Holland Heineken House will be, as always, one of the biggest party spots at the games. Expect this London 2012 Olympic attraction, courtesy of the Dutch, to be a rocking national hospitality house with plenty of beer and plenty of Orange. We’ll be live-blogging updates from Holland Heineken House throughout the Games, plus we’ve got all the essential information you need to plan your visit below.
Live Blog
Sunday, 5 August
6:38pm Great views of the city and great company here at Holland Heinekn House! The crowd is building ahead of the athletics finals, this really is a wonderful venue to watch the Games from. The Dutch are out in force here! I have never seen so much bright orange! There is a really joyous atmosphere here as the crowd soak up the action.
Thursday, 2 August
10:50 p.m. It’s overwhelming excitement at the Holland Heineken House! Natives are celebrating The Netherlands’ women’s rowing team after their win earlier in the day. Just after Ranomi Kromowidjojo won as a top qualifier in the women’s 50 meter freestyle, the party officially began. Music is blasting as the crowd moves to the tunes of top pop music. Come on down! The party goes all night.
9:25 p.m. The anticipation is rising at the Holland Heineken House as natives await The Netherlands’ Ranomi Kromowidjojo’s swimming 50 meter freestyle semi-final. It’s wall-to-wall orange and eyes are glued to the screens. The brews are on tap and you’ll have your choice of a variety of food from the eating area. Drop by as nationals root for Ranomi Holland-style!
Friday, 27 July
6:28pm What a place! If you’re not familiar with Alexandra Palace, it’s a pretty big venue to fill, but the Dutch have done wonders with this place. The queues outside include eager Dutch fans waiting for tickets, French, Germans, Scots, Londoners and more.
The Heineken arena is full to the brim with small stores where you can by official Holland merchandise and there is no shortage of beer (as you would expect with the name). What’s great is the Dutch have taken a whole new spin on the party atmosphere by building their own stands for people to watch the gigantic TV screens above the bars, like a small indoor stadium. If that wasn’t enough I’m pretty sure they’ve got something that you won’t see at any of the other Olympic houses, mobile bins. That’s right you read correctly, mobile bins. These (unlucky) people are dressed with bins attached to their fronts and long pipes over each shoulder to cope with plastic cups holding the expected tidal wave of beer to be drank over the next fortnight.
Around the back, in the enormous Medal Ceremony Hall there is a day time Sports Zone which let you play table tennis, try your best at a 25m sprint or ride bikes showing virtual Olympic trials. This 11th edition of the Holland House is certain to be memorable and is even being broadcast live on the Holland Heineken Website.
Need-to-know
Where it is: Alexandra Palace
Nearest tube: Wood Green, then take the W3 bus, or take the train to Alexandra Park
Hours: 10:30am to 1:30am daily
Cost: €10 plus €2.50 booking fee for tickets, which must be purchased in advance
Watching the Games: Yes, live on big screens at the Heineken Arena
Highlights: Traditional Dutch food and drink. A grandstand for watching events offering seating to 500 fans. An interactive Fanzone. Heritage Hall, with highlights of past Dutch Olympic athletes. Medal Ceremony Hall, which offers a chance to try your hand at sporting events by day, and by night hosts Dutch medal winners and musical acts.
Restrictions: A valid admission ticket and ID is required for entrance. Tickets cannot be purchased at the door. When purchasing tickets, you must register each ticket in the name of the person who will be using it (not the buyer’s name), so know that information in advance. Some dates are already sold out, and other tickets are going fast. Those under 18 can only attend before 8pm, and must be accompanied by someone over 21.
