Officieele gids voor de Olympische Spelen ter viering van de IXe Olympiade, Amsterdam 1928

The Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam

First it had been suggested that the present stadium should be rebuilt, but circumstances led to the conclusion, that a new stadium should be erected. The idea of building up an ‘Olympic City’ has been conceived and carried, wherein all the competitions could be held.

The grounds, where in 1928 the Olympic Games will be held, cover an area of 40 acres (including grounds for training and motorcar-parking 128 acres) and is situated in the Southern part of central Amsterdam.

Many tramlines, (No, 1, 2, 6, 15, 16, 23, autobus G en H) of which some will be extended to quite near the Stadium, will bring visitors within twenty minutes to the centre of the Dutch capital. The large area for the parking of motorcars with its own repair-shops and boxes is able to accommodate 4000 private cars.

Besides the Main Stadium there is a swimming-stadium, a pavilion for fencing and one for other indoor sports, and a cricket ground.

The chief building, the grand Stadium planned by the architect J. Wils, accomodates 40.000 visitors. There are about 20.000 seats and half of them are covered.

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The whole building is 285 yards in length and 185 yards in depth. Not less than 4500 piles - varying in length from 12 to 16 yards - have had to be driven into the soft ground.

In the centre of the Stadium lies the football ground of international dimensions, Around it there is a cinder racing track (436 yards in length and nearly 9 yards across). Round the race course the cycling track is constructed which has the same width but is 545 yards long. A kind of deep gutter between the track and the spectators will prevent umbrellas, etc. from falling on the track and iron palings will protect visitors against accidents.

The competitors will be seated near the finish and the Press will be excellently accomodated opposite the finish; 600 seats are reserved for press representatives. There will also be a large telegraph room and 45 telephone cabins.

Though the Stadium itself is made from concrete a wall in typical Dutch red bricks surrounds the whole.

The two covered stands are in the centre. One contains the Royal and other official boxes and under the other stand lies the Marathon Gate.

There is also a Marathon Tower (150 feet high) bearing on the top a large plate, from which a permanent smoke column will mount to the skies during the Games. Left of the Marathon Tower is erected the monument to the memory of the late F.W.C.H. Baron van Tuyll van Serooskerken, the first President of the Dutch Olympic Committee.

Some details of the Games cannot be possibly held in the Stadium f.e. the rowing courses which will be organized on the Sloten Ringvaart, a course running in a bee line for a distance of two kilometres, situated just outside the centre of the town. The municipal autobusservice G will bring there the visitors in 20 minutes.

For Worldrecords and Olympic Winners
see pages .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 74-109