Best Venues for Live Music in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a hotspot for live music—from classical to rock, world beats to jazz—and the venues for live music in Amsterdam are just as varied. Check out these top picks for the best places to see live music in Amsterdam.

01 of 07

Best All-Around: Paradiso

A crowd waits for the beginning of a show at Paradiso — Photo RNW.com / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

The Paradiso makes the list because it's a classic, a true Amsterdam landmark. The former church near Leidseplein has two spaces for live shows, the grote zaal ("big hall") and the kleine zaal ("small hall"). The larger space (still only about 2,000 in capacity) draws big-name pop/rock bands like Black Crowes and Dave Matthews; plenty of legends in world music and reggae have also played here since its reopening in 1968. Both halls also host local/regional musicians and special club nights.

02 of 07

Best for Jazz Aficionados: Bimhuis

A group performs at Bimhuis — mararie / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Amsterdam has long had a strong jazz scene, so it's no surprise that it has one of the best venues for live jazz and improvisational music in Europe, if not the world. The Bimhuis (pronounced "BIM house") has been around since the 1970s, hosting greats like Charles Mingus and Chet Baker. Its 21st-century home is a huge black box of a structure that hangs off the side of the Muziekgebouw, almost as if the architect improvised—how fitting. Audiences are rewarded not only with musical performances from world-class names and up-and-coming talent but also with fantastic views over the harbor and its skyline.

03 of 07

Most Diverse Line-Ups: Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ

The exterior walkway and main entrance to Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ — Fred Romero / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

The line-up at the Muziekgebouw ranges from opera to non-western, vocal to classical. There's even a children's "Sound Playground." But the spectrum of unique musical performances isn't the only reason why both grandma and a group of girlfriends might all enjoy the same show. The building itself is a beautiful piece of modern architecture; the journey out to its location on the IJ harbor will get visitors out of the old-Amsterdam comfort zone; and the view from the adjacent Star Ferry restaurant dining room and terrace is spectacular.

04 of 07

Best for Jam-Band Junkies: Melkweg

A band performing at Melkweg — Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten AHK / Flickr / CC BY-ND 2.0

The Melkweg is kind of like the Paradiso's little sister. Also a mid-sized venue, it had a previous life as a dairy (the name means "Milky Way"). Now it's home to Jam in the Dam, a three-day festival that packs the building to the gills with jam-band fans. On other nights the line-up might include Latin, hip-hop, reggae and even theatrical and dance performances. Notable past performers have included U2, the Police, Radiohead, and Coldplay.

Continue to 5 of 7 below.

05 of 07

Best Blues Venue: Maloe Melo

A band performs at Maloe Melo — Simon Groenewolt / Flickr / CC BY 2.0

For a blues lover, there's no better spot than Maloe Melo, a cozy music bar known by blues aficionados the world over. With live music daily, Maloe Melo delivers every day of the week, be it blues, jazz or country; Tuesdays and Thursdays are dedicated to live jam sessions. Most of the musicians here fly under the radar, but past performers have included Patti Smith and Joe Cocker.

06 of 07

Best for Off-Beat Acts: De Nieuwe Anita

A sign for the music venue De Nieuwe Anita — De Nieuwe Anita

This squatted cultural center is a trip back in time, thanks to a retro interior filled with comfortable perches. Not just a club with off-beat live music and affordable drinks, De Nieuwe Anita doubles as an ad-hoc cultural center with diverse events. So take in some period musicians (think Prohibition-era jazz or '60s French chansons), classic cinema, or even learn to knit from the comfort of the overstuffed chairs at this parlor-like space in Amsterdam West.

07 of 07

Best for Star Performances: Ziggo Dome

The exterior facade of the Ziggo Dome — Shirley de Jong / Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0

Intimate? Not in the least, with a capacity of 17,000, but this is the spot to see the most famous names in modern music, from Madonna to Beyoncé; Radiohead to U2. Love it or hate it, it's pretty hard not to admire its fine contemporary architecture, courtesy of Benthem Crouwel, the same names behind the new Stedelijk Museum. Just don't expect an actual dome—that's a misnomer.

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