10 Best Places to See Live Music in Amsterdam

The Royal Concertgebouw, literally translated as concert building, is a historic venue in town that showcases orchestral performances in a hall that dates back more than a century. The building was originally constructed in 1888 as a concert hall and has served the same purpose ever since, though it did undergo massive renovations in the 1980s.

One of the most impressive features of this concert hall is the organ, which dates back to 1890, making it nearly as old as the venue itself, though similar to the venue, it was renovated in the late 20th century.

The Melkweg, literally translated as Milky Way, is a popular late-night music venue that also doubles as a cultural centre showcasing various genres of music. The venue is run by a nonprofit, so every event held here is for the express interest of displaying the artistic value of the music rather than to make money.

Within the venue, you'll find a total of 4 halls where musical performances are held. This is largely because the building itself used to be a dairy, so there are many distinct spaces within. You may even want to visit for experiences other than live music, such as art exhibitions and cinema showings.

Maloe Melo is a popular blues and rock cafe in town where you'll not only find the best live bands around but also delicious food and satisfying drinks. When you visit this relatively small and intimate venue, you can hear some of the best blues music in town.

This bar and venue are located in a residential area of town off the beaten path, so it offers a more exclusive atmosphere than you might expect. Additionally, their live music performances occur daily, so it's easy to fit into your schedule.

Bimhuis is known primarily for its jazz performances and shows of improvised music, with an impressive average of 150 performances a year. They've been showing live jazz performances ever since the 1970s, and their shows only get more impressive each year.

When you visit this venue, you'll also find quite a few conveniences to enjoy. You'll find easy access and seating available for guests with difficulty walking, and you can have your ticket scanned directly from your smartphone. There's a restaurant on-site exclusively accessible to concert-goers.

Muziekgebouw Aan’t IJ is a popular concert hall that showcases classical music performances composed in the modern-day by world-touring artists. Even the architectural style of the building is modernist, further emphasising its commitment to contemporary classical music.

One of the most iconic features of this venue is its organ. This impressive device is a microtonal 31-TET Fokker organ that the famed Adriaan Fokker originally designed. The organ is used quite often for regular concerts, so chances are you'll be able to see it in action when you visit.

The Chicago Social Club is a popular destination for visitors looking for a more intimate nightclub experience that's as relaxing as it is fun. They specifically go for a gezellig experience, which means an experience that's nice and cosy.

You'll find 2 levels within this club, along with DJs performing a live mix of techno and hip-hop music. The dance floor is always a popular spot, but you'll find plenty of seating here as well. Just keep in mind that you need to be at least 21 years of age to enter.

The Paradiso is a popular live music venue and cultural centre housed within a former church building with impressive architecture and hosting a wide variety of musical genres. Some of the most legendary artists in history have played this venue before, including David Bowie, The Killers, Public Enemy, Bad Brains and many more.

One of the major reasons this venue is known for such a wide variety of genres is thanks to its fascinating history. Hippie counterculture was a part of the venue decades ago, leading to numerous punk and new wave artists performing. These days, however, you'll find those genres alongside modern rock, rap and even classical music.

Ziggo Dome is a popular arena that hosts trendy performances by artists who tour the world and draw in massive crowds. It's one of the busiest concert venues in the world, hosting a wide variety of acts packing its 17,000 capacity stands with adoring fans regularly.

One of the best features of this venue is its unique shape, which was designed specifically for amplified musical performances. Despite the name of Ziggo Dome, this venue doesn't actually implement any round shapes in its design.

The Waterhole is a popular venue with live music every day it's open that also features food, drinks and games to enjoy. For the most part, the music here tends to be local artists covering popular blues, rock and funk songs.

Visitors of all ages are welcome here as the music tends to be appropriate for wide audiences. If you're looking for a more adult-oriented experience, however, you can visit after happy hour. Just keep in mind that there's an 18-year-old age requirement to enter after 9 pm.

AFAS Live, also known as the black box, is a massive concert venue specifically designed for amplified music, making concerts sound better than ever before. This venue has a capacity of 6,000 seats, so you can expect a much more exclusive kind of experience even with big artist performances.

Quite a few different kinds of artists play here. Essentially, anything that draws crowds may be able to book a show here, whether it's rock, rap, electronic or virtually anything else you can imagine. Some of the most popular bands that have graced this stage include Daft Punk, Twenty One Pilots and Bob Dylan.