January 2019

The Olympic Stadium was built for the 1928 Olympic Games. After the Games, the Stadium took on a multi-functional character, hosting various sport events, national and international football matches and cultural events

However, after its gradual decay in the 1980s the stadium was listed for demolition. Following strong opposition, the Stadium became a national monument and underwent a major renovation in 2000 with the objective of becoming self-sustainable through the hosting of events. In addition, the Stadium is used extensively by athletes of the local athletics club but also by several elite world and European champions. The potential demolition highlighted that the Dutch population was largely unaware of the facility’s history and how hosting the Olympics in 1928 helped place Amsterdam on the map globally. Therefore, a strong focus was placed on educating the youth, across the Netherlands and elsewhere, about the Games’ legacy, the iconic Stadium and Amsterdam’s relationship with the Olympic Movement. To learn more about Amsterdam’s Olympic Stadium, click here!