Live Music in Amsterdam

Seeing a concert at home often means driving, parking and paying for both. In Amsterdam it's close to hassle-free. The city is a fixture on every European tour, so most big acts come through, and the venues are either a short walk from the canal ring or a quick metro ride out. The two famous clubs near Leidseplein are still going strong. The big halls out by the stadium have new names.

Where to find out what's on

The listings site this page used to recommend is gone. Start with these instead:

• I amsterdam's What's On, the city's official guide, with a concerts section, a monthly music guide and a monthly list of concerts and parties under €20.
• The venues' own calendars, linked below. That's where tickets go on sale first.

Popular shows sell out early, so book online as soon as you know your dates. Tickets are almost always e-tickets.

The two famous clubs near Leidseplein

Both sit just off Leidseplein, in opposite directions, and both have live music most nights, often followed by club nights with separate tickets.

Melkweg

Melkweg ("Milky Way"), Lijnbaansgracht 234a, is a former milk factory turned into a sprawling cultural complex with several halls, plus film and exhibitions. Its biggest room, the Max, holds about 1,500, the same size as Paradiso's main hall. The mix runs from hip-hop and indie to electronic club nights, and the calendar is booked well into next year. More in our Melkweg guide.

Paradiso

Paradiso, Weteringschans 6, is a 19th-century church building that hippies squatted in 1967 and that officially opened as a music venue on 30 March 1968. Stained-glass windows still sit behind the stage of the main hall, which holds about 1,500, and a small hall upstairs holds about 250. The sound in the main hall is excellent, and a long list of famous bands has played there. Paradiso also books shows at other venues around town, including Tolhuistuin in Noord and Bitterzoet. More in our Paradiso guide.

Where to see the biggest acts

For crowds bigger than a couple of thousand, you head to Amsterdam Zuidoost, where three venues stand side by side next to Bijlmer ArenA station. Metro 54 from Centraal Station, via Nieuwmarkt and Waterlooplein, takes about 16 minutes, and NS trains stop there too. You pay by tapping in and out with a contactless card. Our Johan Cruijff ArenA page has full directions.

AFAS Live

The former Heineken Music Hall was renamed AFAS Live on 1 January 2017. Its main hall holds about 6,000, making it the step up from Melkweg and Paradiso. The calendar mixes pop, rock, hip-hop and the odd darts final.

Ziggo Dome

Opened in 2012, the Ziggo Dome holds about 17,000 and is the largest indoor concert venue in the Netherlands. Arena tours stop here.

Johan Cruijff ArenA

The stadium once called the Amsterdam ArenA was renamed for Johan Cruijff in 2018. It holds about 56,000 for football and up to 71,000 for concerts with a center stage, so only the biggest acts in the world play here. The official calendar already lists stadium shows for summer 2027. It's also home to Ajax, so check whether a match falls during your trip.

Jazz and classical

Bimhuis

Amsterdam's jazz stage has been running since 1974 and now sits in a black box cantilevered over the water next to the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, at Piet Heinkade 3, a 10-minute walk east of Centraal Station. Expect everything from straight-ahead jazz and Latin nights to free improvisation.

Het Concertgebouw

The Concertgebouw on Museumplein is one of the world's great concert halls, home to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, with more than 700 concerts a year. The best deal in town is its free lunchtime concert: half an hour, usually on Wednesdays at 12:30, every week except in July and August. You need a free ticket, which you can book online up to a week ahead, two per person. Some weeks it's a public rehearsal by the orchestra.

Festivals and big events

Amsterdam's festival calendar is packed from spring to autumn. The biggest music event is the Amsterdam Dance Event, which takes over clubs and venues all over the city, running 21-25 October in 2026, its 30th year. See our festivals in Amsterdam page for the rest, and Pinkpop if you'll travel for a big outdoor festival.

For DJs and late nights rather than bands, see our Amsterdam clubs and nightlife guides.

FAQ

Can I buy concert tickets at the door?

Don't count on it. Buy online in advance through the venue or the promoter it names, and skip resellers outside.

How late do concerts finish?

Many shows at Melkweg and Paradiso start early in the evening so the halls can switch to club nights later. Check the times on your ticket.

Where can I hear free music?

The Concertgebouw's Wednesday lunchtime concerts are free with a ticket booked online. I amsterdam's monthly list of concerts and parties under €20 is the next best thing.