The Stopera

You are now in front of the Stopera, one of Amsterdam's most striking buildings. This extraordinary architectural masterpiece was designed by Cees Dam and Austrian Wilhelm Holzbauer. Here, the city hall and the national opera and ballet come together in perfect harmony.

In the second half of the last century, a time of severe housing shortage, vacancy and neglect, there was much debate about the municipality's investment of 230 million guilders for this project. Many felt that this money could have been better spent. In particular, the location in the then impoverished former Jewish quarter, where housing problems were at their worst, caused criticism.

On 30 April 1980, the day of Queen Beatrix's inauguration, a violent confrontation between rebellious citizens and the Mobile Unit took place onWaterlooplein. The motto of the protests was 'No house, no coronation'. These actions were an expression of dissatisfaction with the housing shortage and the use of public funds to build the Stopera.

Interestingly, the name 'Stopera' originated from combining the words 'Stop' and 'Opera'. During the construction plans, action groups came up with this name as a protest against the new building. So it is not a combination of 'city hall' and 'opera', as is often thought.

Back to the building itself. Looking at the nearby Blue Bridge, you might spot a detail in the facade that resembles dentures. Once inside, you will be immersed in a world of culture and history, with wonderful concerts, performances and important political meetings. Don't miss the chance to visit the Stopera during your stay in Amsterdam!