The fact that Amsterdam is an important European jazz city is mainly thanks to the Bimhuis. Jazz and improvising musicians from the country and abroad perform in the concert hall. Jazz greats like John Scofield even claim that the international jazz venue is one of their top 10 venues to play worldwide. Every year, the Bimhuis presents the biggest Dutch jazz prize, the Boy Edgar Prize.
The Melkweg stands for pop culture, in the broadest sense of the world. The pop podium is located in a former sugar - and later diary - factory and the only remaining factory building on Amsterdam's ring of canals. The programming is also what makes the Melkweg so special. New talent is alternated with established names and you can find five art disciplines under one roof: music, dance/theater, film, photography and media art.Â
Pop temple Paradiso opened its doors in 1968. Not in just any building, but in a former church in the middle of Amsterdam’s city centre. In 50 years' time, the groundbreaking music venue has grown into a legendary pop stage, club and cultural palace all in one. Paradiso's atmosphere and acoustics are world-famous, which is why world-class stars love to perform here.
Bitterzoet, also being called the Living Room of Amsterdam, is a bar, stage and theatre. The concept of this venue in the Spuistraat is to offer bands, DJs and other musicians a place where they can experiment and perform for a larger audience. All music styles are represented in Bitterzoet, from rock to hip-hop and soul.
