Concertgebouw receives 550,000 visitors in 2022

In the calendar year 2022, the Concertgebouw attracted 550,000 visitors who attended 798 concerts and events. After the corona years 2020 with 210,000 visitors and 2021 with 160,000 visitors, a considerable recovery in our attendance numbers can be seen. Included among visitors in 2022 were 40,000 children who went to 233 family and educational concerts. Over 20,000 visitors attended our free lunch concerts and public rehearsals. The last months of the year the numbers increased sharply to an average occupancy rate of 80% in November and December. Meaning the attendance figures for 2022 are still not at the level of 2019, when the Concertgebouw welcomed 750,000 visitors.

Audiences increasingly know how to find their way to the Concertgebouw

Managing director of the Concertgebouw Simon Reinink is pleased with the 2022 visitor numbers: ‘Initially, we expected to open without covid restrictions from the beginning of 2022. Due to the lockdown in early January and the subsequent slow start to ticket sales, the numbers at the start of the year were disappointing. We are therefore extremely pleased that attendance picked up during 2022.’ Yet, there are also major concerns about 2023: ‘Despite recovering ticket sales, we face a huge increase in expenditures, especially due to the cost of energy. Since the Concertgebouw is 95% responsible for its own revenues, this makes us extra vulnerable.’

The first visitors of The Concertgebouw in 2022: 3000 children.

Highlights in every musical genre in 2022

The first visitors welcomed to the Concertgebouw in 2022 were those of the future: 3,000 children attended the Symfonie voor Wiebelkonten (Symphony for Fidgety Kids) in February. This was followed in March by a benefit evening Concert for Peace thanks to the efforts of Ukrainian pianist Anna Fedorova and Russian cellist Maya Fridman. During From Southeast With Love in June, the Concertgebouw embraced versatile talent from culturally diverse Amsterdam Southeast. Also, during the summer as is tradition, our venue remained open with more than 70 Friends Lottery Summer Concerts. In recent months, the number of visitors increased even further thanks to popular concerts by Amsterdam’s ‘chief conductors’ Lorenzo Viotti of the Netherlands Philharmonic and Klaus Mäkelä of the Concertgebouw Orchestra. Joyce DiDonato with EDEN, Youssou N'Dour and Ludovico Einaudi’s ‘three days’ were also some of the highlights this past concert year.

Expectations for 2023

The Concertgebouw is counting on the continuation of this upward audience trend started in 2022. The 2023 schedule is filled with an immense array of performances: from our Baby Concerts to Classic Hiphop and from the Vienna Philharmonic to Barbara Pravi. Through June, 300 concerts have been programmed in the Main and Recital Halls. In March the Concertgebouw will announce the programming for the ‘23-‘24 season.

For the complete concert schedule through spring 2023, visit our English website.