Meervaart in Amsterdam
Meervaart is the 800-seat theatre of Amsterdam Nieuw-West on the Sloterplas: cabaret, dance and family shows in two halls, with the tram stopping outside and the first hour of parking free.
Photo credits
The dark Meervaart theatre building with its white logo, seen from the south on a clear day: BonstraGeert · CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answers
- Rode Zaal
- 800 seats
- Address
- Meer en Vaart 3001068 LE Amsterdam
- Blauwe Zaal
- 260 seats
- Tram
- Line 17 stops outside; line 1, 4 min walk
- Parking
- Q-Park Osdorpplein, 1 min, first hour free
- Doors
- 1 hour before (Rode Zaal)
- Tickets
- Drink mostly included; EUR 2.00 booking per order
- Payment
- Card only
- Contact
- [email protected]No public phone number
Meervaart agenda: upcoming events
Tonight, this week and the months ahead at this venue in Amsterdam.
Last night at Meervaart: Tarantula - Concertgebouworkest & OOrkaan, Alice in Wonderland - De Toneelmakerij & DOX
This week
November 2026
Plan your visit to Meervaart
How many people fit in Meervaart?
- Rode Zaal
- 800 seats: 523 stalls, 277 balcony
- Blauwe Zaal
- 260 seats, up to 270 for events
- Price tiers
- Usually three in the Rode Zaal, two in the Blauwe Zaal
- Foyers
- 685 m² by the Rode Zaal, 145 m² by the Blauwe Zaal
The Rode Zaal holds 800 people: 523 fixed seats on the ground floor and 277 on the balcony. It is the large theatre hall for cabaret, dance, music and family shows, with three price tiers at most theatre performances.
The Blauwe Zaal holds 260 people seated, up to 270 for events. It is a bright, flexible hall with a retractable stand and a view over the Sloterplas; with the stand pushed in, a wooden floor appears for dinners, fairs and receptions.
For scale: the Rode Zaal sits between DeLaMar's two halls, smaller than the Wim Sonneveld Zaal (949 visitors) and larger than the Mary Dresselhuys Zaal (601 visitors).
| Hall or venue | Seats | Suited for / source |
|---|---|---|
| Rode Zaal | 800 (523 stalls + 277 balcony) | Large theatre shows, congresses, presentations |
| Blauwe Zaal | 260 (up to 270 for events) | Medium shows, congresses, dinners, receptions |
| DeLaMar, Wim Sonneveld Zaal (Amsterdam) | 949 visitors | Theatre hall with a balcony (source: delamar.nl hall plan) |
| DeLaMar, Mary Dresselhuys Zaal (Amsterdam) | 601 visitors | Theatre hall with a balcony (source: delamar.nl hall plan) |
Seating plan: which seats to choose
Both halls are fully seated; your ticket states the hall, the row and the seat.
Rode Zaal numbering
Even numbers right, odd numbers left (seen from the audience)
Rode Zaal rake
Rows 1-6 level; raked from row 7
Blauwe Zaal numbering
Seats 1-21, entrance side to far side
Blauwe Zaal rake
Row 1 level with the players; raked from row 2
- In the Rode Zaal, seats 2 and 4 sit next to each other on the right; in the middle you can hold an even and an odd number (30 and 31) and still sit together.
- Want the best view? From row 7 the floor rises, so the back rows look over the rows in front; rows 1-6 are level with a raised stage.
- In the Blauwe Zaal, seat 1 is on the entrance side and seat 21 on the far side; row 1 sits level with the players.
- Rang on your ticket is a price category, not a part of the building: the row and seat numbers tell you where you sit.
How an evening at Meervaart works
From the front door to the encore in five steps.
- Check the start and end times on the show page. Most evening shows start at 20:00 or 20:15 and end around 22:00-23:00; family matinees are usually in the afternoon, around 15:00.
- Come when the doors open: one hour before a Rode Zaal show, 45 minutes before a Blauwe Zaal show. The hall itself opens about 15 minutes before the start.
- Have a drink at the foyer bar, open from one hour before the show. Drinks and small packaged snacks may be taken into the hall.
- Most shows include an interval drink: it is served in the foyer during the interval, or after the show when there is no interval.
- Leave coats and bags at the staffed cloakroom and take your glass or bottle back to the bar afterwards. After the show the foyer bar stays open for a final drink.
Can you eat at Meervaart?
There is no dinner at Meervaart itself, but the streets around Osdorpplein are full of restaurants within a few minutes on foot.
- Dinner
- Not possible, except at select shows with a dinner buffet
- Foyer bar
- Open from one hour before; drinks may go into the hall
- Interval drink
- Included with most shows
- Tell the restaurant you are going to Meervaart afterwards, so the staff can make sure you finish in time for the show.
- Closest options are Westmarket (100 m), Burger 'n Shake and Sorridi (110 m), Ness and Red Elephant Thai food (240 m) and Sallora (280 m).
- Slightly further: GIA (350 m), Kaap West (300 m), Sahan (600 m), Boothuis by the Sloterplas (1.2 km) and LELY (2.2 km).
Tickets, prices and booking fees
Most ticket prices include a drink, on top of which every order carries a EUR 2.00 booking fee, whether you book online, by phone, at the counter or by mail. Buy only through Meervaart itself or its recognised sellers (NTK, ANWB, Ticketmaster, BankGiro Loterij): resale at a profit is forbidden and unofficial sellers give no refund on cancellation.
Holders of a CJP pass (under 30s) get 25% off most shows at the counter or by mail, one ticket per pass. For some shows a limited number of Stadspas tickets is available, bookable only by mail; price and availability are shown per show. Groups of 11 or more book through the box office.
Changed your mind? Up to 28 days before the show you pay EUR 5.00 per ticket and the rest is refunded; up to 48 hours before, the amount minus EUR 2.00 per ticket returns as credit valid for two years. Booking fees are never refunded. If Meervaart cancels, you always get your money back or an alternative date.
Late for a show? After the start there is no admission; in exceptional cases ask the duty manager. There is no waiting list for sold-out shows, but released seats reappear online and at the counter, so keep watching the website.
- Booking fee
- EUR 2.00 per order, online and at the counter
- E-ticket
- Free by mail; scanning from your phone is fine
- CJP
- 25% off most shows at the counter, under 30s
- Groups
- 11 or more via the box office
- Payment
- Card only, everywhere in the building
Accessibility at Meervaart
Most of the building is level, with a lift to the first floor and an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Wheelchair seats (four in the Rode Zaal, one in the Blauwe Zaal, each with blocked companion seats) can only be booked through the box office by mail or phone, not online.
For deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors both halls have a Phonak Roger FM system: receivers with headphones can be borrowed at reception, and the signal can also go straight to a hearing aid with a T-coil. Meervaart joins the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower: wearing its lanyard tells staff discreetly that you may need extra support or time.
Official assistance dogs are welcome; tell Meervaart beforehand so it can find comfortable seats for you and the dog. There is no nursing room and no prayer room.
- Step-free access
- Lift to all public areas
- Accessible toilet
- On the ground floor, near the lift
- Wheelchair seats
- 4 in the Rode Zaal, 1 in the Blauwe Zaal, plus companion seats
- Hearing support
- Phonak FM system to borrow at reception
- Assistance dogs
- Official guide dogs welcome
Meervaart with children
Babies and toddlers under 2 cannot come into the halls: the bright light and loud sound are too much for them. They may wait in the foyer, but for a family show with an older sibling Meervaart advises arranging a sitter.
Family shows state an age, such as 4+ or 8+; children below it are not admitted. Everyone in a seat needs a ticket from age 2, with cheaper kids tickets to age 12 at many family shows. A child may sit on your lap, but you still reserve its seat for fire-safety reasons.
Borrow a booster seat at the cloakroom for the best view. Pushchairs and buggies cannot go into the halls; leave them at the cloakroom.
- Under 2s
- Not admitted to the halls; may wait in the foyer
- Ticket age
- Everyone in a seat needs a ticket, from age 2
- Kids prices
- Often cheaper tickets to age 12 at family shows
Getting to Meervaart by tram, bus or car
On the edge of the Sloterplas in Osdorp, between the city centre and Schiphol.
From Centraal
Tram 17 direct, about half an hour
From Schiphol
Bus 369, about half an hour
Change at Lelylaan
Metro 50/51, then tram 17
Tram 1
Stop Meer en Vaart, about 4 minutes on foot
By car
A10 exit s106 Osdorp, along the Lelylaan, right at the traffic lights, Meervaart on the left after about 300 m
- From Centraal Station take tram 17 towards Osdorp Dijkgraafplein; it stops right outside. Allow about half an hour.
- From Schiphol take bus 369 towards Sloterdijk and get off at Osdorpplein Oost; the ride from the stop takes about 21 minutes, so the trip is about half an hour door to door.
- Coming from Amstel, Zuid or Sloterdijk? Change at Lelylaan onto tram 17 towards Osdorp; Amstel, Zuid, Sloterdijk and RAI all connect through Lelylaan.
- Cycling? Meervaart is easy to reach by bike; allow extra time in rush hour, when the area around the theatre gets busy.
- Leaving late in the evening? Tram and bus still run then: the timetable for Tuesday 20 October lists a tram 17 leaving Centraal at 23:44 and reaching Osdorpplein Oost at 00:15, and a bus 369 passing Osdorpplein Oost at 23:58 toward Schiphol. Check the last departure in the GVB or 9292 planner on the night.
Parking at Meervaart: every garage and walking time
Two garages are one minute on foot; a third is about six minutes away. Street parking around the theatre is paid, and free on Sundays.
| Garage | Address | Walk to Meervaart | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q-Park Osdorpplein | Osdorpplein 249 | 1 min | First hour free, then EUR 2.00 per 30 min |
| Parking Nieuw-West / MIX | Nicolaas Anslijnstraat 276 | 1 min | EUR 2.50 per hour |
| Heros (P1) | Osdorpplein, 1068 TB (Heros) | About 6 min | EUR 3.80 per hour |
| Street (blue and paid zones) | Streets around the theatre | Depends on free space | EUR 2.80 per hour; free on Sundays |
- Q-Park Osdorpplein is the closest: drive past Meervaart and turn left at the next traffic lights. Entry 7:30-23:00, exit possible 24 hours a day, clearance 1.95 m.
- Disabled parking spaces are right outside the entrance but cannot be reserved; come early. With a disabled card you may also park free where paid parking applies.
- You can drive up to the main entrance to drop someone off.
- On Sundays you can park free in the neighbourhood streets.
Contact, box office and opening hours
The box office is reachable by phone and mail on weekday afternoons; online tickets are on sale day and night.
- Address
- Meer en Vaart 300, 1068 LE Amsterdam
- Box office phone
- 020 - 4107 777 (Mon-Fri 12:00-16:00)
- Tickets by mail
- [email protected]
- Other questions
- [email protected]
- Counter
- Mon-Fri 09:00-16:00, plus one hour before shows; online 24/7
About Meervaart: the theatre of Nieuw-West
Meervaart has been the cultural centre of Amsterdam Nieuw-West since 1977. The building is named after the street it stands on, Meer en Vaart, and opened as the first theatre of the western garden cities. In 1999 it was thoroughly rebuilt, stripped back to its skeleton.
Today the theatre programmes around three hundred shows a year alongside about a hundred national and international congresses and events in the same halls. Its talent arms, Meervaart Jong (ages 2-16) and Meervaart Studio (ages 15-26), develop young makers; proceeds from business rentals go straight to them.
The current building is ageing and too small, so the municipality is preparing a new Meervaart on the southwest bank of the Sloterplas with three halls of 1,000, 550 and 250 seats. Until it opens, every show plays at Meer en Vaart 300.
- Since
- 1977, cultural centre of Nieuw-West
- Shows
- About 300 a year
- Congresses
- About 100 a year
Photos
Photo credits
The dark Meervaart theatre building with its white logo, seen from the south on a clear day: BonstraGeert · CC BY-SA 4.0
The entrance side of Meervaart with its glass doors, canopy and coloured foyer windows: BonstraGeert · CC BY-SA 4.0
A concert on the lit stage of Meervaart, the audience in the foreground: Parhameton · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Meervaart: questions people ask
How many seats does Meervaart have?
The Rode Zaal holds 800 people (523 stalls, 277 balcony) and the Blauwe Zaal 260 seated, up to 270 for events. Theatre shows usually sell three price tiers in the Rode Zaal and two in the Blauwe Zaal.
Where do I park at Meervaart?
Q-Park Osdorpplein (Osdorpplein 249) is one minute on foot, with a free first hour and EUR 2.00 per 30 minutes after. Parkeergarage Nieuw-West/MIX is also one minute away at EUR 2.50 per hour. On Sundays street parking in the neighbourhood is free.
How do I get to Meervaart by public transport?
Take tram 17 to Osdorpplein Oost, right outside the door, or tram 1 to Meer en Vaart plus about four minutes on foot. From Station Sloterdijk take bus 369 towards Schiphol to Osdorpplein Oost. By car take the A10 exit s106 Osdorp.
How do I get from Amsterdam Centraal to Meervaart?
Take tram 17 towards Osdorp Dijkgraafplein to Osdorpplein Oost, right outside the theatre; allow about half an hour. From Schiphol take bus 369 to Osdorpplein Oost in about half an hour.
What time do the doors open?
The doors open one hour before a Rode Zaal show and 45 minutes before a Blauwe Zaal show; the hall opens about 15 minutes before the start. Most evening shows start at 20:00 or 20:15; the exact time is on the show page.
What time does a show at Meervaart end?
Most evening shows end around 22:00-23:00. It varies with the show and its interval; the exact end time is on the show page.
Is a drink included in my ticket?
With most shows, yes: an interval drink is included in the ticket price and served in the foyer during the interval, or after the show when there is no interval. If no drink is included, your ticket states it.
Can I have dinner at Meervaart?
No, except at a select number of shows with a dinner buffet. The foyer bar serves drinks and small snacks from one hour before, and Osdorpplein has restaurants within a few minutes on foot, such as Westmarket, Burger 'n Shake, Sorridi, Ness and Sallora.
Can I take my drink into the hall?
Yes. You may take bar drinks into the hall; take your glass or bottle back to the bar in the interval or afterwards.
Is Meervaart wheelchair accessible?
Yes. There is a lift, an accessible toilet on the ground floor, four wheelchair seats in the Rode Zaal and one in the Blauwe Zaal with companion seats, bookable only through the box office. A Phonak FM hearing system can be borrowed at reception and assistance dogs are welcome.
Can children come to Meervaart?
Children from age 2 are welcome at suitable shows and need their own ticket; family shows state an age such as 4+ and often sell cheaper kids tickets to age 12. Babies and toddlers under 2 cannot enter the halls. Booster seats can be borrowed at the cloakroom.
Do I pay booking fees on top of the ticket price?
Every order carries a EUR 2.00 booking fee, online and at the counter. Most ticket prices already include a drink. E-tickets by mail are free; scanning from your phone is fine.
Can I cancel my tickets?
Up to 28 days before the show you pay EUR 5.00 per ticket and the rest is refunded; up to 48 hours before, the amount minus EUR 2.00 per ticket returns as credit valid for two years. If Meervaart cancels, you always get your money back.
Is there a cloakroom?
Yes, there is a staffed cloakroom for coats, bags, pushchairs and buggies; you get a numbered tag. Meervaart is not liable for loss or theft.
What if I arrive late for a show?
After the start there is no admission. In exceptional cases ask the duty manager whether anything is still possible.
Sources: Meervaart visitor FAQ (October 20, 2026) · Meervaart technology and halls (October 20, 2026) · Meervaart accessibility and parking (October 20, 2026) · Meervaart restaurants (October 20, 2026) · Meervaart ticket sales (October 20, 2026) · Meervaart accessibility (October 20, 2026) · About Meervaart (October 20, 2026) · Meervaart contact (October 20, 2026)
