Tips for unique event venues at home and abroad
Worldwide, there are an innumerable number of event venues that can be booked for your New Year's event, product launch or dealer day, for example. In this blog, we are happy to give you three tips for extraordinary venues within the Netherlands, as well as abroad. Think of museums, but also venues with a fascinating history and/or a sustainable vision for the future!
Within the Netherlands
The National Maritime Museum – Amsterdam, North Holland
The National Maritime Museum is housed in a listed heritage building from the 17e yuck; the old Admiralty Sea Warehouse. The museum has a unique waterfront location in the centre of Amsterdam, and behind the building's classical facade lies one of our capital city's most spectacular and modern event locations: Het Open Pleyn. Since a major renovation, this museum courtyard has been the focal point of the museum. Standing on the square, the surrounding high walls are impressive and the beautiful arches provide a lovely vista. What makes the Open Pleyn extra special is its unique metal and glass roof construction. This structure allows visitors to enjoy pleasant natural light in the courtyard during the day. In the evening, the 868 LED lights in the metal framework switch on to form a brilliant starry sky.
Make your event extra special with a stunning entrance! This by mooring with a boat at the jetty at the back of the museum, with the replica of the VOC ship Amsterdam as an eye-catcher.
KAS meeting – Woerden, Utrecht
This location features a unique 160m² greenhouse on the roof of the building, offering wonderful views over the historic district of Woerden. The enormous amount of natural daylight provides plenty of energy during the day! Home-grown produce is used for the catering. Furthermore, the venue is innovative in terms of technology and sustainability, and holds the Green Key sustainability certification. Sustainability is very important to the company and this is reflected in the building, partly through the use of sustainable building materials. For example, acoustic panels have been made from recycled jeans, and the spaces are largely cooled and heated by sustainable heat pumps and geothermal energy.
Amsterdome – Amsterdam, Noord-Holland
In 1966, to mark their 50th anniversaries, KLM and Fokker jointly decided to construct the building at Schiphol-Centre and transfer it to the National Aviation Museum Foundation. Architect E.A. Riphagen chose a futuristic dome as an eye-catcher, which was built in 1971. It was Europe's first geodesic dome and, for a long time, this aluminium dome was the largest in the world. The more than 1,100 diamond-shaped aluminium panels were assembled one by one. As the museum's collection continued to grow, the dome became too small and the museum relocated to another site. The dome remained empty until it was dismantled in 2004.
After the Amsterdome had been stored in containers for years, the iconic dome was completely rebuilt in 2018 using the original components combined with today's sustainability techniques and measures. For example, the Amsterdome is entirely gas-free and self-sufficient in its energy supply. In addition, the dome has an almost entirely recycled interior, such as bars made from containers and designer chairs made from old refrigerators.
What else makes this location so special? From the foyer, you have an impressive view of the dome. Furthermore, the central plenary hall can be completely decorated to your own style and features a large stage with a 17-metre-wide curved screen. Thanks to the modern LED lighting, it is also possible to create your own desired atmosphere.
Outside the Netherlands
Senckenberg Natural History Museum – Frankfurt, Germany
Ever dined among dinosaurs? Or celebrated a party in a special historical atmosphere? The atria in the Senckenberg Natural History Museum in Frankfurt and the ballroom in the Jügelhaus are offered as event spaces at this location. Thanks to the unique ‘decor’ of these spaces, your event is guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience. On request, guided tours or lectures tailored to the event can also be booked.
Castello degli Schiavi – Fiumefreddo, Sicily
Host a spectacular party with a Godfather vibe at this extraordinary venue in Fiumefreddo, Sicily. This location is world-famous for its use as a film set in Godfather films 1 and 2. Welcome your guests at the entrance, where a scene from the film is played on the gate. After the scene, the gates open and everyone is welcomed with canapés and drinks in the inner courtyard. Afterwards, a dinner is served at a stunning location inside the castle, accompanied by live Italian music.
Casino de Madrid – Madrid, Spain
This location has a history dating back to 1910, when an intellectual gentlemen's club was founded. The interior is stunning and impressive, and is guaranteed to provide a spectacular highlight during a trip or event! The showpiece is the staircase in the middle of the building, featuring a red carpet. A perfect spot for a group photo before everyone enjoys a delicious dinner, curated by a Michelin-starred chef!
Naturally, both in the Netherlands and abroad, there are many more special locations to organise your meeting or event. During the selection process, we always look at your wishes, objectives, budget, target audience, message, and your theme or concept to select a fitting, unique, and special location. Curious about several other special locations within the Netherlands? Then be sure to read our blogs ‘Museums as event venues‘and‘Tips for inspiring and successful offsite meetings‘. Or put our local knowledge to the test straight away by sending your next enquiry without obligation to Ones to lay down!