Amsterdam has a rich and diverse live music nightlife. Just about any night of the week, you'll be spoilt for choice. On this site are the major venues for contemporary and classical music, as well as an eclectic choice of those offering anything from world music to jazz. (Basically, the only ones I could be bothered to write about.) For an overview of rock and pop concerts taking place in Amsterdam (as well as across the Netherlands) visit www.livenation.nl
Ajax's futuristic football stadium kicks into life in the summer with the likes of Madonna, Robbie William, U2 etc.
HEINEKEN MUSIC HALL | ArenA Boulevard 590 | www.heineken-music-hall.nl
Amsterdam's second largest live music venue (the ArenA, nextdoor, is the biggest). Athough it's not centrally-located (but rather in the south-east Bijlmeer district), it's a mere hop, skip and a jump on the metro and well worth it to catch the likes of Underworld, Franz Ferdinand, The Chemical Brothers and The Killers.
MELKWEG | Lijnbaansgracht 234a | (020) 531 8181 | www.melkweg.nl
Formerly a dairy, the 'Milky Way' now churns out live music in its two concert halls. Its music programming is diverse – featuring anything from experimental underground, raw punk, rock and garage to R&B, dancehall and hiphop. It was here in 2002, while waiting to perform, that Coldplay's 'Mr Paltrow' penned the song Amsterdam. The multimedia venue also has a cinema, theatre, gallery, restaurant and upstairs bar – and regularly throws parties and club nights.
PARADISO | Weteringschans 6-8 | (020) 626 4521 | www.paradiso.nl
This beautifully converted church (endearingly known as the 'pop temple'), is one of Amsterdam's best-loved live music spots. The Velvet Underground, Buzzcocks, Cornelius and PJ Harvey have all played against a backdrop of colourful stained-glass in the main hall. And the intimate upstairs hall is one to be watched: they often have unknowns before they go big (the Scissor Sisters played here in Feburary 2004; James Blunt in May 2005). Additionally, they also hold a number of parties and club nights throughout the building, including in their cellar space.