Hotels near Felix Meritis

Felix Meritis opened on 31 October 1788, built by Jacob Otten Husly for a society of forty scientists, artists, merchants and writers formed in the 1770s. The Keizersgracht facade is neo-classical, with colossal Corinthian pilasters under a pediment. Its oval Concertzaal was the main music hall in Amsterdam until late in the nineteenth century, and Brahms, Clara Schumann and Saint-Saëns all played in it; the Concertgebouw's small hall was later built as a copy of the room. Fire took part of the building in 1932, the Communist Party printed its newspaper here from 1947 to 1981, the Shaffy Theatre moved in during 1969, and the current cultural centre reopened on 20 March 2020.

During the festival the building becomes the conference. ADE Pro runs here from Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 October 2026, opening at 09:00 and closing at 21:00, and on the Saturday it turns into the ADE Culture Hub, folding ADE Pro, ADE Lab and ADE Beats into one day with tracks on sound system culture, DIY and grassroots scenes, and cultural currents. The catch is blunt: entry needs an ADE Pro Pass, which starts at €675, and there are no day passes and no conference-only tickets. The Concertzaal holds 400, the Shaffyzaal and Zuilenzaal 200 each, so popular sessions fill and stay filled.

Without a pass you can still get through the door. Felix Café takes walk-ins from 16:00, Wednesday to Saturday, with dinner from 17:30. During conference week it is where badge holders go to stop talking about music for an hour.

Pro Tip: Arrive at Felix Café at 16:00 on the Thursday, not later. Dinner service starts at 17:30 and the ground floor is solid by 18:00. Trams 2, 11, 12 and 17 stop at Keizersgracht on Leidsestraat, six minutes' walk along the canal.