Last Saturday, 29 August, the Beurs van Berlage held its annual Open Day once again. The doors officially opened at 10.00, but there was already a queue at the main entrance from 9.30. Visitors were keen not to miss the first guided tour of the day. This positive start proved to be the kick-off for a wonderful Open Day, during which we welcomed more than 1,100 visitors.
Throughout the day, we were once again able to demonstrate that the Beurs is a true ‘palazzo pubblico’: a building of and for the city, where people meet and ideas and stories come together. This was precisely what architect Hendrik Petrus Berlage had in mind: a building that not only served a commercial purpose but would ultimately evolve into a ‘people’s palace’, accessible and meaningful to the whole community.
International and domestic tourists, Amsterdammers and local residents came together last Saturday at the Beurs and were able to admire the interior of this listed building. There was also a great deal of interest in the stands in the Main Hall, where Amsterdam-based entrepreneurs such as Kesbeke and Henri Willig showcased their work, alongside creative makers such as Anna Cairoli and Berlage di Nusantara. The day was accompanied by live music, and there was plenty for children to do too. Visitors were also invited to make a donation to the ItsME Foundation, the Beurs van Berlage’s social partner for 2026.
The Open Day is organised entirely by colleagues from the Beurs van Berlage: from the catering and the set-up and dismantling to the guided tours that were given. It is a day that is driven by the organisation, and on which we are keen to show who we are, how we work and what value we create for our clients, our partners and the city around us.
That value also lies in the preservation of the building. With the proceeds from the events held at the Beurs, we can invest in maintenance, sustainability measures and renovation. In this way, we preserve this special monument for future generations.
We would like to extend our warmest thanks to all the exhibitors, participants and visitors for their valuable contribution to this successful day. Thanks to you all, it was an Open day we can look back on with pride.
By its very nature, the Beurs van Berlage is an organisation that looks beyond the walls of its historic building. We bring people, ideas and businesses together. We facilitate meaningful encounters, and we do so with class, respect and a sense of responsibility. As a B Corp and Green Globe-certified organisation, we look not only at what we do today, but also at the impact we have on people, society and the environment, and how we can continue to enhance that impact.
In this way, we continue to build an organisation that creates value not only for our customers and partners, but also for the city and the local community in which we operate.
The Open day is a fine example of this. We would like to extend our warmest thanks to all the exhibitors, participants and visitors for their valuable contribution to this successful event. Thanks to you all, it was an Open Day we can look back on with pride.