When it comes to music, Amsterdam has hundreds of stores, venues, clubs and festivals to suit a wide range of preferences.
Today, let's find out what a music lover can find in Amsterdam.
Music in Amsterdam: article summary
Music in Amsterdam: record stores to discover
Amsterdam is at the forefront of the vinyl revival movement and has many excellent record stores. Most are frequented by local music producers and international artists.
Concerto is undoubtedly the best place in town for fans of mainstream genres such as pop and rock. It also offers a wide range of hip-hop, electronic and classical on its huge Utrechtsestraat site.
For more alternative music, I recommend a visit to Amsterdam's underground mainstays:
- Rush Hour Records
- Red Light Records
- Waxwell Records
You're bound to find what you're looking for in one of these places.
Where to enjoy concerts in Amsterdam?
In addition to the Ziggo Dome and the Heineken Music Hall, which mainly host high-profile artists, the city also boasts numerous independent concert halls and live music bars.
Smaller venues such as De Nieuwe Anita, OCCII and OT301 host special events throughout the year, while Paradiso and Melkweg are well known for their diverse musical programs.
Classical music and jazz are also well represented in Amsterdam at De Concertgebouw and Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, two monumental buildings on Museumplein and Oosterdok respectively.
Party to the music at Amsterda's nightclubs
Of Amsterdam's many clubs, three currently hold a 24-hour license and are able to host parties throughout the weekend:
- RADION
- De School
- Shelter
These establishments generally focus on contemporary electronic dance music.
RADION and De School are located in the west of the city, while Shelter is part of A'DAM Toren in Amsterdam-Noord.
In addition to these top clubs, there are also several smaller nightclubs in the city center, including :
- the Chicago Social Club on Leidseplein
- Club NYX on Reguliersdwarsstraat
Going to a music festival in Amsterdam
Amsterdam's festivals tend to focus on electronic music and numerous EDM events important events take place in the city throughout the year.
The festival season kicks off over the Easter weekend with DGTL at NDSM-Werf, which always plays host to major names on the international EDM scene.
After that, you'll find numerous festivals throughout the summer, with other major events such as :
- Lente Kabinet
- PITCH
- Dekmantel
In October, Amsterdam also hosts the world's largest club festival, ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event), where over 2,000 artists perform in hundreds of venues across the city.
Finally, there are also two annual hip-hop and R&B festivals in Amsterdam:
- Still
- Appelsap
There are plenty of places to listen to music in Amsterdam. These will fill your weekend evenings, and you'll be able to be sure to party the night away thanks to these venues.
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