Amsterdam has some of Europe’s finest nightlife — and its live music scene is no exception to this. The Dutch capital is a fantastic place to watch musical performances, as it has that winning combination of a world-renowned name, but a relatively small geographical footprint. This means Amsterdam attracts high-calibre artists who play at venues that can often be reached in under 20 minutes, no matter where you are in the city.

The live music scene isn’t all about huge artists though. Despite increased gentrification in recent years, Amsterdam remains a counter-cultural hub and attracts up-and-coming musicians and creatives from all over the world. There are still plenty of venues where you can simply turn up and be met with interesting performances. Whether you’re searching for chart-topping pop artists, or are interested in underground punk bands, Amsterdam has something for you – and here are the best live music venues to find what you want.

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This guide was updated by Callum Booth, a writer based in Amsterdam. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.