Rotterdam Ahoy, in its current form, was built in 1970.
The complex’s striking design won various national and international awards for its special steel structures.
The design of the venue took inspiration from the water, with the building laid out like a ship.
The first event to be held there was the Femina family exhibition.
Since then, Ahoy has been expanded on a number of occasions, and was renovated and refurbished in 1998 to designs by the architectural firm Benthem Crouwel which created today’s multifunctional venue.

In July 2018, construction work began on an extension to the Ahoy complex.
Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre and RTM Stage, designed by Kraaijvanger Architects, is expected to open in the third quarter of 2020.
The new premises, featuring a congress centre  and 2,750-seat concert hall, will add an additional 35,000 square metres of floor space.

The artists' entrance of the main arena was renamed "Door Duncan" in 2020, in honor of Duncan Laurence (who was born in nearby Spijkenisse) who brought the Netherlands its first victory in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1975.
Rotterdam Ahoy, in its current form, was built in 1970. The complex’s striking design won various national and international awards for its special steel structures. The design of the venue took inspiration from the water, with the building laid out like a ship. The first event to be held there was the Femina family exhibition. Since then, Ahoy has been expanded on a number of occasions, and was renovated and refurbished in 1998 to designs by the architectural firm Benthem Crouwel which created today’s multifunctional venue.
In July 2018, construction work began on an extension to the Ahoy complex. Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre and RTM Stage, designed by Kraaijvanger Architects, is expected to open in the third quarter of 2020. The new premises, featuring a congress centre  and 2,750-seat concert hall, will add an additional 35,000 square metres of floor space.
The artists' entrance of the main arena was renamed "Door Duncan" in 2020, in honor of Duncan Laurence (who was born in nearby Spijkenisse) who brought the Netherlands its first victory in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1975.
Rotterdam Ahoy