Watching an Ajax match in Amsterdam: tickets, atmosphere and fixtures
Going to an Ajax match is one of the most searched-for outings for football fans passing through Amsterdam, and one of the most misunderstood: tickets are not sold like museum tickets at a counter. You need a verified account, often a club card, and some advance planning. This guide explains how to buy a ticket officially, what to expect inside the Johan Cruijff ArenA, how to get there and what to do if the match is sold out. The information comes from Ajax's official websites, consulted in October 2026; fixture dates and sales rules change from one season to the next. ## What to know before buying - **A verified "My Ajax" account**: before any purchase you must create an account on Ajax's official website or in the Ajax app, and have your identity verified. - **The Club Card**: for the 2026-2027 season it is issued digitally for €5. It gives access to ticket sales for all home matches and priority over the general sale: holders can buy before supporters without a card. It is compulsory for some matches. - **Who can get one**: you need a verified account, and must not hold a season ticket or membership of the Ajax supporters' association, nor a card or membership of another Eredivisie or Keuken Kampioen Divisie club. Wheelchair users and visually impaired supporters can request a special card, free of charge, for the reserved seats. - **The tickets**: they are delivered in the Ajax app, at the latest one week before the match. - **Prices**: they vary with the opponent and the stand; check the official ticket shop rather than figures found elsewhere. ## Buying an official ticket, step by step 1. Create your account and verify it (ID document) in the Ajax app; purchasing opens only about an hour after verification. 2. Take the Club Card (€5) if you want priority, or if the match requires it. 3. Find the sale date for your match on the official ticket shop and log in on time: matches against the big opponents go quickly. 4. If the match is sold out, look at the **official Ajax Resale platform**, where supporters resell their tickets in an official framework. Avoid unofficial resale sites: a ticket bought on Viagogo, StubHub or elsewhere can be cancelled or blocked, and nothing guarantees you entry. ## Which matches to choose The 2026-2027 season starts in August. Ajax plays in the Eredivisie, the Dutch Cup and, depending on its ranking, in European competition. Two home matches announced with the Club Card compulsory are Ajax-ADO Den Haag (22 November) and Ajax-FC Utrecht (6 December), but fixtures are changed by television and European competitions: always check the date on the official website before booking a flight or hotel. The big date of the season remains "De Klassieker" against Feyenoord; it is also the hardest match to get into. ## The atmosphere and the stadium  The Johan Cruijff ArenA has more than 55,000 seats, a retractable roof and red-and-white stands. For the rules of the day (bags, payment, prohibited items), read the match page: the stadium does not generally accept cash and limits bag size. If you would rather see the stadium without a match, our page details the standard tour, the guided tour and the VIP tour. ## How to get to the stadium The stadium is in the Zuidoost district, about 15 minutes from Central Station. Take metro 54 from Amsterdam Centraal (or metro 50) to Bijlmer ArenA station, or an NS train; the station is a few minutes' walk from the stadium. On match nights the platforms are packed on the way back: wait a little or walk to Duivendrecht station. If you drive, the P+R ArenA park-and-ride is explained in our guide to parking in Amsterdam, and all the transport options are in the guide to transport in Amsterdam. ## What to do before or after the match If you mostly come for the football, combine the match with some sightseeing: see Amsterdam with teenagers for ideas suited to football fans, and what to do in Amsterdam in one day to fit in the essentials before kick-off. For money, payments and tipping, see money, payment and tipping. ## Key points - A match needs preparing several weeks ahead: verified account, Club Card, general sale. - Buy only from the official ticket shop or from Ajax Resale. - Check the match date just before booking transport and accommodation. - Allow about an hour's margin for checks and crowds.
