About RAI Amsterdam
RAI Amsterdam opened on its current Europaplein site in 1961 and has expanded incrementally to its present 112,200 m of exhibition space across eleven multi-functional halls plus 22 conference rooms. While smaller than the German giants by raw floor area, RAI consistently ranks at the top of European exhibitor satisfaction surveys for build quality, food service, and ease of access.
The hall portfolio
The largest is Europahal (over 16,000 m, single-span, 13 m ceiling) which hosts the headline trade-show floor at IBC and METSTRADE. Hall 1 through Hall 12 are mostly multi-functional spaces convertible between exhibition, conference and conference catering use. The Elicium tower handles small to mid-size conferences. The newly-renovated Amtrium provides the most flexible meeting space, with floor-to-ceiling glazing on the south face.
Signature fairs
IBC (International Broadcasting Convention, every September) brings 45,000+ broadcast and media-tech professionals from 170 countries. METSTRADE (the worlds largest marine equipment trade fair) draws 1,500 exhibitors every November. Horecava (hospitality) every January is the biggest food-service trade fair in Benelux. Intertraffic (biennial) is the global leader in road and traffic technology. GreenTech, the European Independent Tyre Distributors Forum, KunstRAI (art) and Jumping Amsterdam (equestrian) round out the calendar.
Logistics for exhibitors
RAI has its own dedicated train station (Amsterdam RAI, 10 minutes from Centraal, 8 from Schiphol). Tram 4 connects directly to the city centre. Schenker is the appointed on-site freight handler. The venues compact footprint means truck docking is tightly slot-managed - trucks without a confirmed time slot are turned away at the perimeter gate.
Working at RAI
RAI is among the most operationally efficient venues in Europe. Build-up runs typically three to four days for mid-size shows. English is the default working language. The venue has its own integrated hotel (Hotel Okura is two blocks away; nhow Amsterdam RAI is built directly above the convention floor). Dutch labour rules require minimum break times but are otherwise flexible. Bike storage is unusually important - RAI provides 3,000+ bike-parking spaces because many visitors arrive by bicycle.
What your builder handles at this venue
Schenker is the appointed on-site forwarder at RAI Amsterdam. International freight typically clears Dutch customs at Schiphol Cargo (15 minutes from RAI) within 24 hours. The Dutch customs system is fully digital - ATA Carnets can be processed in advance through the RAI logistics portal. Allow 2-4 hours buffer for unscheduled inspections during peak build days.
RAI has a compact dock footprint - approximately 40 truck docks split across Hall A, B, C and Europahal. Truck slots must be pre-booked through the RAI logistics portal at least 7 days before build-up. Trucks without confirmed slots are redirected to the off-site truck park at A10/S109. For IBC and METSTRADE, expect 400+ truck movements per day during peak build-up.
Forklifts (2.5 and 3.5 tonne) are available via on-site partners. Mobile cranes up to 15 tonne are bookable with 7 days notice. Rigging certifications must comply with NEN-EN 13414 standards. Maximum rigging point load in Europahal is 1,000 kg. Aerial-work permits are required for any work above 2.5 m and must be issued by a RAI-approved safety officer.
Standard stand connections are 16A or 32A 3-phase. All electrical installations must comply with NEN 1010 and be certified by a Dutch NEN-EN-IEC qualified installer. Power-on inspection must clear 6 hours before doors.
Build-up: 07:00-23:00 with 24-hour access during the final 48 hours before doors for headline shows. Sunday build-up requires noise permits. Dismantle begins immediately after close on the final day and must clear within 36 hours. Dutch labour law requires minimum 11 hours rest between shifts - factor this into multi-day crew schedules.