding the concert, please heck our frequently asked questions. If you cannot find the answer to your question there, please contact us at klantenservice@concertgebouworkest.nl.
