Akhnaton: Event venue in Nieuwe Zijde, Amsterdam

Akhnaton is a club and event venue on the Nieuwezijds Kolk in the centre of Amsterdam, in a building that has been a home for the city's new music since the 1970s. Go for club nights and concerts run by a wide range of promoters, in a main room that holds about 200 people, or hire the place for something of your own. It began in 1953 as a society of Catholic students, named after the pharaoh who broke with old traditions, and moved to the Kolk in 1971. The society soon handed the building to the Stichting Akhnaton, which still runs it. By its own account the Provo movement grew up here, and salsa, reggae, punk and hip-hop reached Amsterdam audiences through this room. De Groene Amsterdammer once wrote that merengue entered the country at Akhnaton, and Osdorp Posse came up here. The building has five rooms and a kitchen: the club, with stage, DJ booth and sound system; a bar for about 50 with doors onto a terrace on the square; a mezzanine lounge for about 50, and a side room. There are no regular opening hours, as everything runs per event, so check the agenda. Stichting Burningman, the Dutch affiliate of the American Burning Man, is also based here and holds its town hall meetings in the building. The club and café can be booked until 04:00, or until 05:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. The terrace is open daily from 12:00 until 01:00 at the latest in spring and summer, and in autumn and winter only at weekends when the weather is good. Trams stop at Nieuwezijds Kolk, close to the door.