On April 12, 2024, Tila Tec opened its doors in a building that Amsterdamers know as De School. But don't compare them. Marketing director Passion Dzenga was clear: Tila Tec only shares an address with its predecessor, nothing else. New concept, new people, new energy in a 1967 building that is already beginning its third life.
Behind the club are Samuel King and DJ Lola Edo. Lola Edo is no stranger to the city: she also founded queer bar Pamela. You can see that background in how Tila Tec is structured. The club has a decidedly inclusive policy, with a particular focus on queer people and people of color. That's not a marketing pitch but a conscious choice that shines through in the programming. During Amsterdam Dance Event 2025, headliners Ben Klock and Philippa Pacho took the stage, two names that show the club carries weight internationally as well.
The building itself does a lot of work. Multiple spaces, raw concrete walls, an industrial character that doesn't feel forced anywhere. The School had a restaurant, café, gallery and gym in addition to the clubroom. Tila Tec chooses differently: the focus is on music and community, and the spaces are designed accordingly. The atmosphere is underground, not for show but because it is. Anyone who steps inside quickly understands why this building has been a magnet for subcultures in the Baarsjes for decades.
Tila Tec only shares an address with its predecessor, nothing else. New concept, new people, new energy.
Tila Tec has now become an anchor in Amsterdam's nightlife scene. Not by shouting loudly but by consistently doing what it promises: being a place where techno and community come together, and where people who are not always welcome elsewhere are here. The wine list here is as serious as the cuisine. No, wait: here it's the bassline that defines everything, and it's right.