RAI is a renowned convention and events centre located in the south of Amsterdam.
RAI Amsterdam is the largest convention centre in the Netherlands. Opened in 1961, it is one of Europe’s leading venues for both national and international fairs, conferences, sporting and cultural events.
RAI Amsterdam Location
RAI Amsterdam is located at Europaplein in the southern district of the city. It is approximately 4km from the city centre and 10km from Amsterdam Schiphol airport.
It is well connected by public transport and is close to major road networks.
The address and contact details are:
RAI Amsterdam, Europaplein 24, 1078 GZ Amsterdam
T:+31(0)20 549 1212
RAI Amsterdam Layout and Facilities
RAI Amsterdam has 110,000m² of event space spread over 12 multi-functional halls and various other rooms.
The RAI Theatre is one of Amsterdam’s largest and seats 1,750.
Getting to RAI Amsterdam
RAI Amsterdam is easy to reach by the city’s extensive public transport network. There are a number of options:
Taxi to RAI
Many business travellers and convention visitors decide to travel by taxi to RAI. A taxi from Schiphol airport to RAI Amsterdam will cost about €35-50. Uber and Bolt are also present in the city at similar fares.
A taxi between RAI Amsterdam and the city centre should cost €15-25.
 Sneleentaxi is a reliable taxi firm offering rides anywhere in the Netherlands – including around Amsterdam and to/from airports. It offers competitive fixed fares to RAI Amsterdam with standard, luxury, electric and bus (van) options.You can book with Sneleentaxi here
|
Train: Amsterdam RAI
The RAI venue has its own railway station – Amsterdam RAI – which is just 300 meters (5 minutes walk) from the main entrance on Europaplein.
NS Dutch Railways sprinter trains serve Amsterdam RAI connecting Hoofddorp, Schiphol Airport and Amsterdam Zuid from the west and Duivendrecht, Hilversum, Utrecht, Almere and Lelystad from the east.
The Schiphol Airport-Amsterdam RAI train runs 2-4x hourly and the journey takes about 10 minutes.
The cost of a one-way train ticket (2025 prices) is €3.70 (2nd class) or €6.29 (1st class) plus a €1.50 surcharge if purchasing a disposable train ticket.
When at Schiphol Airport station you need to take Sprinter trains with direction Lelystad Centrum or Hilversum-Utrecht Central. Note that Intercity services do not stop at Amsterdam RAI.
Amsterdam RAI is the second stop on the trip just after Amsterdam Zuid station. Check the overhead boards on the platform to ensure your train stops at Amsterdam RAI. You should not take a train from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam Central as this goes via another route.
You could also decide to travel to Amsterdam Zuid station by train – which is served by both Intercity and Sprinter trains. This costs €3.50 (2nd class) or €5.95 (1st class) plus the €1.50 disposable ticket surcharge.
To reach RAI from Amsterdam Zuid you could take the metro (see below, separate ticket required) or even walk (1km, 10-15 mins) – exit to the north side of Amsterdam Zuid station, head east and go thorough Beatrix Park.
Amsterdam RAI station only has a Kiosk drinks/snack facility.
Metro: Europaplein / Station RAI (M52/51/50)
There are 2 metro stations which connect to RAI Amsterdam.
Europaplein station on the M52 metro line which runs Amsterdam Noord to Amsterdam Zuid via Amsterdam Central. Europaplein is the penultimate stop on the line coming from the north.
The journey from Amsterdam Central to Europaplein (direction Zuid) takes just 8 minutes with frequent departures.
The underground train makes stops at Rokin (Dam Square/Spui), Vijzelgracht and De Pijp before reaching Europaplein. The train then terminates overground at Amsterdam Zuid station.
Europaplein station is actually very near to the RAI Amsterdam convention centre entrance.
Station RAI is the other metro station which is adjacent the RAI Amsterdam train station. Metro lines 50 (Gein to Isolatorweg) and 51 (Central Station-Isolatorweg) run here.
These lines are quite useful as you can reach all other major metro/train stations in Amsterdam – including Amsterdam Zuid, Amsterdam Sloterdijk, Amsterdam Biijlmer-Arena, Amsterdam Amstel and Amsterdam Centraal.
Note that the metro does not run to Schiphol Airport. See our Amsterdam metro map here.
The metro is operated by city transport company GVB – so you will either need a GVB 1 hour single ticket (€3.40) for a metro trip or better still consider one of these better value multi-day tickets:
There are 2 other multi-day tickets available which are essentially upgraded versions of the GVB ticket.
The Amsterdam Travel Ticket (GVB day ticket + airport journey) and the Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket (GVB day ticket + all regional transport).
These are excellent choices for RAI Amsterdam conference delegates – and can be purchased in bulk below up to 99 tickets at a time.
| Good for AMS airport | Best for Excursions |
 |  |
| Amsterdam Travel Ticket | Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket |
| 1/2/3 days | 1/2/3 days |
| €18/€24/€30 | €21/€31.50/€40.50 |
| Valid on all GVB transport (trams/metro/buses) in Amsterdam | Valid on all GVB transport (trams/metro/buses) in Amsterdam |
| Valid between airport and city – train or 397 bus | Valid between airport and city – train or 397 bus |
| Valid on trains between any Amsterdam stations | Valid on regional NS trains + EBS/Connexxion/Qbuzz buses in region |
| Calendar day basis | Calendar day basis |
| Card only (not digital) | Card only (not digital) |
| Order here | Order here |
| more info | more info |
Tram at Amsterdam RAI
GVB tram 4 travels between Amsterdam Central and Amsterdam RAI stations. This is slower but perhaps more scenic than taking the underground metro line 52.
ROUTE 4 (5.9km, 26mins) – Centraal Station/Dam/Rokin/Rembrandtplein/Keizersgracht/Prinsengracht/Frederiksplein/Albert Cuypstraat/Ceintuurbaan/Lutmastraat/Amstelkade/Victorieplein/Waalstraat/Maasstraat/Dintelstraat/Europaplein/Station RAI/Drentepark
Buses at RAI
GVB runs a single bus line from outside Station RAI – bus 62 with route Amstel Station – Lelylaan.
During the spring season, KeukenhofBuzz bus 852 (Qbuzz) runs daily from the Europaplein bus stop to Keukenhof-Lisse up to 8x hourly. The journey takes about 35 minutes.
RAI Amsterdam by Car
RAI Amsterdam is located just inside the A10 southern ring road of Amsterdam and is easily accessible by car. To get there take exit 9 (Amsterdam Rivierenbuurt).
Extensive parking facilities can normally cater for 3,200 cars – for major events this can be expanded to a total of 5,000 spaces by using outdoor areas.
The car park is open for entry 0600-0000, follow the signs for ‘P-RAI 1-6’. Exit can be anytime 24/7.
Parking costs €5.50 per hour or a maximum day rate of €33. Pre-booked online rates are €27 (day rate) and €12.50 (evening rate).
Hotels at RAI Amsterdam
There are numerous hotel options around the Zuidas and RAI areas. Good options include:
- nhow Amsterdam RAI hotel – excellent hotel featuring 650 rooms with funky designer decor near RAI station. The breakfast buffet on the 17th floor has great views!
- Van der Valk Hotel Amsterdam Zuidas – hotel with comfy, spacious rooms on the south-side of RAI station.
- Motel One Amsterdam – well rated property on Europeboulevard.
- The nearest 5-star property is the Okura Amsterdam (Leading Hotels of the World), about 1km north.
What does ‘RAI’ stand for?
The RAI name originates from the former bicycle manufacturer trade federation RI (Rijwiel Industrie) which held its first Amsterdam trade show in 1895.
Then in 1901 it became the combined bicycle and automobile manufactures trade federation RAI (Rijwiel en Automobiel Industrie).
Check out our what’s on in Amsterdam monthly pages which regularly lists events on at RAI Amsterdam.
Last update 4 December 2024 (originally published in 2010).
Links on AmsterdamTips.com may pay us an affiliate commission.
