Stages
On Amsterdam Now you will find a list of venues in Amsterdam - from large concert halls and music theaters to small venue theaters, jazz clubs and experimental venues.
Amsterdam has an exceptionally high number of theaters, clubs and venues for a city of this size, with live music and performances catering to virtually every taste. For a current listing of concerts, performances and tickets, see the amsterdam agenda and amsterdam concerts section on Amsterdam Now.
Classical music and opera
The Concertgebouw is the city's most iconic classical music venue and among the best-known concert halls in Europe. It programs symphonic music, chamber music and soloist recitals throughout the year. The Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ focuses on modern and experimental classical music and has its own architectural character on the IJ. The Nationale Opera & Ballet at the Muziektheater aan de Amstel is the permanent home of opera and ballet in Amsterdam. For more information, see art and culture Amsterdam on Amsterdam Now.
Pop and rock
Paradiso and Melkweg are Amsterdam's two most famous pop venues, programming national and international acts on an almost daily basis. Paradiso is housed in a former church on Leidseplein; Melkweg is right around the corner and has multiple venues with broader programming of pop, rock, hip-hop and electronic music. Both venues have a long history and a firm place in the Dutch performing arts landscape. See also amsterdam concerts on Amsterdam Now for current programming.
Jazz and improvised music
The Bimhuis is Amsterdam's central jazz venue, programming jazz, improvised music and related genres. Splendor, right in the center, is an independent stage founded by fifty top musicians - a laboratory where all types of music come together and experiment. Both venues cater to an audience that looks beyond mainstream programming.
Theater and performing arts
Amsterdam has a broad theater landscape: from major productions and musicals in Carré and DeLaMar to specialized venues for cabaret, dance and mime. Internationaal Theater Amsterdam programs internationally oriented repertory theater. Frascati and Theater Bellevue focus on smaller-scale and innovative work. De Kleine Komedie is the city's regular address for cabaret. For current performances and tickets, see amsterdam performances on Amsterdam Now.
Smaller and alternative venues
In addition to the established venues, Amsterdam has a circuit of smaller venues that offer a different kind of programming. The NDSM site in Noord houses multiple performance spaces in repurposed industrial buildings. Venues such as Cinetol, OCCII and Bitterzoet program on a smaller scale and focus on specific genres or communities. The complete overview of venues in Amsterdam, including practical info and current agenda, can be found via the amsterdam city guide on Amsterdam Now.