De Beren Boot
De Beren Boot
De Beren Boot (Aanlegsteiger aan de Parkhaven t.o. Euromast, Rotterdam) — experience a culinary boat tour on the Maas river with the Berenboot. Enjoying the view of the Rotterdam Skyline while savouring delicious grilled meat and fish dishes. During the two and a half hour sailing tour, you can eat all the sate and spare ribs you want from the large buffet. This restaurant is decorated with teddy bears of all sizes and starts its tour in Parkhaven opposite of the Euromast.
Dam Square Area
Dam Square Area
Dam Square Area (Amsterdam) — this area offers a wealth of shopping. A favored destination is De Bijenkorf, a popular Dutch department store somewhat comparable to the American Bloomingdale’s. The many mainstream stores of the nearby Magna Plaza shopping center (behind the Royal Palace) are open seven days a week until 7 p.m. (until 9 p.m. on Thursdays).
Beurstraverse
Beurstraverse
Beurstraverse (Beurstraverse 186, Rotterdam) — The Beurstraverse, locally known as the Koopgoot or ‘buying trench’, runs under Coolsingel. Situated below street level but mostly open to the air, this shopping street has many major chain stores, including HEMA, Zara and H&M. Children just love the water fountains.
Toffler
Toffler
Toffler (Weena Zuid 33, Rotterdam) — Toffler is situated in an old underpass below Weena and focuses on 21 + people who enjoy progressive electronic music. LED lights and good sound make the long tunnel warm and intimate. Electronic music DJs such as Seth Troxler, Marco Carola, Nic Fanciulli, Nicole Moudaber, Richie Hawtin, and John Digweed are among the talent that appeared at Toffler. With the Dutch House, Trance & Techno music going strong since the early 2000s, a visit to Toffler is a great introduction to that scene. Check their website for upcoming events: www.toffler.nl
Villa Thalia
Villa Thalia
Villa Thalia (Kruiskade 31, Rotterdam) — Villa Thalia is located in an old movie theatre on the Lijnbaan (Rotterdam’s major shopping street). The huge movie screen is the only thing that reminds you of that. The club has become a popular nightlife location in Rotterdam. Villa Thalia has five floors and includes a VIP Only section with a champagne bar. It is the perfect place to dance and meet people in a relaxed ambiance. Visit its website for info on upcoming events: www.villathalia.nl
Rotown
Rotown
Rotown (Nieuwe Binnenweg 17-19, Rotterdam) — Rotown is a café, restaurant and pop music venue under one roof. With the atmosphere of a café-restaurant but with a fully-fledged pop stage, Rotown has become an indispensable part of the Rotterdam club scene.
The programme organizers are way ahead of their time and often discover talented artists and bands that subsequently become major acts. Many of the musicians now performing in Ahoy, Paradiso and WATT, premiered on stage at Nieuwe Binnenweg including The Wombats, Saybia, The Kooks and Franz Ferdinand.
Paradiso
Paradiso
Paradiso (Weteringschans 6-8, Amsterdam) — This former church building, a short distance from the busy Leidseplein nightlife centre, plays host to one of the most popular alternative mid-size music venues and nightclubs in Amsterdam. Similar in spirit to the Beacon Theater in New York City, Paradiso has stood in this spot since 1968, when the ‘Cosmic Relaxation Center Paradiso’ opened its doors. Since then, the music scene took hold here and now Paradiso Amsterdam regularly offers concerts from world famous international bands as well as smaller gigs from indie bands and local artists.
For a high profile alternative music concert in Amsterdam, the main hall of Paradiso is very well suited. The cavernous interior has a capacity of 1500 people, and international acts such as Queens of the Stone Age and the White Stripes often pack it to bursting. Needless to say, the fact that the room used to be a church hall means that, not only is the interior suitably impressive but the acoustics are excellent too. Upstairs, the small hall is Paradiso’s secondary concert venue for smaller acts and emerging artists. The capacity here is only 250, so be sure to book your tickets on time.
Club nocturno de Panamá
Club nocturno de Panamá
Panama nightclub (Oostelijke Handelskade 4, Amsterdam) — despite the name, this is not a Latin nightspot. Instead, this Amsterdam venue features top-name house & techno DJs. There are also live acts that fill up the vast dance floor of this waterside warehouse club.
Melkweg
Melkweg
Melkweg (Lijnbaansgracht 234A, Amsterdam) — Probably the most famous club/entertainment complex in this part of Europe, the Melkweg lives up to the hype for most visitors and can be an entertaining place to go even when you don’t recognize any of the names on the bill. It’s actually five separate venues in one complex, and sometimes there is a separate admission charge for different things in different rooms. In spite of its overall size and fame, the largest room is smaller than most people expect. The Max has a capacity of 1,000 while the Oude Zaal room holds another 700. There is also a 90-seat cinema, a 140-seat theater, and various galleries and art spaces throughout.
The Melkweg (Dutch for milky way) was founded in 1970 when a local theater group took over a disused dairy building just off Leidseplein. It’s been run as a non-profit ever since, although the city has had to step in to prop the organization up at least once recently. The interiors have been continually upgraded and now the entire place feels like an experimental art space, but the two main rooms and the big acts they draw are the main reason for going.
Other more subculturally focused music venues are OCCII, OT301, De Nieuwe Anita, Winston Kingdom and Zaal 100. Jazz has a strong following in Amsterdam, with the Bimhuis being the premier venue.
Another popular dance festival is 5daysoff, which takes place in the venues Paradiso and Melkweg. During the Summer, there are several big outdoor dance parties in or nearby Amsterdam, such as “Awakenings”, “Dance Valley”, “Mystery Land”, “Loveland”, “A Day at the Park”, “Welcome to the Future”, and “Valtifest
La Luna
La Luna
La Luna (Mauritsweg 46, Rotterdam) — Club La Luna is a popular salsa club in the center of Rotterdam. If you like tropical dance styles like salsa, merengue, bachata and cha cha cha, Club La Luna is the place to be. Every Saturday the club has Brazilian Evening with live bands.
