Ajax Museum, Amsterdam ArenA

AFC Ajax (Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax), the most famous Dutch soccer club, has been established in 1900 and throughout its rich history their squad has won Champions League (1994), an unofficial World Club Cup (Intercontinental Cup) and several times the UEFA Cup. The club maintains a small museum at the entry to the E sector of its modern stadium - Amsterdam ArenA, where all the trophies are exhibited, as well as many memorabilia’s.

Ajax ArenA
The home stadium of Ajax is impressive in its architecture. Like many modern stadiums, it has a retractable roof, which can be opened when it does not rain. After its construction in 1996, the 51 thousand seats stadium has not been very lucky for Ajax. Additionally there were serious problems with the natural grass pitch of the stadium – it had to be changed four times a year, as the grass did not grow well without wind. All these problems have been now solved – huge fan ventilators create artificial wind and special grass seeds were developed, which grow better inside the stadium. Also the Ajax team is today based on young players, with great hope for the club’s future.

The museum
Ajax Museum is a must for every Ajax supporter or a football fanatic. Historical photos show an incredible career the club has made in the Netherlands and abroad, with Ajax winning 25 important international prizes and 29 Dutch championships. The museum features Ajax Hall of Fame, an impressive showcase with all cups and prizes, as well as the Ajax History Tour – a visual history of the club.

World of Ajax Tours
Special guided tours are being organized to visit the ArenA. During the tour, you will be able to see the press room where press conferences take place before each match, visit the control room of the stadium, look at the pitch from the ArenA’s highest seat, observe the first Ajax team getting fit on the nearby training field. The visit usually ends with the visit of the museum.

Opening hours:
Ajax Museum is open in the high season: April 1 thru – September 30, Monday – Friday: 9.30 - 18.00; Saturday and Sunday: 10.00 - 17.00. Museum is closed on Sundays, when Ajax plays at home.

In winter, starting October 1 thru March 31, Monday thru Saturday: 10.00 - 17.00. On Sundays again only when Ajax does not play at home and additionally it has to be a shopping Sunday (Dutch: koopzondag – usually each last Sunday of the month plus Sundays before St. Nicholas day and Christmas).

World of Ajax Tours last 1hr 45 minutes and leave every day at 11, 12.15, 13.30, 14.45 and 16.30
In July and August the yours leave 7 times a day: at 11, 12.15, 12.45, 13.30, 14.45, 16.00 and 17.00.
There are different tours times in the off season period. Please consult their website: www.amsterdamarena.nl

Entry:
Ajax Museum - € 3,50
ArenA World of Ajax Tour - € 9,- (usually includes museum); children € 8,-
You will not be allowed to make any pictures in the ArenA nor in the Ajax Museum. At the end of the ArenA guided tour, you will be given an opportunity to purchase a photo made by their photographer (at the cost of € 6,-)

Location:
ArenA, Arena Boulevard 29, Amsterdam ZO.
Ajax ArenA, E entry.

Contact:
Ajax Museum
Postbus 12522
1100 AM Amsterdam - Zuidoost.
Phone: +31 20 - 311 14 44

Contact ArenA World Tours:
Phone: +31 20 – 311 13 36

How to get there:

• by car – from the ring A10 take A2 South direction Utrecht and soon exit at the Transferium. Park your car in the Transferium. Walk to the E entry of the ArenA. One ticket office serves both - Ajax Museum and ArenA World Tours.
• by metro – lines 50 and 54, from the Central Station take metro to the Amsterdam-Bijlmer-ArenA. Exit the station direction Arena Boulevard. Walk away from the station through the modern commercial centre. You will see the ArenA on your right, with the entry to the famous violent supporters F sector. Walk further, along the Perry Sport shop to see the E entry to the ArenA and the Ajax Museum.
• by bus: lines 29, 158, 174, 177, 178, exit on a stop Station Bijmer Arena, walk direction the metro statioon and later direction Arena Boulevard.

Website: http://english.ajax.nl/web/show/id=48139