Best spots for different music genres in Amsterdam

Rock, indie, punk, metal

Rock isn’t dead – at least not in Amsterdam. Whether you’re looking for sleazy indie bands, sweaty moshpits or classic rock jams, there’s something for you here. From its major concert halls and festivals to its more underground spaces, the city attracts bands big and small from around the world. Bop into the early hours at an indie club night, or find local rock talent at one of many regular band nights. Or you can always sit back and soak in the gnarly soundtracks on the stereo at rock, punk and metal bars like Soundgarden, The Minds or Excalibur. 

• London Calling: this annual festival at Paradiso is a springboard for hot new talent, with previous editions showcasing early concerts by bands from Blur and Franz Ferdinand to Royal Blood.
• Kiss All Hipsters: this longstanding monthly club night at Melkweg features indie rock classics from across the ages.
• The Waterhole: this live music bar offers low-key concerts every night, with everything from acoustic and indie to pop.
• The Cave: this venue in the centre hosts heavy local and international bands playing rock, punk and metal.
• Maloe Melo: this Jordaan spot claims the title ‘oldest rock and blues bar in Amsterdam’, hosting live music every night of the week.
• Vrankrijk Friday Punk Nights: every week, this iconic former squat hosts local punk bands and plays heavy tunes until late.
• OCCII: for the weirder side of heavy music, look no further than this iconic venue, with everything from noise punk and powerviolence to metal.
• Vondelbunker: another former squat focusing on the more experimental side of heavy music, rock out here under the bridge in the Vondelpark.

Jazz, funk, soul

Whether you’re looking for something smooth or an upbeat groove, there are plenty of warm sounds to be found across Amsterdam’s cafes, venues and festivals. Funk and soul bands routinely play at big and small venues, including many live music bars and cafes, while DJs often select funkier music at Amsterdam’s many major clubs and listening bars. Jazz, on the other hand, can be found every night at a variety of specific bars, venues and festivals.

• Bourbon Street: concerts every night of the week from funk and soul to folk, blues and rock.
• Cafe Alto: nightly concerts in this classic Amsterdam jazz bar by Leidseplein.
• Bimhuis: Amsterdam’s only purpose-built jazz venue, attached to Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, hosts a variety of jazz musicians, including a free jam session every Tuesday.
• There are also regular jazz nights at a variety of Amsterdam bars, including Studio/K, De Engelbewaarder, and Club Dauphine.
• Other bars & cafes hosting regular concerts – including mostly if not always jazz – include Cafe De Pianist, Contra and Zaal 100
• Super-Sonic Jazz Festival: this annual series of shows at Paradiso showcases a more vibrant side of jazz, including crossovers into funk, soul and electronic music.
• Red Light Jazz Festival: this more traditional jazz festival occurs across venues in and around Amsterdam’s Red Light District.

Hip hop, R&B

Though many in Amsterdam have had to fight for representation, Black music and culture are thriving in the city as a result. Hip hop is often at the forefront, particularly when it comes to dance: battles are organised throughout the city, but especially by organisations in Amsterdam Zuidoost and during several summer festivals. While many clubs in Amsterdam invite DJs that play hip hop and R&B, some bars and regular nights cater specifically to those tastes – including events that cross over into other Black and Afro music (see below).

• Cafe De Duivel: a hip hop hub since 1992, regularly hosting DJs, hip hop karaoke and collaborations with other key organisations in the city’s hip hop ecosystem.
• Bitterzoet: this small venue hosts live acts and club nights of all genres, but is particularly well known for hip hop, including at Nightz event every Thursday.
• Encore: this regular Saturday club night at Melkweg mixes hip hop and R&B with other Black club music, and the venue has been inviting hip hop artists for decades.
• Club Up: another Leidseplein establishment focusing on hip hop, R&B, afro, dancehall and more – particularly valuable after the closure of iconic Club AIR.
• Bar 22: this cocktail bar hosts regular nights, with hip hop and R&B represented among other genres every night from Tuesday until Saturday.
• Hell’s Kitchen Block Party: this yearly event at Amsterdamse Poort invites MCs and DJs in collaboration with other key organisations in hip hop and local culture.
• Foundation: a hip hop centre offering dance & other classes as well as regular jams and ‘Three Da Hard Way’ dance battles.
• Other dance battles are organised by B.O.O.S.T. and also at Summer Dance Forever, a multi-day international hip hop dance festival at Paradiso.
• Kwaku: this yearly cultural festival in Amsterdam Zuidoost offers food and music, inviting a variety of artists in hip hop, reggae, afrobeats and other genres.

Reggae, dancehall, reggaeton, afrobeats

Lively sounds from the African diaspora often mix with Caribbean and Latin styles – and Amsterdam is no exception. Many of the above and below nights and venues often cross over into reggae, dancehall, reggaeton, afrobeats, amapiano and more. Reggae and dub are, of course, particularly well represented – from Amsterdam’s many coffee shops to local soundsystems, festivals, club nights and listening bars. There, you can also find a variety of DJs across all these genres, and artists performing live at major venues and smaller spots.

• Bitterzoet covers a variety of genres, including frequent dancehall, afrobeats, amapiano and more, including at Nightz event every Thursday – though the focus there is more on hip hop.
• Club Up: another Leidseplein establishment focusing on hip hop, R&B, afro, dancehall and more – particularly valuable after the closure of iconic Club AIR.
• Club Noir: this club specialises in afrobeats, with nightly parties crossing over into amapiano, bashment and reggae.
• Candela Amsterdam: this club on the bustling Korteleidsedwarsstraat hosts regular nights mixing reggae, dancehall and reggaeton with Latin styles.
• Bar 22: this cocktail bar hosts regular nights generally focused on R&B and hip hop mixed with reggaeton and dembow (Monday), amapiano (Thursday) and afrobeats (Friday).
• For dub reggae and roots, the best known local soundsystem is King Shiloh, but watch out for other groups shaking up alternative venues such as OT301, Het Groene Veld and Ruigoord.
• Reggae Lake Festival: a yearly event at Gaasperpark in Amsterdam Zuidoost, with past acts including Damian Marley, The Wailers and Shaggy.
• Kwaku: this yearly cultural festival in Amsterdam Zuidoost offers food and music, inviting a variety of artists in hip hop, reggae, afrobeats and other genres.

Latin

While often overlapping with the above genres, plenty of Amsterdam venues and groups focus specifically on Latin music, from salsa and bachata to samba. Dance classes and workshops abound and are often followed by dance parties, while many club nights mix Latin styles with Afro and Caribbean music. Sometimes the best place to experience authentic Latin culture in Amsterdam’s parks: in summer, you can’t move for spontaneous dance parties around portable speakers in Rembrandtpark, Sloterpark and Nelson Mandelapark. And Latin styles are often mixed into live concerts by folk, traditional and jazz musicians at small venues across the city.

• Summer Breeze Latin Night: this lively open-air dance event at Westweelde in Westerpark celebrates Latin rhythms and community vibes with DJs, live performances and friendly dancers of all levels from June to September.
• Sao Paulo Cafe: Latin sounds regularly emanate from this lively bar at the end of the Overtoom, including during frequent salsa and bachata workshops.
• Oropuro: this dance community hosts the monthly Salsoteca (salsa, mambo and Latin jazz) as well as other tryouts, classes and socials.
• Club Mystique: come every Friday night to Salsa Cafe, specialising in salsa and bachata.
• Club Out: this self-described ‘discoteca latina’ offers both dance parties and club nights, mixing Latin styles with contemporary, Afro and Caribbean sounds.
• El Punto Latino: another Latin club next door on the Lange Leidsedwaarstraat, mixing a variety of styles for parties with guaranteed spice.
• Bar 22: this cocktail bar hosts a bachata evening every Monday, followed by Ritmo Urbano – a reggaeton and dembow night that goes on until close.
• Candela Amsterdam: every Tuesday is Latin Glow at this club on the bustling Korteleidsedwarsstraat, mixing reggaeton and dembow with salsa, merengue and bachata.
• Fiesta Macumba: a Latin party widely known across the Netherlands, but often returning to Melkweg in Amsterdam.
• Psicotrópicos Festival: another event at Melkweg, specialising in Brazilian music.

Classical

If you’re after something more classical, there is a vast variety of venues and festivals in Amsterdam. See our list of concert halls and festivals for classical music in Amsterdam, including everything from classic recitals and al fresco concerts to experimental organ music.

Pop, disco and electronic

Looking for something more upbeat or straightforward? Have no fear, Amsterdam has plenty to offer. Most of the biggest artists will perform at one of the city’s major concert halls, its best-known clubs or its biggest festivals. Sing along at one of Amsterdam’s many karaoke bars; get down at an LGBTQI+ party; or tune in at a listening bar.