BIMHUIS in Amsterdam
BIMHUIS is Amsterdam's jazz and improvisation hall on the IJ: 245 seats and 139 standing places, tram 26 from Centraal, the Piet Hein garage underneath and a café that opens at 18:30 on concert evenings.
Photo credits
Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra performing on the BIMHUIS stage.: Dirk Neven · Public domain
Quick answers
- Capacity
- 385 with standing; 245 seated
- Address
- Piet Heinkade 31019 BR Amsterdam
- Nearest station
- Amsterdam Centraal, 16 min walk
- Tram
- 26 to Muziekgebouw/BIMHUIS, 4 min
- Parking
- Piet Hein garage underneath, 3 min
- Café
- Opens 18:30 on concert evenings; PIN only
- Typical concert
- Café 18:30, start 20:30, end 22:00–23:15
- Tickets
- Online or box office 18:30–22:00
- Contact
- +31 20 788 2150
Concert at BIMHUIS: upcoming events
Tonight, this week and the months ahead at this venue in Amsterdam.
Last night at BIMHUIS: Maridalen Trio, The Ex & Brass Unbound
December 2026
Plan your visit to BIMHUIS
How many people fit in BIMHUIS?
BIMHUIS holds up to 385 people with standing places; the concert hall has 245 seats and 139 standing places, and the hire page gives 250 seats or 385 with standing.
- Concert hall
- 245 seats, 139 standing
- Maximum
- 385 with standing
- Café
- 40–150 people
- Atrium
- Up to 400 people
The concert hall is the main room: 245 seats and 139 standing places in the normal concert set-up. For private events the hire page states 250 seats and a maximum of 385 people with standing places.
The café seats 40 to 150 people depending on the set-up. The atrium takes up to 400 people, for example for a reception or a trade fair.
BIMHUIS is intimate compared with Amsterdam's larger music venues: Melkweg has a capacity of 1,500 and Royal Theater Carré 1,752, while the BIMHUIS hall seats 245.
| Room | Set-up | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Concert hall | Concert | 245 seats and 139 standing |
| Concert hall | Hire, with standing | 250 seats; 385 maximum |
| Café | Depending on set-up | 40–150 people |
| Atrium | Reception or fair | Up to 400 people |
| Melkweg, Amsterdam | Comparison | 1,500 |
| Royal Theater Carré | Comparison | 1,752 |
Seating at BIMHUIS: amphitheatre and balcony tables
BIMHUIS has 245 seats and 139 standing places; at unreserved concerts a seat is not guaranteed, so arrive early or choose a reserved-seat concert.
- Seats
- 245
- Standing
- 139
- Layout
- Amphitheatre
- Unreserved concerts
- No seat guarantee
- Wheelchair places
- Around the balcony tables
The hall is built as an amphitheatre, so the audience sits close to the stage. The balcony tables are on the same level as the café and look out over the room.
At reserved-seat concerts your seat is on your ticket. At unreserved concerts there is no guarantee of a seat; standing places are then the alternative, and the box office can tell you which type of concert you are attending.
Wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility book a place around the balcony tables, on the café level. For visitors with a visual impairment, BIMHUIS recommends a seat on the balcony.
- If you want to be sure of a seat, choose a reserved-seat concert.
- Ask the box office which concerts are reserved when you book.
- The balcony is the best choice for a visual impairment.
Eating at BIMHUIS: the café-restaurant before the concert
The BIMHUIS café opens at 18:30 on concert evenings and serves a seasonal menu timed to the start; only ticket holders are welcome.
The kitchen builds a new menu every few weeks around seasonal, preferably local produce. There is always a vegetarian, vegan, fish or meat dish.
Book online and keep to your time: the menu and schedule are planned around the concert's start so you reach the hall on time.
The café is PIN only, and everyone in your party needs a ticket for BIMHUIS or Muziekgebouw. Call ahead for dietary questions.
- Opens
- 18:30 on concert evenings
- Menu
- Seasonal, preferably local
- Diets
- Vegetarian, vegan, fish, meat
- Payment
- PIN only
- Access
- Ticket holders only
Accessibility at BIMHUIS: lift, wheelchair places and assistance dogs
BIMHUIS is reachable by wheelchair through the Piet Hein garage or the Kade entrance, with a lift, reserved places around the balcony tables and an adapted toilet.
Take the lift from the garage or the Kade entrance; the lift door is 88 cm wide. If you are unsure whether the route suits your wheelchair, or if you need help on the way, call +31 20 788 2150 in advance.
Wheelchair users and visitors with limited mobility reserve a place by phone or email. The places are around the tables at the Balkon location, on the same level as the café.
The accessible toilet has a 100 cm sliding door. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the building; hearing support is available on request, and BIMHUIS advises a balcony seat for visitors with a visual impairment.
- Wheelchair route
- Lift from Piet Hein or Kade
- Lift door
- 88 cm wide
- Accessible toilet
- 100 cm sliding door
- Wheelchair places
- Around the balcony tables
- Assistance dogs
- Allowed throughout
- Hearing
- Support on request
Visitor information: tickets, cloakroom and box office
The box office is open from 18:30 to 22:00 on concert evenings; payment is by PIN, credit card or PodiumCadeaukaart, never cash, and the cloakroom is free but unattended.
Book online through the agenda; it is quicker than the box office. At the box office you can pay by PIN, credit card (VISA and Mastercard) or PodiumCadeaukaart, but not with cash.
Tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded. For a sold-out concert, wait numbers are handed out from 18:30; unclaimed tickets are released at the start, with no guarantee.
The cloakroom is free and unattended; BIMHUIS is not liable for loss, damage or theft. Photography during concerts is allowed only with permission; photographers contact [email protected] in advance.
Children pay a special rate per concert; book through [email protected]. At afternoon concerts the box office opens one hour before the start.
- Box office
- 18:30–22:00 on concert evenings
- Payment
- PIN, credit card, gift card
- Cash
- Not accepted
- Cloakroom
- Free, unattended
- Sold out
- Wait numbers from 18:30
- Photography
- Permission required
Getting to BIMHUIS: tram 26 from Centraal
The easiest route from Amsterdam Centraal is tram 26 to Muziekgebouw/BIMHUIS, four minutes' walk from the stop. On foot the station is 1,160 metres away, about 16 minutes; BIMHUIS's own page says just over 10.
BIMHUIS is at Piet Heinkade 3, 1019 BR Amsterdam, on the IJ next to the Muziekgebouw. Tram 26 runs every 10 minutes between Amsterdam Centraal and Muziekgebouw/BIMHUIS. From the stop, walk along the Piet Heinkade to the waterside entrance; BIMHUIS is part of the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ.
Buses also stop close by: bus 43 and night bus N89 at Piet Heinkade (230 m, 4 min), bus N75 at Amsterdam Centraal/De Ruijterkade (630 m, 9 min) and night bus N89 at Kattenburg (620 m, 9 min). The F2 ferry to IJplein is 1,100 m, 15 minutes' walk.
By bike there is covered storage reached from the Piet Hein Kade. By car, use the Piet Hein garage under the venue or P+R Zeeburg, then continue by public transport.
Parking at BIMHUIS: four garages within walking distance
Four garages are within a 13-minute walk: Piet Hein under the venue, IJ-Oever Centrum, Parking Centrum Oosterdok and Nieuw Amerika. Rates vary; the table compares them.
The Piet Hein garage has 400 spaces and is open 24/7. BIMHUIS names it and P+R Zeeburg as the options on its route page; the entrance is on Piet Heinkade, directly below the hall.
Parking Centrum Oosterdok is the largest car park in the city centre with 1,369 spaces. Its evening ticket costs €10 from 18:00 to 23:59, enough for an evening concert; the day ticket starts at €25, the hourly rate is €8 and the maximum is €45.
IJ-Oever Centrum, now run by Interparking, is 7 minutes' walk at Vriesseveem 9 and charges €5.50 per hour or €40 per day. Nieuw Amerika is 13 minutes' walk at Withoedenveem 10 and charges €3.90 per hour or €39 per day.
The Piet Hein event tariff is €17.50 between 17:00 and 03:00. Press the event button on the payment machine before inserting your ticket; without it the normal rate of €5.34 per hour (€23 per day) applies. Check the rate on the machine when you park.
| Car park | Address | Walk | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piet Hein garage | Piet Heinkade 59 | 190 m, 3 min walk | €17.50 event rate 17:00–03:00; €5.34 per hour, €23 per day |
| IJ-Oever Centrum (Interparking, formerly Q-Park) | Vriesseveem 9 | 450 m, 7 min walk | €5.50 per hour, €40 per day |
| Parking Centrum Oosterdok | Oosterdoksstraat 140 | 750 m, 11 min walk | €10 evening 18:00–23:59; €25 per day; €8 per hour, max €45 |
| Nieuw Amerika | Withoedenveem 10 | 900 m, 13 min walk | €3.90 per hour, €39 per day |
- Nearest garage
- Piet Hein, under the venue
- Evening rate
- €10 at Oosterdok, 18:00–23:59
- Event rate
- €17.50 at Piet Hein, 17:00–03:00
- Spaces
- Piet Hein 400; IJ-Oever 400; Oosterdok 1,369; Nieuw Amerika 450
- Other rates
- IJ-Oever €5.50/hour; Nieuw Amerika €3.90/hour
BIMHUIS history: from Oudeschans to the IJ
BIMHUIS began in 1974 as a musicians' club on the Oudeschans and has been Amsterdam's stage for jazz and improvisation for more than 50 years; the current hall stands on the IJ waterfront.
In 1974 musicians including Hans Dulfer, Willem Breuker, Willem van Manen and Misha Mengelberg wanted a stage of their own. They found an old furniture shop on the Oudeschans, stripped the walls back to concrete and opened the first BIMHUIS in October 1974.
In 1984 the hall was rebuilt as an amphitheatre, so the audience sat close to the band and could still reach the bar easily. That feeling survived in the current hall.
The current building on the Piet Heinkade is part of the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. It was designed in 2005, when BIMHUIS already took sustainability into account; the hall has technical facilities for audio, video and light, and can live-stream and record concerts. The musicians of the first years grew into internationally respected bandleaders.
- Founded
- 1974, Oudeschans
- First rebuild
- 1984, amphitheatre
- Current design
- 2005
- Anniversary
- More than 50 years
Photos
Photo credits
Gard Nilssen's Supersonic Orchestra performing on the BIMHUIS stage.: Dirk Neven · Public domain
The BIMHUIS and Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ on the Amsterdam waterfront, photographed in 2024.: Gillfoto · CC BY-SA 4.0
Zoh Amba's trio performing on the BIMHUIS stage.: Dirk Neven · Public domain
Read reviews on Google Maps We don't show ratings here. See what visitors say on Google Maps.
BIMHUIS: questions people ask
What time do BIMHUIS concerts start and finish?
A typical evening concert starts at 20:30 and finishes between 22:00 and 23:15; the café opens at 18:30. Family performances start at 11:30 or 14:00 and finish at 12:15 or 14:50. The exact time is on each concert's agenda page.
How many people fit in BIMHUIS?
The concert hall has 245 seats and 139 standing places. With standing places the maximum is 385 people; for hire the figure is 250 seats or 385 with standing. The café holds 40 to 150 people and the atrium up to 400.
Where can I park at BIMHUIS?
The Piet Hein garage is under the venue at Piet Heinkade 59, three minutes' walk. The event rate is €17.50 between 17:00 and 03:00; the normal rate is €5.34 per hour or €23 per day. Parking Centrum Oosterdok at Oosterdoksstraat 140 is 11 minutes' walk and charges €10 for an evening from 18:00 to 23:59.
How do I get to BIMHUIS by public transport?
Tram 26 runs every 10 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal to Muziekgebouw/BIMHUIS, four minutes' walk from the stop. Bus 43 and night bus N89 stop at Piet Heinkade, four minutes' walk. On foot from Centraal it is about 16 minutes.
Can I eat at BIMHUIS before the concert?
Yes, the BIMHUIS café opens at 18:30 on concert evenings and serves a seasonal menu of local produce, with vegetarian, vegan, fish and meat dishes. Book online and keep to your time; the café is only for ticket holders for BIMHUIS or Muziekgebouw and takes PIN only.
Is BIMHUIS wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Wheelchair users enter through the Piet Hein garage or the Kade entrance and take the lift; the lift door is 88 cm wide. Wheelchair places are around the balcony tables on the café level, and the accessible toilet has a 100 cm sliding door. Book through +31 20 788 2150.
Is there a cloakroom at BIMHUIS?
Yes, there is a free cloakroom, but it is unattended. BIMHUIS is not liable for loss, damage or theft, so keep valuables with you.
Can I take photos at a concert?
No, photography during concerts is only allowed with BIMHUIS's permission. Photographers contact [email protected] in advance; press and accredited photographers follow the house rules.
Can I bring children to BIMHUIS?
Yes, BIMHUIS programmes family performances and children are welcome at suitable concerts. Children pay a special rate per concert; book through [email protected] because the rate is not the same for every show.
Can I still get a ticket for a sold-out concert?
Sometimes. For a sold-out concert the box office hands out wait numbers from 18:30; unclaimed tickets are released at the start. There is no guarantee, so arrive early and expect to be turned away without a ticket.
Can I exchange or refund my ticket?
No, bought tickets cannot be exchanged or refunded. If a concert is moved or cancelled, you get the purchase price back or replacement tickets; BIMHUIS announces this on its website and contacts ticket buyers.
Can I pay with cash at BIMHUIS?
No, BIMHUIS is cashless. At the box office you pay by PIN, credit card (VISA and Mastercard) or PodiumCadeaukaart; online you can use iDEAL, credit card, PayPal or PodiumCadeaukaart.
Where is BIMHUIS and how do I find the entrance?
BIMHUIS is at Piet Heinkade 3, 1019 BR Amsterdam, on the IJ next to the Muziekgebouw. It is four minutes' walk from the Muziekgebouw/BIMHUIS tram stop; the waterside entrance and the lift from the Piet Hein garage both lead to the hall.
What does a ticket cost?
Prices differ by concert and are listed on each agenda page; they include €2 service costs per ticket. The box office sells the same tickets, but booking online is quicker.
Sources: Parking and rates (October 30, 2026) · Capacity and hire (October 30, 2026) · Accessibility (October 30, 2026) · BIMHUIS café (October 30, 2026) · Frequently asked questions (October 30, 2026) · History (October 30, 2026)
.jpg){kind=link}