Podium Victorie in Alkmaar

The capacity depends on the hall and the layout. The rental page gives the Grolsch Zaal as suitable for 100 to 900 people and the Kleine Zaal for 25 to 240. The business-party page puts the practical party capacity at 800 in the Grolsch Zaal and 200 in the Kleine Zaal.

For scale, the Grolsch Zaal is smaller than Sportpaleis Alkmaar (4,750) and far smaller than AFAS Stadion (17,023), the two large event venues elsewhere in the city. Within the building, the Grolsch Zaal is the main room for concerts and club nights, while the Kleine Zaal suits club nights, music quizzes and smaller shows.

The Grolsch Zaal is the main hall, with a balcony, three bars and a professional stage of 16 by 8 metres, 1.2 metres high. It is the room for the bigger concerts and club nights, and for hired events of 100 to 900 people.

The Kleine Zaal has an oak floor, emerald-green walls and a zitkuil (sunken area), with a stage of 10 by 6 metres, 60 cm high. It suits club nights, music quizzes, comedy and smaller concerts for 25 to 240 people.

There are no fixed seats: the floor is standing, unless the event page says otherwise. If you cannot stand for medical reasons, you can request a bar stool with a backrest through the venue's form up to three days before the show. The venue has a limited number and grants them for medical need. A wheelchair ticket includes a place for one companion.

• Standing floor: check the event page for the rare seated show.
• Bar stool with backrest: request it up to three days before the show; medical need only.
• Wheelchair space: book a wheelchair ticket, which includes one companion and a place with a clear view.

1. Buy a ticket online before you travel, or at the box office on the night. The box office opens at the start time during events and takes card and cash.
2. Doors usually open between 19:00 and 21:00, and the show starts when the doors open or up to about 35 minutes later. The event page has the exact times.
3. Check coats, bags, helmets and umbrellas at the staffed cloakroom for €2 per item. Handbags can stay with you, and the cloakroom takes card and cash.
4. Have your e-ticket ready on your phone: it is scanned at the entrance.
5. The bars take cards only. Outside food and drink are not allowed, and smoking is only allowed on the rooftop terrace.
6. Pick up free disposable earplugs at the cloakroom, or buy reusable Earproof plugs for €12.50 or Earbeanz for €9 at the box office.

From Alkmaar station, the walk to Pettemerstraat 5 takes about 12 minutes. Bus 2 stops at Pettemerstraat, a 6-minute walk from the venue, and also at Tesselsebrug and Bregwaard.

Other useful stops are Gerechtsgebouw (buses 5, 6, 151, 157, 169, 251, 269 and 606; 6 minutes' walk) and Kanaalkade (buses 4, 10, 123, 129, 160, 162, 350, N50 and N60; 11 minutes). From the station, take bus 2 to Pettemerstraat or Tesselsebrug.

The closest parking is Parkeerplaats Zijperstraat (Zijperstraat 2), directly behind the building, and Parkeerplaats Parcade (De Simsonstraat 8/Pettemerstraat) diagonally across the street. Both charge €0.94 per hour or €3.85 per day and are free from 20:00.

For a covered garage, Kanaalschiereiland (Mallegatsplein 1, 9 minutes) and De Vest (Canadaplein 2, 10 minutes) charge €1.99 per hour with a €17 daily maximum; on Monday to Friday evenings from 18:00 to midnight the maximum is €2.80. De Kazerne (Helderseweg 8a, about 12 minutes, by the station) and Karperton (Dijk 16-20, 15 minutes) use the same tariff. All four garages are open 24 hours.