On the 30th September the City Council of Amsterdam has approved an investment to renovate The Wagener Stadium in Amsterdam Forest.
The National Hockey Stadium has been long due for a renewal and given that the 2017 EuroHockey Championships will be held there this had prompted the complete overhaul including a revamped grandstand.
The Wagener Stadium was built in 1938 and since 1980 owned by the Royal Dutch Hockey Association (KNHB). On the initiative of the KNHB in collaboration with the municipality of Amsterdam during 2007-2012 an investigation into the possibilities of renewal were considered but not feasible at that time. Following the successful bid of the KNHB to host the of the EuroHockey Championship in 2017, the Hockey Federation and the city of Amsterdam decided to re-investigate the feasibility of a renovation.
The KNHB and the Amsterdam municipality will jointly finance the renovation. The revamp will be complete by 1st July 2017.
Erik Gerritsen, Director of the KNHB, welcomed the renovation: “The Wagener Stadium is for us an important site. It is an iconic place, which will be placed back in the international spotlight in the summer of 2017. This renovation fits in perfectly with our ambition to present major events to a wide audience. Moreover, it continues the preservation of the very important National Stadium here in The Netherlands.
The EHF Director General, Angus Kirkland welcomed the announcement “The EuroHockey Championships has grown from strength to strength over the past number of years. Hosting the EHC2017 in the newly renovated Wagener Stadium will continue the legacy of what we have come to expect from the EHC; a big, bold, packed and loud event, perfect for fans and athletes alike. In addition as an equal gender event, EHC showcases our World class athletes equally. We are really looking forward to working with our colleagues in the KNHB over the coming months on the 2017 EuroHockey Championships.”