Netherlands · Music
Events in Amsterdam
Paradiso (opened 1968), Melkweg (1970), Amsterdam Dance Event (600,000 visitors in 2025), and underground techno at Shelter beneath the A'DAM Tower. Electronic music represents 73% of the total value of Dutch music output. Every concert, club night, and festival is on Mood.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam music scene
Amsterdam's music scene is anchored by two legendary mid-sized venues: Paradiso, a former church on Weteringschans that has operated as a concert venue since 30 March 1968 and holds 1,500 in its main hall, and Melkweg (Milky Way) at Lijnbaansgracht, which opened in a former milk factory on 17 July 1970 and hosts 1,500 in its Max hall. Both have recorded landmark performances - Paradiso logged 727,000 annual visitors across 1,210 events in 2023, and Melkweg's early shows included U2's first performance outside Ireland and the UK in October 1980.
Amsterdam Dance Event, founded in 1996 with 300 attendees and 30 DJs, reached 600,000 visitors from over 140 countries in its 2025 edition - the largest in its 30-year history - across 3,400 artists and 1,200 events at approximately 300 venues. It is the world's largest club music festival and conference, and electronic music represents approximately 73% of the total value of Dutch music output (€216.5 million). Shelter Amsterdam, opened in 2016 in the basement of the A'DAM Tower in Noord with a 1,000-person capacity and Funktion-One soundsystem, holds a position in DJ Mag's annual Top 100 Clubs.
Bimhuis, founded in 1973 (opened October 1974) on Piet Heinkade with panoramic IJ waterfront views, programmes approximately 150 performances of jazz and improvised music per year in its 250-seat arena. The jazz venue has hosted Charles Mingus, Archie Shepp, Cecil Taylor, and Sun Ra. Hip hop and R&B events are growing rapidly, particularly in Noord and the Bijlmer. Amsterdam-born DJ and producer Martin Garrix ranked first in DJ Mag's Top 100 DJs in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, and 2024.
Common questions
What events are in Amsterdam tonight?
Amsterdam runs techno, house, jazz, and hip hop events almost every night, with the largest programme on Fridays and Saturdays. Tonight's full listings - concerts, club nights, and live shows - are on Mood.
What concerts are in Amsterdam this week?
Amsterdam's weekly calendar covers shows at Paradiso (opened 1968, 1,500 capacity) and Melkweg (1970), underground techno at Shelter (A'DAM Tower, DJ Mag Top 100), jazz at Bimhuis (150 performances per year), and hip hop events in Noord. Full listings updated daily on Mood.
What are the best music venues in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam's major venues: Paradiso (1968, 1,500 capacity, Weteringschans) and Melkweg (1970, 1,500-seat Max hall, Lijnbaansgracht) for concerts and DJ nights; Bimhuis (founded 1973, 250 seats, Piet Heinkade) for jazz; Shelter (2016, 1,000 capacity, A'DAM Tower, DJ Mag Top 100) for underground techno; BRET in Noord for electronic events. Ziggo Dome (17,000 capacity) and AFAS Live (6,000 capacity) handle arena-scale shows.
When is Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE)?
Amsterdam Dance Event runs every October, typically the third or fourth week. Founded in 1996 with 300 attendees, ADE 2025 drew 600,000 visitors from over 140 countries across 3,400 artists and 1,200 events at approximately 300 venues - the world's largest club music festival and conference. The 30th anniversary edition is scheduled for 21–25 October 2026.
Where can I find techno events in Amsterdam tonight?
Amsterdam's techno scene runs throughout the weekend, with Shelter (A'DAM Tower basement, 1,000 capacity, DJ Mag Top 100) and BRET in Noord among the primary underground venues. Awakenings, founded in 1997 at the Gashouder (Westergasfabriek), is the city's defining techno festival - approximately 80,000 visitors across its outdoor festival weekends. Tonight's club nights and DJ sets are on Mood.
About Amsterdam
Amsterdam is renowned for its elaborate canal system, historic gabled houses, and rich artistic heritage, notably hosting the world-famous Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum. It serves as a quintessential global city, defined by its liberal cultural ethos, vibrant bicycling culture, and significant architectural legacy that has preserved its seventeenth-century golden age character for centuries.