VU Griffioen theater in Amsterdam
VU Griffioen is the theatre, cinema and course centre in Amsterdam's Nieuwe Universiteitsgebouw, with 300 unplaced seats in the Grote zaal and a 10-15 minute walk from Amsterdam Zuid.
Photo credits
The main theatre hall at VU Griffioen, seen from the auditorium towards the stage; official zaalverhuur photo by Derk Stenvers.: Derk Stenvers / VU Griffioen
Quick answers
- Address
- De Boelelaan 1111, Amsterdam
- Address
- De Boelelaan 11111081 HV Amsterdam
- Main hall
- 300 seats, unplaced
- Nearest station
- Amsterdam Zuid, 10-15 min walk
- Parking
- P3 under the building, €1 per 15 min
- Box office
- 18:00-21:00 on show days, card only
- Tickets
- Unplaced; arrive early
- Access
- Step-free halls, lift and accessible toilet
- Contact
- 020 5985 100
Performance at VU Griffioen theater: upcoming events
Tonight, this week and the months ahead at this venue in Amsterdam.
Last night at VU Griffioen theater: Shall We Dance?, Andiamo a bere l'ultima, Primetime and 8 more
February 2027
- Fri12Feb
- Tue16Feb
- Thu18Feb
- Fri19Feb
- Tue23Feb
- Thu25Feb
- Fri26Feb
March 2027
- Thu4Mar
- Tue9Mar
- Fri12Mar
- Sat13Mar
- Tue16Mar
Plan your visit to VU Griffioen theater
How many people fit in VU Griffioen theatre?
The Grote zaal at VU Griffioen seats 300 people, and the Kleine Zaal seats 120 on a folding tribune. The venue also has four film halls: Zaal 4 and Zaal 8 seat 124 each, Zaal 6 seats 72 and Zaal 9 seats 104. It does not publish a whole-building total, so there is no single maximum capacity for the NU building.
For scale, Paradiso in the city centre holds 1,500, the Apollohal 960 and the music venue OCCII 200. The Grote zaal is smaller than Paradiso and the Apollohal but larger than OCCII, which suits a campus theatre that stages cabaret, music and dance.
| Room or venue | Type | Capacity | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| VU Griffioen Grote zaal | Theatre auditorium | 300 | VU Griffioen zaalverhuur |
| VU Griffioen Kleine Zaal | Theatre and presentation room | 120 | VU Griffioen zaalverhuur |
| VU Griffioen Filmzaal 4 | Cinema | 124 | VU Griffioen zaalverhuur |
| VU Griffioen Filmzaal 6 | Cinema | 72 | VU Griffioen zaalverhuur |
| VU Griffioen Filmzaal 8 | Cinema | 124 | VU Griffioen zaalverhuur |
| VU Griffioen Filmzaal 9 | Cinema | 104 | VU Griffioen zaalverhuur |
| Apollohal | Sports and event hall | 960 | OpenStreetMap / Wikidata |
| OCCII | Music venue | 200 | OpenStreetMap / Wikidata |
| Paradiso | Music venue | 1500 | OpenStreetMap / Wikidata |
Seating at VU Griffioen: unplaced tickets and choosing a place
Theatre tickets for VU Griffioen are unplaced: you do not choose a numbered seat when you book. The Grote zaal seats 300 and the Kleine Zaal 120 on a folding tribune; you take a place in the hall when the doors open.
The Grote zaal is the main auditorium for theatre, music, dance and conferences; the Kleine Zaal is used for lectures, presentations and smaller events. Because there are no seat numbers, the earlier you arrive, the more choice you have. The venue's own advice is to join the queue before the doors open if you want to sit together or near the front.
All seats in the theatre have a clear view of the stage, according to VU Griffioen, and the theatre has a flat stage floor. Ushers manage the seating and can help you find a place.
Wheelchair places and companion seats are booked in advance through the box office; the theatre also has a lift, an accessible toilet and hearing equipment. Ask for these when you reserve.
Drinks and snacks are not allowed in the auditoriums, so finish your Bar Boele drink in the foyer before you go in.
- Arrive early for the best choice of place.
- No numbered seats: theatre tickets are unplaced.
- Ask the ushers if you need help finding a seat.
- Book wheelchair places and hearing equipment in advance.
Tickets and box office: unplaced seats and card-only sales
Theatre tickets at VU Griffioen are unplaced, so you do not choose a seat when you book. On performance days the box office in the NU building is open from 18:00 to 21:00 and is card-only.
Book online for most performances: the limit is 10 tickets per visitor for most shows. Your tickets are held for 20 minutes while you pay and are emailed within 30 minutes. Check your spam folder if they do not arrive.
Part of the tickets is reserved for students, VU staff and discount-pass holders. The theatre reviews those blocks at least three weeks before the performance so more regular tickets can be released.
If a performance is cancelled or moved, the theatre emails ticket holders and offers a refund or a credit within the stated period. The box office number is 020 5985 100 for last-minute reservations with a We Are Public pass.
- Box office: 18:00-21:00 on performance days, card only.
- Maximum 10 tickets per visitor for most performances.
- Tickets held 20 minutes; emailed within 30 minutes.
- Blocked tickets reviewed three weeks before the show.
Eating and drinking at VU Griffioen
Bar Boele is the theatre café of VU Griffioen: drinks and snacks before or after the show. Restaurant The Living offers theatre visitors a three-course menu for €37.50; sit down by 18:30.
Bar Boele is the theatre café of VU Griffioen. It is the place for a drink or a snack before the performance or after the show.
The Living's three-course menu is €37.50 and you choose the courses on the spot. Sit down by 18:30 to have time to eat before the performance.
Drinks and snacks are not allowed in the theatre halls, so finish them at Bar Boele or in the foyer before you go in.
Accessibility at VU Griffioen
VU Griffioen has step-free theatre halls, a lift, an accessible toilet and hearing equipment. Email [email protected] to reserve wheelchair places and companion seats; assistance dogs are welcome.
The theatre says its halls have a flat podium and are accessible for wheelchair users. The course rooms are reachable by lift and there is an accessible toilet in the building.
Book a wheelchair place, the companion seats next to it and any hearing equipment in advance by emailing [email protected]. You can also ask at the box office. Assistance dogs are welcome.
- Wheelchair places
- Book in advance
- Companion seats
- Book with the wheelchair place
- Hearing equipment
- Available on request
- Lift and accessible toilet
- Available
- Assistance dogs
- Welcome
Getting to VU Griffioen by train, tram or bus
Amsterdam Zuid is the nearest station, about 1 km or 15 minutes on foot; VU Griffioen itself says 10 minutes. Several buses and trams stop within a few minutes of the door.
VU Griffioen is at De Boelelaan 1111 on the VU campus in Amsterdam Zuid. From Amsterdam Zuid, bus 178, 198, 221, 244, 321, 346 or 461 runs to De Boelelaan / VU, 3 minutes' walk from the theatre, and tram 5, 6 or 25 stops at Parnassusweg, 8 minutes away.
Tram 24 stops at De Boelelaan/VU, 200 m from the entrance. The walk from Amsterdam Zuid is flat and takes about 15 minutes.
Parking at VU Griffioen: P3, P1, ParkBee and Q-Park
P3 VU Campus, the garage under the NU building, is the closest place to park: 600 spaces, 150 m or about 3 minutes' walk, and €1 per 15 minutes (€4 per hour), card only. P1 VUmc, the other VU-VUmc visitor garage, is 760 m or 11 minutes away at the same tariff. ParkBee and Q-Park are commercial alternatives within 10 minutes, with demand pricing rather than a fixed evening rate.
P3 has 24 charging points for electric cars and exits on De Boelelaan and VU Campusplein. The VU-VUmc garages are open 24 hours a day.
P1 VUmc is at Amstelveenseweg 587. ParkBee Gershwin (George Gershwinlaan 539, 8 minutes' walk) and ParkBee Zuidas (Benjamin Brittenstraat 13, 9 minutes) are app-based garages; their own pages publish no fixed evening tariff. Q-Park Mahler at Aaron Coplandstraat 8 (also approached from Claude Debussylaan 42) is 10-11 minutes away, with 1,763 spaces; its weekend offer starts at €17.50 per 24 hours, but its evening price is dynamic.
Only the VU-VUmc garages publish a fixed visitor rate. For ParkBee and Q-Park, check the operator's app or website for the price on the night you visit.
| Garage | Address | Walk | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| P3 VU Campus | Van der Boechorststraat 5a, 1081 BT Amsterdam | 150 m, 3 min walk | €1 per 15 min (€4/hour), card only |
| P1 VUmc | Amstelveenseweg 587, 1081 JC Amsterdam | 760 m, 11 min walk | €1 per 15 min, card only |
| ParkBee Gershwin | George Gershwinlaan 539, Amsterdam | 590 m, 8 min walk | Dynamic app rate; no fixed evening tariff |
| ParkBee Zuidas | Benjamin Brittenstraat 13, Amsterdam | 660 m, 9 min walk | Dynamic app rate; no fixed evening tariff |
| Q-Park Mahler | Aaron Coplandstraat 8, 1082 MG Amsterdam (also Claude Debussylaan 42) | 730 m, 10 min walk; Claude Debussylaan 810 m, 11 min | Dynamic; weekend 24 h from €17.50 |
About VU Griffioen Amsterdam
VU Griffioen is the theatre, cinema and course centre of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, housed in the Nieuwe Universiteitsgebouw on De Boelelaan. It programmes theatre, cabaret, music, dance and film, and runs creative courses in the same building.
The Grote zaal seats 300 people and the Kleine Zaal 120; the four film halls seat between 72 and 124. Bar Boele, the theatre café, is the place for a drink before or after the show, and restaurant The Living offers theatre visitors a three-course menu for €37.50.
Theatre tickets are unplaced: you do not choose a numbered seat when you book, and the ushers guide you to a place when the hall opens. On performance days the box office in the NU building is open from 18:00 to 21:00 and is card-only.
VU Griffioen sits on the VU campus in Amsterdam Zuid. Amsterdam Zuid station is about 1 km, a 10 to 15 minute walk, and several tram and bus stops are within a few minutes of the entrance.
Photos
Photo credits
The main theatre hall at VU Griffioen, seen from the auditorium towards the stage; official zaalverhuur photo by Derk Stenvers.: Derk Stenvers / VU Griffioen
Bar Boele, the café and bar inside VU Griffioen's NU building, as published on the venue's Eten & Drinken page.: VU Griffioen
The Nieuwe Universiteitsgebouw (NU) on the VU campus in Amsterdam, home of VU Griffioen.: MrAronymous · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Frequently asked questions
How many people fit in VU Griffioen theatre?
The Grote zaal seats 300 people, the Kleine Zaal 120 and the four film halls 124, 72, 124 and 104. VU Griffioen does not publish a whole-building total, so there is no single maximum for the NU building.
Do I get a numbered seat at VU Griffioen?
No. Theatre tickets are unplaced, so you do not choose a numbered seat when you book. Arrive early if you want to sit together or near the front; the ushers guide you to a place.
What time do performances at VU Griffioen start and end?
Most evening theatre performances start at 20:00. VU Griffioen does not publish a standard end time; for planning, allow until about 22:00 for a full-length show. Check the show page for the exact duration.
What time does the box office open?
On performance days the box office in the NU building is open from 18:00 to 21:00 and is card-only. The venue's general box office hours are Monday to Friday 15:45-21:00 and Saturday and Sunday 14:00-21:00.
Where is VU Griffioen?
VU Griffioen is in the Nieuwe Universiteitsgebouw at De Boelelaan 1111, 1081 HV Amsterdam, on the VU campus in Amsterdam Zuid. Amsterdam Zuid station is about 1 km away, a 10 to 15 minute walk.
How do I get to VU Griffioen by public transport?
Take the train to Amsterdam Zuid, then bus 178, 198, 221, 244, 321, 346 or 461 to De Boelelaan / VU (3 minutes' walk), or tram 5, 6 or 25 to Parnassusweg (8 minutes). Tram 24 stops at De Boelelaan/VU.
Where can I park at VU Griffioen?
P3 VU Campus under the NU building is closest: 600 spaces, 150 m or about 3 minutes' walk, entrance at Van der Boechorststraat 5a. P1 VUmc is at Amstelveenseweg 587, 760 m or 11 minutes away. ParkBee Gershwin and ParkBee Zuidas are 8-9 minutes away, and Q-Park Mahler at Aaron Coplandstraat 8 is about 10 minutes away.
How much does parking at VU Griffioen cost?
P3 VU Campus and P1 VUmc charge €1 per 15 minutes, or €4 per hour, for visitors; pay by card, not cash. ParkBee and Q-Park use dynamic pricing, so check their app or website for the evening price. Q-Park Mahler's weekend offer starts at €17.50 per 24 hours.
Can I eat at VU Griffioen before a show?
Yes. Bar Boele, the theatre café, serves drinks and snacks. Restaurant The Living offers theatre visitors a three-course menu for €37.50; sit down by 18:30 to have time before the performance.
Can I take drinks into the theatre?
No. Drinks and snacks are not allowed in the theatre halls, so finish them at Bar Boele or in the foyer before you go in.
Are there wheelchair places at VU Griffioen?
Yes. The theatre halls are step-free, the building has a lift and an accessible toilet, and you can reserve a wheelchair place with companion seats through the box office. Hearing equipment is available, and assistance dogs are welcome.
What happens if a performance is cancelled?
VU Griffioen emails ticket holders as soon as a performance is cancelled or moved. Within the theatre's stated period you can choose a refund or a credit on your account.
Can I buy tickets at the door?
Yes, the box office is open on performance days from 18:00 to 21:00 and is card-only. Book online if you want to be sure of a place.
How many tickets can I buy at once?
For most performances the limit is 10 tickets per visitor. The theatre uses the limit to discourage bulk buying and resale; contact the box office for a group booking.
Is VU Griffioen also a cinema?
Yes. VU Griffioen programmes film as well as theatre and courses, in the same NU building. Film tickets are booked through the same website.
Sources: VU Griffioen information and contact (October 30, 2026) · VU Griffioen zaalverhuur and FAQ (October 30, 2026) · OpenStreetMap area data and VU Griffioen (October 30, 2026) · Parkeerbedrijf VU-VUmc, Q-Park, ParkBee and OpenStreetMap (October 30, 2026) · VU Griffioen FAQ (October 30, 2026) · VU Griffioen: your visit (October 30, 2026) · VU Griffioen accessibility (October 30, 2026)