Ajax Experience, Amsterdam – An hour of interaction and entertainment

Conveniently

situated upon Amsterdam’s bustling Rembrandtplein, just minutes away from the

city centre, the Ajax Experience offers an entertaining insight into one of the

Netherlands’ most successful football clubs.

Filled with interactive activities, oozing a wealth of history and

providing a chance to marvel at the club’s extensive collection of silverware,

the Ajax Experience is an attraction definitely worthy of a visit.

AFC Ajax

was founded in Amsterdam on 18th March 1900 and is regarded as one

of the country’s most famous football clubs, boasting a very successful

past. Winning an array of national and

international trophies, including the prestigious Champions League trophy, the

club is supported by fans from all over the world. As an avid football follower, I could think

of no better way than to combine my trip to Amsterdam with a visit to the Ajax

Experience. Instead of having to take

the fifteen minute tram journey to Ajax’s stadium, which is located in the

south east of Amsterdam, to enjoy a stadium tour, I took a short walk from

Centraal Station to the city’s popular Rembrandtplein where the experience can

be found.

It was a

weekday afternoon and luckily I didn’t have to queue to enter, plus I had

already bought my tickets online so I was straight in and raring to go. The first scene I was greeted with was a

collection of life sized portraits of the club’s past and present heroes, perfect

for a photo opportunity – photography is allowed throughout the tour, as long

as the flash is turned off. Next up was

an exhibition of replica kits worn by the Ajax players throughout the years; it

was amazing to see the difference in styles and designs. I continued along hearing stories about the

history of the club together with a commentary from Dennis Bergkamp, one of

Ajax’s much-loved players.

I was

soon in the part of the experience that I was really looking forward to – the interactive

games room. Here I took part in

measuring my footballing skills on the virtual pitch, within specialist pods

which rated my performance. As the tour

was relatively quiet, I basically had the games to myself and spent a great

deal of time and effort trying to perfect my techniques – maybe a little bit

too much time! I finally decided to move

on into the player’s dressing room and then through to the fabulous display of

silverware in the trophy room, which housed the many awards that Ajax have won,

the most impressive of all being the Champions League trophies.

From

here, I made my way through the replica tunnel and out into the model stadium

which is lined with artificial grass to resemble the pitch at the Amsterdam

Arena where Ajax play their home games.

Here is where I also watched several videos detailing the club’s

successes on a large screen whilst sat in the football stand. My final part of the experience was a visit

into the official gift shop, which was packed with kits, merchandise, souvenirs,

toys and gifts.

I

thoroughly enjoyed my Ajax Experience tour, which took just over an hour. I would recommend for anyone wanting to visit

the experience to select a quieter time to visit, during the week rather than

at the weekend, so that you are able to take part in all of the interactive

activities. More information, including

how to book tickets, is available on the website – www.ajax.nl.