Amsterdam - Concertgebouw

The building of Holland's most famous concert hall, Concertgebouw, was inspired by a German. In 1879 Johannes Brahms was invited to Amsterdam to conduct his Third Symphony. After the concert Brahms said: "You are good people but bad musicians!" The people of Amsterdam took this harsh criticism to heart and formed a society to establish an orchestra and a concert hall that would seat about 2,000. The concert hall was designed by A. van Gendt and inaugurated in 1888. The 65-member orchestra was entrusted to Willem Kes who laid the foundations for the fine reputation both of the orchestra and of the concert hall.

Must-see attractions nearby:

Royal Palace

Dutch National Museum

Municipal Museum

Van Gogh Museum

Old Church

Jewish Historical Museum

New Church

Kes's successor was the 24-year-old Willem Mengelberg who was associated with the Concertgebouw Orchestra for 50 years. Under his direction it developed into one of the best orchestras in the world. He introduced the symphonic music of Mahler and of Richard Strauss who dedicated his "Heldenleben" to Mengelberg.