THE ROYAL CONCERTGEBOUW It was Bernard Haitink who once praised The Concertgebouw as the best instrument of the orchestra that it houses. That must have been what prominent Amsterdam residents had in mind when they decided in 1881 to gift the capital city with a majestic concert hall. Seven years later, the swampy fields just outside the city limits boasted a wonder of neoclassic architecture, The Concertgebouw. Nowadays, just like the celebrated Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, this fantastic concert hall enjoys worldwide renown.