Merel Vercammen & Maya Fridman

De Maaspoort sits on the Oude Markt in Venlo, occupying a site where one of the city's historic gates once stood. The venue opened on 24 August 1984, inaugurated by Queen Beatrix under the name Theater De Maaspoort, a direct reference to that old city gate. Over the decades it has grown well beyond its original identity as a theatre and congress centre into one of the largest event venues in North and Central Limburg, attracting audiences for concerts, theatrical productions, dance performances and conferences alike. The building contains three halls, each with its own character and scale. The Rabobank Venlo hall is the largest, accommodating up to 1,500 people, and functions as the main stage for big concerts and major productions. The Frans Boermans hall seats around 350 in its theatre configuration, but its retractable tiered stands and adjustable floor allow it to be converted into a fully open space, making it genuinely flexible for a wide range of formats. The Piet Kingma hall is the smallest of the three and lends itself to more intimate performances. All three halls are noted for their acoustics and sightlines. The venue also features two restaurants and a roof terrace overlooking the river Maas. In 1999 De Maaspoort was connected to events surrounding the European Championships held in the region, which underlines its standing as a central point for large scale cultural and public life in Venlo.