AFAS Live
{{Short description|Concert hall}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = AFAS Live
| nickname =
| image = AFAS Live voorgevel.jpg
| address = Arena Boulevard 590
1101 DS Amsterdam
Netherlands
| location = Amsterdam-Zuidoost
| coordinates = {{coord|52.3120|N|4.9444|E|region:NL_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| built = 1996–2001
| opened = {{Start date|2001|02|01|df=yes}}
| renovated =
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = Government of Amsterdam
| operator = Live Nation
| construction_cost = €30 million
| architect = Frits van Dongen
| former_names = Heineken Music Hall (2001–2016)
| seating_type =
| seating_capacity = 6,000
| website = {{URL|http://www.afaslive.nl/}}
}}
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.
The venue opened in 2001 and was sponsored by Heineken until 2017. It attracts around 650,000 visitors per year.{{Cite web |title=Het verhaal achter jouw favoriete concertzaal: AFAS Live |url=https://www.npo3fm.nl/nieuws/3fm-nieuws/437ea263-4bb4-4295-be17-fe9eb527c159/het-verhaal-achter-jouw-favoriete-concertzaal-afas-live |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=NPO 3FM |language=nl}}
History
File:Heineken Music Hall - panoramio (1).jpg
The venue was specially designed for amplified music by architect Frits van Dongen of Architekten Cie. The building was constructed between 1996 and 2001, and cost €30 million.{{cite book |last1=Groenendijk |first1=Paul |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Rzv45YV7j9MC&pg=PT293 |title=Architectuurgids Nederland: 1900-2000 |last2=Vollaard |first2=Piet |publisher=010 Publishers |year=2006 |isbn=9789064505737 |page=293 |access-date=1 September 2012}}
In March 2009, a concert by The Killers had to be postponed until May because of a bomb threat at a nearby IKEA.{{Cite web |last=Hein |first=Anton |date=2009-03-12 |title=Amsterdam escapes terrorist attack |url=https://www.dutchamsterdam.nl/620-amsterdam-escapes-terrorist-attack |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Amsterdam Tourist Information |language=en-US}}
In 2013, when Kanye West performed at the venue, he requested an all-white dressing room, including a deep pile white carpet that cost around €10,000. However, he went on stage directly from his car and did not set foot inside the dressing room once before leaving.
On 16 September 2016, it was announced that the name will be changed to AFAS Live on 1 January 2017.{{cite web |url=http://nos.nl/artikel/2132547-heineken-music-hall-wordt-afas-live.html |title=Heineken Music Hall wordt AFAS Live |language=nl |trans-title=Heineken Music Hall is AFAS Live|author= |date=16 September 2016 |website=Nederlandse Omroep Stichting |publisher=Publieke Omroep |access-date=13 January 2017}} 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. The name AFAS Live is spelt out on the aluminum facade with 70,000 blue caps.
Events
Alter Bridge's Live from Amsterdam was recorded at the venue.{{cite web |title=ALTER BRIDGE TO RELEASE FIRST-EVER LIVE DVD 'LIVE IN AMSTERDAM' |url=http://roadcrewmag.com/issue/boo-we-got-the-interviews-for-you/article/alter-bridge-to-release-first-ever-live-dvd-live-in-amsterdam |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310072930/http://roadcrewmag.com/issue/boo-we-got-the-interviews-for-you/article/alter-bridge-to-release-first-ever-live-dvd-live-in-amsterdam |archive-date=2012-03-10 |access-date=2010-12-08 |publisher=Road Crew Mag}} The second concert featured in Within Temptation's live album Let Us Burn – Elements & Hydra Live in Concert was also recorded at the venue.{{Cite web |last=Blabbermouth |date=2014-10-01 |title=WITHIN TEMPTATION To Release 'Let Us Burn - Elements & Hydra Live In Concert' DVD, Blu-Ray, 2CD |url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/within-temptation-to-release-let-us-burn-elements-hydra-live-in-concert-dvd-blu-ray-2cd |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=BLABBERMOUTH.NET |language=en}}
On 1 December 2012, AFAS Live (as Heineken Music Hall) hosted the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2012.{{Cite web |date=2012-10-11 |title=Azeri participants of Junior Eurovision 2012 named |url=https://www.azernews.az/culture/44766.html |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Azernews.Az |language=en}}
On 3 March 2018, 93-year-old Charles Aznavour became the oldest person to perform at AFAS Live, in what was one of his last concerts before his death in October.{{Cite web |title=Franse zanger Charles Aznavour op 93-jarige leeftijd naar AFAS Live {{!}} Nieuws op Podiuminfo |url=https://www.podiuminfo.nl/news/41581/Franse-zanger-Charles-Aznavour-op-93-jarige-leeftijd-naar-AFAS-Live/ |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=www.podiuminfo.nl}}
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.
On 30 October 2024, the virtual software program Hatsune Miku gave a concert at AFAS Live.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-29 |title=Ze bestaat niet echt, maar AFAS Live is toch uitverkocht: Hatsune Miku 'voelt als echt concert' |url=https://www.hartvannederland.nl/tech/ai/artikelen/ze-bestaat-niet-echt-maar-afas-live-is-toch-uitverkocht-hatsune-miku-voelt |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=Hart van Nederland |language=nl}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline}}
- {{Official website|https://www.afaslive.nl}} {{in lang|nl}}
{{Music venues in the Netherlands}}
{{Live Nation}}
{{Amsterdam}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Concert halls in Amsterdam
Category:Music venues in the Netherlands
Category:Theatres completed in 2001
Category:2001 establishments in the Netherlands