Live MusicElectronicRockPop

Paradiso

Leidseplein, Amsterdam

Amsterdam's most iconic live music venue, housed in a converted 19th-century church on Leidseplein.

Founded

1968

Capacity

1,500

Hours

Varies by

Area

Leidseplein

About Paradiso

Paradiso is the most important music venue in the Netherlands and one of the most beloved in Europe. Housed in a converted neo-Gothic church on Leidseplein, the venue has been at the heart of Amsterdam's cultural life since 1968. The main hall, with its original church architecture, stained glass windows, and balconies, creates an atmosphere that is unlike any other concert venue in the world. Paradiso has hosted everyone from the Rolling Stones and David Bowie to Radiohead and Daft Punk, and its programming remains as adventurous as ever.

History

Paradiso opened in 1968 as a youth cultural centre during the height of Amsterdam's hippie movement. It was one of the first venues in Europe to embrace rock music, and its history mirrors the evolution of popular music over the past five decades. The venue is now a protected cultural monument and receives partial government funding to maintain its programming diversity.