Stichting Amsterdam Chess Open

♟️ About Stichting Amsterdam Chess Open

Stichting Amsterdam Chess Open is a non-profit chess event organization based in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The foundation organizes major over-the-board chess tournaments and events in the Dutch capital, including the Amsterdam Chess Open, Amsterdam Chess Festival, and inclusive community chess initiatives. Its registered address is at Huize Lydia, Roelof Hartplein 2A, Amsterdam. The foundation emerged from plans for a new Amsterdam weekend tournament after the disappearance of the Eijgenbrood Tournament. In 2022, Jan Timmerman began developing the idea with chess organizers from several Amsterdam clubs. Moreover, Schaakbond Groot-Amsterdam proposed incorporating its individual championship into the new event. Organizers from Caïssa, Amsterdam West, Zwart op Wit, and other local chess communities subsequently joined the project, and Stichting Amsterdam Chess Open was established to manage the tournament. Jan Timmerman serves as Chairman of Stichting Amsterdam Chess Open. The current organizational team also includes Marjolein Aarten as Treasurer and Chess Producer, Ti de Jong as Secretary, Jim van der Valk Bouman as Pairing Officer, Joppe Bolderman as Brand Manager, and International Arbiter Sernin van de Krol as Chief Arbiter. Consequently, the foundation combines tournament administration, production, communications, branding, arbitration, and logistics within a dedicated event team.

🏆 Amsterdam Chess Open

The foundation launched the first Amsterdam Chess Open in October 2023. That inaugural edition reached its 250-player capacity before the tournament began. The event also incorporated the Personal Championship of Schaakbond Groot-Amsterdam, linking the new tournament with a long-established Amsterdam championship tradition. Participation increased rapidly. The second edition in 2024 reached approximately 500 registrations well before the event, while the third Amsterdam Chess Open in 2025 attracted almost 650 players from 46 countries. As a result, the tournament became the largest weekend chess tournament in the Netherlands. The Amsterdam Chess Open 2026 takes place from October 23–25, 2026. The fourth edition again uses a compact six-round weekend format, with two classical games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Moreover, the organizer divides participants into rating groups so that beginners, experienced club players, and titled competitors can all find suitable opposition. The tournament also continues to incorporate the SGA Personal Championship. Therefore, players affiliated with Schaakbond Groot-Amsterdam can compete simultaneously for Amsterdam championship honors while taking part in the wider international open.

🌍 Amsterdam Chess Festival

In 2026, Stichting Amsterdam Chess Open significantly expanded its tournament portfolio by launching the Amsterdam Chess Festival. The foundation took over the summer tournament tradition previously represented by the Amsterdam Science Park Chess Tournament. The inaugural festival ran from July 10–19, 2026 at Montessori Lyceum Oostpoort and additional Amsterdam venues. More than 600 participants took part across the festival program. The main nine-round classical tournament included several rating groups, while additional competitions included week and weekend round robins, blitz events, and the Open Dutch Student Championship. Furthermore, the festival combined competition with broader chess experiences. GM Anish Giri delivered a masterclass, while IM Eline Roebers provided tournament coaching. The program also included music and additional social chess events. Stichting Amsterdam Chess Open worked with Bar Blitz on the festival’s digital tournament platform. Consequently, the foundation expanded from one major autumn weekend tournament into a broader organizer of international chess activity throughout the year.

🤝 Inclusive Chess and Community Events

Inclusivity forms a deliberate part of the foundation’s event strategy. From the beginning, the organization stated that it wanted players of different ages, genders, backgrounds, and playing strengths to feel welcome at its tournaments. One example is the Sport Pride Amsterdam Chess Open. Stichting Amsterdam Chess Open launched the event with Sport Pride Foundation and De Queer Schaakclub in 2024 and organized a second edition in 2025 at Boom Chicago. The tournament aims to create an accessible environment for players who may find traditional chess events less approachable. Moreover, participation remains open to everyone rather than being restricted to a particular group. The foundation has also worked with community organizations, Amsterdam chess clubs, educational institutions, volunteers, and local chess authorities. These partnerships allow it to combine large competitive events with initiatives designed to broaden participation in over-the-board chess.

♜ Amsterdam Chess Heritage and Partnerships

Although Stichting Amsterdam Chess Open is a relatively new organization, its flagship tournament builds on established Amsterdam chess traditions. The Amsterdam Chess Open combines elements of the former Eijgenbrood Tournament with the Personal Championship of Schaakbond Groot-Amsterdam. The foundation therefore connects existing local chess structures with a new tournament model. Schaakbond Groot-Amsterdam has supported the project since its creation, while players and volunteers from several Amsterdam clubs contribute to its organization. In addition, the foundation works with sponsors, educational institutions, tournament platforms, arbiters, and community partners. The Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences hosted the tournament at the Corry Tendeloohuis during recent editions, while other partnerships have supported prizes, production, player services, and tournament presentation. Through the Amsterdam Chess Open and Amsterdam Chess Festival, the foundation now organizes events ranging from accessible community competitions to major FIDE-rated tournaments with hundreds of participants.