Bimhuis Amsterdam
Jazz venue in Amsterdam
The Bimhuis in Amsterdam is now nestled along the banks of the river IJ. The Bimhuis venue has been a hub for musicians and enthusiasts alike since its inception in 1974, but has more recently moved to its new home on the river IJ in a state of the art facility.
Its black box architecture stands out, as do the large letters on the side, which will help you easily find it from Central Station.
As a visitor to Amsterdam, you may not immediately think I want to go to a jazz or contemporary music concert but you would be missing out. Jazz is actually thriving in Amsterdam, it kind of makes sense when you think about the fluid, free nature of Amsterdam.
The Bimhuis Amsterdam has been beautifully designed to envelope the audience in the best acoustic experience possible. This makes the Bimhuis a big draw for very talented musicians the world over, creating unique and memorable experiences.
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Bimhuis Agenda
With a diverse array of performances spanning jazz, experimental, avant-garde, and world music, there is truly something for everyone at the Bimhuis. From intimate solo recitals to ensemble performances, each event showcases the creativity of the artists on stage.
Additionally, the venue regularly hosts workshops, masterclasses, and educational programs, further solidifying its status as a vital cultural hub for both seasoned professionals and aspiring musicians.
Explore the Bimhuis Programme Schedule
Bimhuis Hours
The websites states it is open 24-hrs, but in reality it opens as follows:
Sun-Tue 7pm until 1am
Wed-Sat: 7pm until 3am
In theory it may open longer if a set goes on longer (encore anyone).
Bimhuis Amsterdam Experience
You can visit the Bimhuis for a specific concert or you can just visit for the lovely bar that looks out over the River IJ. Bimhuis also serves food in an excellent restaurant, so you can have a full dining and music experience. It would make a unique place to have a meal together with amazing music.
Tickets for Bimhuis
You can find out what is on and book tickets at the Bimhuis website. You can also walk up the building box office and buy your tickets there.
It is also possible to just turn up in the evening and get tickets to some events (some may be sold out well in advance).
Free tickets at Bimhuis
On Tuesday, there is a free evening in the Bimhuis Cafe. This is a great time to visit, grab a drink and enjoy impromptu music from young and old. Both visitors and musicians are free to enter and the musicians meet up to inspire each other. Talent from the nearby Conservatorium are often found here with occassional visits by established famous musicians too. You never know what you will hear. And it’s free.
Bimhuis cafe and restaurant
Probably the most important thing to note is that if you are dining in the evening, you do need tickets to the concert for the whole group. This is due to limited capacity in the cafe/restaurant. So if you want to eat and listen to music you are best booking tickets and and reserving a table at the same time.
Jazz Festivals in Amsterdam
Amsterdam has a small Jazz Festival called JazzFest which was held on 16 March in 2024.
Red Light Jazz Festival
In 2024, Red Light Jazz festival which focusses on venues around the red light district area and central Amsterdam, runs from Friday 7 June until Sunday 9 June.
Friday starts at 3pm until 12am
Saturday starts at 12pm until 12am and
Sunday starts at 10am until 12am.
Red Light Jazz Festival Details
North Sea Jazz Festival
This is one of the biggest festivals in the world for Jazz and previously was held in The Hague but has since moved to Rotterdam.
Rotterdam is easy to get to from Amsterdam, if you should wish to visit the festival, which has many global stars performing. Raye is one of the headline acts in 2024.
The North Sea Jazz festival runs from 12-14 July 2024.
Before, during and after this festival, some of the stars will want to visit Amsterdam and then find their way to the Bimhuis to perform. So, you could get lucky on your visit and see one up close and personal. The North Sea Jazz festival dates are always worth noting if your visit to Amsterdam coincides.
How to get to Bimhuis Amsterdam
You can find the Bimhuis along the River IJ on the Amsterdam Central Station side of the river. It shares the venue with the Muziekgebouw.
The Bimhuis address is:
Piet Heinkade 3, 1019 BR Amsterdam, Netherlands
It is a 15-minute walk from Central Station to the Bimhuis. There is also a Tram from Central Station that stops outside called Muziekgebouw/BIMHUIS. There will be a tram every ten minutes or so and it will only take a few minutes.
Learn about Amsterdam Public Transport and Tickets.
The closet hotels to Bimhuis are the popular Movenpick Hotel Amsterdam City Centre and the Doubletree by Hilton Amsterdam Central Station. If you are staying at either of these then a visit to the jazz home of Bimhuis could be a great way to spend a few hours.
