De Doelen, Congress Centre and Concert Hall

We met in Congress Centre de Doelen, located at the very heart of the “Port of Europe”, Rotterdam. 

 

 

 

Functionalist architecture combined with dynamic and modern design
De Doelen’s special appeal lies in its dual function as international concert hall and conference centre. This is underscored by the building’s design: the remarkable 1960’s functionalist architecture of the original concert hall contrasts beautifully with the conference centre’s more dynamic and modern design.

 

De Doelen comprises three groups of halls or complexes: 2 concerts halls (the Grote Zaal and the Jurriaanse Zaal) and a conference hall: the Willem Burger Zaal.

 

History of de Doelen

De Doelen was originally founded as a city concert hall in 1622 and was renovated and rebuild several times. De Doelen, which was opened in 1934, was destroyed in May 1940 during the Rotterdam blitz. The reconstruction and reopening of de Doelen in 1966 was a crowning achievement in the context of the city’s massive post-war regeneration.

 

De Doelen’s importance as a conference centre expanded dramatically in the eighties. By the end of that decade, the limits of shared use as conference centre and concert hall had been reached with respect to the expansion of both the conference centre and the concert hall. A new conference centre was clearly required. In 2000 the Willem Burger Complex was opened, returning both the Grote Zaal and Jurriaanse Zaal to their original, dedicated use as concert and recital halls.

 

Nowadays, de Doelen is not only a renowned international concert hall, but also a state-of-the-art conference centre. The venue is by far the largest centre of its kind in the Netherlands.


Address
The ARTEMIS & ITEA Co-summit 2008 took place in the Willem Burger Complex.
Kruisplein 40
3012 CC Rotterdam
The Netherlands

 

Phone: +31 (0)10 - 217 17 00
Fax: +31 (0)10 - 217 17 72
Website: http://www.dedoelen.nl/congresgebouw/index.php?setTaal=english

 

Download a street map pdf-document - 86 kB

 

Reaching Rotterdam

Rotterdam is easily accessible by air. 

  • Via Rotterdam Airport. From the airport there is a regular shuttle to Rotterdam Central Station. From there De Doelen is at walking distance (see below and the street map)
  • Via Amsterdam Schiphol. There is a direct train connection between Schiphol and Rotterdam Central Station. From there De Doelen is at walking distance (see below and the street map)

Furthermore Rotterdam is one of the stopping points of the TGV and other international trains.

   
Reaching de Doelen
Thanks to its central location, de Doelen is easily accessible by car as well as by public transport. There are several secure car parks on walking distance.  
 
Arriving by public transport

• Underground:

 Central Station (starting point and terminus).

• Train:

Rotterdam Central Station at 5 minutes’ walking distance

• Bus:

Central Station, bus numbers 33, 38, 44, 48 and 49

• Tram:

Kruisplein lines 4, 7, 8, 20, 21, 23 and 25

Note: Both the railway station and the station square are presently undergoing reconstruction. This will also affect visitors to de Doelen.

 
Driving directions for arriving at de Doelen by car

From Amsterdam / Den Haag
A13 in the direction of Rotterdam, at Kleinpolderplein follow the signs in the direction of Centrum. At the second traffic light follow the signs for Euromast/Maastunnel. Take the right tunnel after the traffic light and go left at the next traffic light. You will now be on the Weena Boulevard. For further details, consult route A in the street map.

 

From Utrecht
A20 in the direction of Den Haag / Hoek van Holland, take the Rotterdam Centrum / Schiebroek / Hillegersberg exit, at the end of the exit follow the signs to Centrum (Schieweg / Schiekade). You will now be on Hofplein square. For further details, consult route B in the street map.

 

From Breda / Dordrecht
Take the right lane on the A16 motorway (follow Kralingen / Rotterdam Centrum). Cross the Van Brienenoordbrug and take the first exit (Rotterdam Centrum). Turn left at the end of the exit lane (roundabout in the direction of Centrum), and turn onto the Maasboulevard. Continue straight ahead (along de Boompjes). At Hotel Inntel (on your right-hand side), turn right onto the Schiedamsedijk. Continue until you have reached the Coolsingel-Westblaak intersection. Turn left onto the Westblaak and continue in the direction of the Hofplein. For further details, consult route C in the street map.

 
Car park

There are several car parks on walking distance from de Doelen:
• P1 Schouwburgplein.
• P2 Groothandelsgebouw
• P3 Weena
• P4 Plaza
• P5 Stad Rotterdam
• P6 Bijenkorf