AFAS Live in Amsterdam
AFAS Live is a 6,000-capacity concert hall on the ArenA Boulevard in Amsterdam Zuidoost, a five-minute walk from Bijlmer ArenA station.
Photo credits
Babymetal performing on the Black Box stage at AFAS Live during a 2025 concert.: DragonFury · CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answers
- Capacity
- 6,000 people
- Address
- Johan Cruijff Boulevard 5901101 DS Amsterdam
- Nearest station
- Bijlmer ArenA, 5 min walk
- Doors open
- Usually 18:30
- Concerts end
- Around 23:00
- Closest parking
- P6, 3 min walk; €21 event rate
- Bag rule
- Handbag up to A4; no backpacks
- Contact
- +31 900 687 4242
Holidays at AFAS Live
Open on the holidays: these nights are in the agenda.
- New Year's EveTeletech New Years
AFAS Live agenda: upcoming events
Tonight, this week and the months ahead at this venue in Amsterdam.
Last night at AFAS Live: Andre Hazes - De Avond Van Je Leven @ AFAS Live
This week
November 2026
Plan your visit to AFAS Live
How many people fit in AFAS Live?
AFAS Live holds up to 6,000 people. For a standing show that is the floor plus a tribune of more than 700 seats and a balcony of about 650 seats; the exact layout depends on the stage and the event.
The Black Box is the main hall. At standing concerts the floor is unreserved, while the tribune at the back and the balcony above it are the seated parts. Some shows are fully seated, and the ticket seller publishes the seat map for those.
| Venue | Capacity | Source |
|---|---|---|
| AFAS Live | 6,000 | Wikidata, via OSM area data |
| Ziggo Dome | 17,000 | Wikidata, via OSM area data |
| Johan Cruijff ArenA | 54,990 | Wikidata, via OSM area data |
Seating at AFAS Live: tribune, balcony and standing floor
Most shows are general admission: choose a spot on the floor or an unreserved seat in the tribune (more than 700 seats) or on the balcony (about 650 seats).
There is no standard seat map. The organiser decides the layout and the ticket seller publishes the map for each show, so seat numbers exist only for fully seated events. At a standing show the tribune at the back and the balcony above it give a raised view; the floor is standing only.
Because the Black Box has no pillars, sightlines are clear from every section. The tribune is the lower seated option at the back, while the balcony above it gives the widest overview of the stage. The floor puts you closest to the act, but you stand.
- Arrive early if you want a seat: tribune and balcony seats cannot be reserved.
- Choose the balcony for a full-stage overview and the tribune for a lower seat; the floor is best if you want to be close.
- For a fully seated show, the side of the front rows is reserved for wheelchair users.
Food and drink at AFAS Live: cashless bars and food stands
The bars and food stands are cashless: Maestro, VISA and Mastercard only. The Foyer has a Grab & Go kiosk and mobile food stands, open from the doors until the end of the show.
Almost everything is vegetarian or vegan, from smoothies and wraps to pizzas, salads, loaded fries and burgers. You cannot bring your own food or drink, including bottles and flasks. Alcohol is sold only to visitors aged 18 and over, with ID checks when there is doubt.
- Earplugs cost €13.95 at the box office and the machine in the Foyer.
- Toilets are free throughout the venue.
Bags and lockers at AFAS Live: what fits
Handbags up to A4 size and about 10 cm thick are allowed. Backpacks, weekend bags and larger bags are not, and the lockers inside are only for handbags.
Digital lockers come in Medium (18 x 25 x 44 cm, about two jackets or a jacket and a small bag) and Large (28 x 25 x 44 cm, about three or four jackets). You open and close them with your phone; book online or at the venue, and staff can help if you have no phone.
Large bags, trolleys, helmets and suitcases go to Lockerpoint ArenAPoort P5 outside the venue, which stays open until one hour after the event. There is usually no cloakroom: most shows use paid lockers only.
- A reserved locker is not refunded if your bag turns out to be too big.
- Leave bags at home if you can; bags can be searched at the entrance.
Accessibility at AFAS Live: step-free access and wheelchair places
The main entrance and the hall are on the ground floor with step-free access. For standing shows the wheelchair platform is at the back of the hall, in front of the tribune; for seated shows places are at the side of the front rows in front of the stage.
Buy a wheelchair-companion ticket; if you bring a companion, you need two, one for each of you. The platform is raised above the standing crowd. A lift reaches the BeatBox Talent Stage on the first floor, and there is an accessible toilet on every floor.
All ArenAPoort garages have disabled parking spaces; P1 has 48. The main entrance is opposite the Johan Cruijff ArenA, on the other side of the ArenA Boulevard.
- Step-free entrance
- Yes
- Wheelchair platform
- Yes, for standing shows
- Accessible toilet
- On every floor
- Lift
- Yes
- Disabled parking
- In all ArenAPoort garages
AFAS Live house rules: age, ID and what not to bring
The advised age is 16 and over; dance events and night parties often set a minimum of 18. Bring a valid passport, ID card or driving licence, because you may be asked for it at the door.
Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the building, which has been smoke-free since 2008. Professional cameras with interchangeable lenses, GoPros, drones, selfie sticks, laptops, tablets, outside food and drink, own bottles, non-folding umbrellas, clothing with sharp or protruding elements such as spikes, sports-club clothing and face-covering clothing are not allowed.
Alcohol is 18+ and the venue can refuse entry to anyone buying alcohol for a minor or passing it on.
- Phone photography is officially not allowed during concerts; the artist can decide on the night whether the audience may take photos.
- Lost property appears on iLost within 36 hours; report theft to the police.
Getting to AFAS Live from Bijlmer ArenA and Centraal
The nearest station is Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA, a five-minute walk (340 m) from the entrance. From Amsterdam Centraal, take a train or metro to Bijlmer ArenA and walk the same five minutes.
Metro lines 50 and 54 stop at Bijlmer ArenA, and NS trains also serve the station. Several bus routes stop around the ArenAPoort; the closest bus stop is Station Bijlmer ArenA, nine minutes' walk away. For the way home late at night, night buses N26, N30, N85 and N87 stop there too; check the departure time before the show.
- Pay with OVpay using a bank card, credit card or phone, or use an OV-chipkaart.
- The venue advises public transport on concert nights.
Parking at AFAS Live: P6, P3 and the P+R
P6 Pathé ArenA/Uitgaansdriehoek is the closest garage at three minutes' walk; it and P3 Mikado charge the €21 event rate. The P+R garage is cheaper for a daytime trip but closes on major event days.
The event rate is valid from four hours before the official start until two hours after the event; press the event button at the machine. P1 charges €32, while P2, P4 and P5 charge €21. P3 has a 1.90 m entry height and P6 has 2.00 m. All garages have disabled parking spaces, and P1 has 48.
Book ahead for busy nights: Q-Park and ParkBee sell spaces near the venue, and the official site gives ParkBee code AFASLIVE10. The P+R at Burgemeester Stramanweg 130 is meant for trips into the centre; it costs €1 per 24 hours after 10:00 on weekdays (€8 before 10:00) and €1 at weekends, with a €20 event rate when it is open for an event.
| Garage | Address | Walk | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| P6 Pathé ArenA / Uitgaansdriehoek | De Corridor, Amsterdam | 200 m, 3 min | €21 event rate |
| P3 Mikado | De entree 228, Amsterdam | 440 m, 6 min | €21 event rate |
| P+R Transferium ArenA | Burgemeester Stramanweg 130, 1101 EP Amsterdam | 280 m, 4 min | €1 per 24 h; €20 event rate |
- Do not park in the residential streets of Amsterdam Zuidoost; use one of the ArenAPoort garages.
- Check the P+R page before relying on it for a concert: it closes during major events.
Contact AFAS Live
AFAS Live is at Johan Cruijff Boulevard 590, 1101 DS Amsterdam, opposite the Johan Cruijff ArenA.
- Address
- Johan Cruijff Boulevard 590, 1101 DS Amsterdam
- Telephone
- 0900 - 687 4242 (€0.15 per minute)
- Postal address
- Postbus 12812, 1100 AV Amsterdam
- Office
- De Corridor 9, 1101 BC Amsterdam
AFAS Live: the concert hall on the ArenA Boulevard
AFAS Live is a purpose-built pop concert hall in Amsterdam Zuidoost, next to the Johan Cruijff ArenA and the Ziggo Dome.
AFAS Live opened in 2001 as the Heineken Music Hall and is now one of the Netherlands' best-known concert halls. It was built for amplified pop music, and the Black Box, its main hall, has no pillars blocking the view of the stage.
The hall is part of Live Nation and has been nominated several times for the Pollstar Award for best international concert venue. It is known for its acoustics, and the Ziggo Dome and Johan Cruijff ArenA are next door, although AFAS Live is the smallest of the three.
A show night starts in the Foyer, where the bars and food stands are, and often ends with a free aftershow by Dutch talent in the BeatBox Talent Stage on the first floor. The Sky Lounge on the upper level holds up to 36 guests for hospitality.
Photos
Photo credits
Babymetal performing on the Black Box stage at AFAS Live during a 2025 concert.: DragonFury · CC BY-SA 4.0
The AFAS Live facade on Johan Cruijff Boulevard in Amsterdam.: AFASLive Amsterdam · CC BY-SA 4.0
David Byrne performing on stage at AFAS Live during his February 2026 tour.: Mainlymazza · CC BY-SA 4.0
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AFAS Live: frequently asked questions
The questions visitors ask most about AFAS Live, answered with the venue's own rules and times.
How many people fit in AFAS Live?
AFAS Live holds up to 6,000 people. A standing show uses the floor plus a tribune of more than 700 seats and a balcony of about 650 seats; the exact layout depends on the event.
Are seats reserved at AFAS Live?
Most concerts are general admission: the floor is standing, and tribune or balcony seats are unreserved and first come, first served. Fully seated shows have numbered seats from the ticket seller.
What time do doors open and what time do concerts end?
Doors usually open at 18:30, and evening concerts are often advertised to start at 20:00; if there is a support act, that is its start time and the main act follows later. Organisers aim to end around 23:00, but the timetable is usually confirmed in the week before the show.
How do I get from Amsterdam Centraal to AFAS Live?
Take a train or metro to Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA, then walk five minutes (340 m) to the entrance. Metro lines 50 and 54 also stop at Bijlmer ArenA, and the venue advises public transport on concert nights.
What is on at AFAS Live and where do I buy tickets?
The official agenda lists every confirmed show and links to the ticket seller for each date. The venue does not sell tickets itself, and sold-out shows have no waiting list.
Where is the nearest parking and what does it cost?
P6 Pathé ArenA/Uitgaansdriehoek is closest at 200 m, or three minutes' walk, and charges the €21 event rate. P3 Mikado is six minutes away and also €21; the event rate is valid from four hours before the start until two hours after the event.
Can I bring a backpack or a large bag?
No. Backpacks, weekend bags and bags larger than A4 are not allowed. Handbags up to A4 size and about 10 cm thick may come in, and the lockers inside are only for handbags.
Is there a cloakroom at AFAS Live?
Most shows use paid digital lockers instead of a cloakroom. Medium and Large lockers are available inside, and large bags, trolleys and suitcases go to Lockerpoint ArenAPoort P5, which stays open until one hour after the event.
Can I bring my own food and drink?
No, outside food and drink are not allowed, including bottles and flasks. The Foyer has a Grab & Go kiosk and food stands with mostly vegetarian or vegan options, open from the doors until the end of the show.
Can I pay with cash at AFAS Live?
No, the venue is cashless. All bars and food stands accept Maestro, VISA and Mastercard, so bring a bank card or credit card.
Is AFAS Live accessible for wheelchair users?
Yes. The entrance and hall are step-free, and standing shows have a raised wheelchair platform at the back, in front of the tribune. Seated shows have places at the side of the front rows; buy a wheelchair-companion ticket (two if you bring a companion), and use the lift and accessible toilets on every floor.
Is there a dress code at AFAS Live?
There is no general dress code, so visitors wear what they like. The house rules do ban clothing with sharp or protruding elements such as spikes, sports-club clothing and face-covering clothing, and the venue can refuse entry.
What is the age limit at AFAS Live?
The advised age is 16 and over, and dance events or night parties often require 18. Bring a valid passport, ID card or driving licence, because you may be asked for it at the door; alcohol is sold only to visitors aged 18 and over.
Is smoking allowed in AFAS Live?
No, AFAS Live has been a smoke-free venue since 2008. Smoking is not allowed anywhere in the building.
Can I take photos or bring a camera?
Phone photography is officially not allowed during concerts, and professional cameras with interchangeable lenses, GoPros, drones and selfie sticks are not permitted. The artist or organiser can decide on the night whether the audience may take photos.
What happens if I lose something at AFAS Live?
Found items are placed on iLost within 36 hours of the event. If you think something was stolen, report it to the police.
Sources: AFAS Live: over de zaal (October 30, 2026) · AFAS Live: veelgestelde vragen (October 30, 2026) · AFAS Live: openbaar vervoer (October 30, 2026) · AFAS Live: met de auto en parkeren (October 30, 2026) · AFAS Live: contact (October 30, 2026)
