Bimhuis

Amsterdam's premier jazz and improvised music venue, housed in a striking glass box that cantilevers over the IJ waterfront next to the Muziekgebouw. The acoustics are outstanding. The room holds about 300 people, every seat has a good sightline, and the sound system was designed specifically for jazz and experimental music. If you care about music as music rather than music as background noise, this is the venue.

The programming is serious. International jazz heavyweights, Dutch improvisers, experimental electronics, and genre-crossing collaborations that you won't hear anywhere else. The Bimhuis has been running since 1974 (it moved to this location in 2005) and has hosted every significant name in European jazz. The Monday night sessions are an institution: they've been running weekly open jam sessions for decades, where established musicians sit in with newcomers. The energy in the room on a good Monday night is electric.

The building itself is worth seeing. The glass walls give you a panoramic view of the IJ river, Central Station, and the Noord waterfront. Before the show, have a drink at the bar and watch the ferries cross. After the show, walk along the waterfront toward NDSM or take the free ferry to Noord. Tickets range from €15-35 depending on the act, which is incredibly reasonable for the quality of music and the venue. Check the calendar online and book ahead for bigger names, but walk-ups are often available for weeknight shows.