A Guide to Amsterdam’s Cultural Centres

Some of the best evenings in Amsterdam happen in places that are not quite a theatre, a club or a lecture hall, but a bit of all three.

The city’s cultural centres host debates, talks, storytelling, film, exhibitions and concerts, often in buildings with a story of their own.

This guide sorts them by what they do best, and links every cultural centre in our directory.

Debate and ideas

Pakhuis de Zwijger

A former cold store on the Piet Heinkade, east of Centraal Station, Pakhuis de Zwijger is where the city talks about itself: housing, climate, technology and the future of Amsterdam, in public evenings through the week.

De Balie

By Leidseplein, De Balie combines debate and talks with its own cinema for documentaries and arthouse film.

Across the square, Sociëteit De Kring is a members’ society for artists and creatives.

Felix Meritis, Rode Hoed and SPUI25

Two monuments on the Keizersgracht carry the tradition of public debate: Felix Meritis, an 18th-century house for the curious mind, and the Rode Hoed, a former hidden church.

On the Spui, SPUI25 is the academic and cultural stage where scientists, writers and artists talk about their work.

Storytelling, music and nights out

Mezrab on the Veemkade is known for its storytelling nights, much of it in English, and has a 4.8 rating from more than 1,400 Google reviews.

OT301, in the former film academy building on the Overtoom, is run by artists and mixes concerts, film and club nights with a vegan restaurant.

CREA, the University of Amsterdam’s cultural student centre, runs courses, concerts and performances.

Former industrial sites

Several of the city’s liveliest cultural places took over old industrial buildings.

De Hallen Amsterdam in Oud-West is a former tram depot, now home to a food hall, cinema and shops.

In Noord, the former shipyard at NDSM is a vast creative wharf, and De Ceuvel is a sustainable cultural playground on another old shipyard.

By the Eye Filmmuseum, Tolhuistuin programmes concerts and events in its garden and halls.

In the centre, the Beurs van Berlage, the monumental former stock exchange on the Damrak, is used for events, conferences and exhibitions.

Art, technology and film

Mediamatic on the Dijksgracht works where art, nature and technology meet, with exhibitions and workshops.

Cinetol on the Tolstraat mixes film, music and events, and Studio/K on the Timorplein in Oost combines a cinema, stage and restaurant.

Neighbourhood and community centres

Some of the warmest places are run by and for local residents.

De Meevaart in the Indische Buurt, De Sering in Nieuw-West, House of Watt in Oost, CC Amstel on the Cullinanplein and De KHL on the Oostelijke Handelskade all host activities and events open to everyone.

On the western edge of the city, Ruigoord is a free-spirited artists’ community in a former village.

Before you go

Programmes change weekly and many evenings sell out, so check each centre’s own agenda, linked from its listing.

Our full list of cultural centres shows them all on a map.

For concerts, see our guide to music venues and concert halls, and for plays and comedy, the city’s theatres.