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festivals outside the city, the most famous is the Pinkpop Festival (www.pinkpop.nl) in May/June, down in the south in Landgraaf, near Maastricht. Others include A Campingflight to Lowlands (www.lowlands.nl), held over a weekend in August in Flevoland, and Parkpop (www.parkpop.nl), Europe’s largest free festival, taking place in June at The Hague’s Zuiderpark. Major dance festivals include Dancevalley (www.dancevalley.nl) in Spaarnwoude between Haarlem and Amsterdam, Mysteryland (www.mysteryland.nl) in Hoofddorp near Haarlem and Extrema Outdoor (www.extrema.nl) near Eindhoven in the south, all held in July/August. Dates vary, so check the websites before making plans.

Entertainment and nightlife | Rock, pop and folk festivals |

Major venues

Amsterdam ArenA ArenA Boulevard (Amsterdam Oost) 020/311 1333, www.amsterdamarena.nl. Metro or train to Bijlmer station. The Ajax soccer stadium also plays host to world-class music acts such as the Rolling Stones and Madonna.

Heineken Music Hall See "Clubbing" for more. A hi-tech music venue attracting international bands ranging from Pink to Franz Ferdinand.

Melkweg See "Clubs" for more. The Melkweg (“Milky Way”) is probably Amsterdam’s most famous entertainment venue and also ranks as one of the city’s prime multimedia arts centres, with a young, hip clientele. A former dairy (hence the name) just round the corner from Leidseplein, it has two separate halls for live music, hosting a broad range of genres, from reggae to rock. Excellent DJ sessions go on till late at the weekend, with anything from dancehall to indie pop on Saturdays. There’s also a monthly film programme, as well as a theatre, gallery and café-restaurant (Marnixstraat entrance; Wed–Sun noon–9pm).

Paradiso Weteringschans 6–8 (Grachtengordel south) 020/626 4521, www.paradiso.nl. This converted church near the Leidseplein, revered by many for its atmosphere and excellent programme, features local and international bands, ranging from the newly signed to the more established. The venue has also been known to host classical concerts, as well as debates and multimedia events.

Entertainment and nightlife | Rock, pop and folk festivals |

Smaller venues

Akhnaton Nieuwezijds Kolk 25 (Old Centre) 020/624 3396, www.akhnaton.nl. A “Centre for World Culture” hosting a wide-ranging programme of events, from salsa nights to Turkish dance parties. On a good night, the place heaves.

Badcuyp Eerste Sweelinckstraat 10 (De Pijp, Outer districts) 020/675 9669, www.badcuyp.nl. Unpretentious music venue located just off the bustling Albert Cuypmarkt, hosting mainly jazz and world music performances with an adjacent convivial eetcafé. Dinner concerts on Thursday and Sunday.

De Buurvrouw St Pieterspoortsteeg 29 (Old Centre) 020/625 9654. Eclectic, alternative bar, occasionally featuring loud local bands. From 9pm.

Cruise Inn Zuiderzeeweg 29 (Old Jewish Quarter and Eastern docklands) www.cruise-inn.com. Tram #26 from CS. This volunteer-run clubhouse was set up over twenty years ago by a group of rockabillys. Open Saturdays only from 9pm and located somewhat off the beaten track in Zeeburg, to the northeast of the Oosterdok, but worth the trek, with jam sessions and great live band nights with music from the 1950s and 1960s.

De Heeren van Aemstel Thorbeckeplein 5 (Grachtengordel south) 020/620 2173, www.deheerenvanaemstel.nl. Warm, atmospheric café with swinging soul, jazz and funk gigs. Wed–Sun.

Maloe Melo Lijnbaansgracht 163 (Jordaan and Western docklands) 020/420 4592, www.maloemelo.nl. Dark, low-ceilinged bar, with a small back room featuring lively local blues acts every day of the week. Jam sessions Sun–Tues & Thurs. Free before 11pm, €5 thereafter.

Mulligan’s Amstel 100 (Grachtengordel south) 020/622 1330, www.mulligans.nl. Irish bar that’s head and shoulders above the rest for atmosphere and authenticity, with Gaelic musicians and storytellers most nights for free.

OCCII Amstelveenseweg 134 (Museum Quarter and Vondelpark) 020/671 7778, www.occii.org. Former squat bar opposite the western entrance of the Vondelpark, with