De Nieuwe Anita Club / Live Music Venue / Theater

Oude West / Westerpark, Amsterdam –

What began as a bike storage and boiler room was eventually transformed into De Nieuwe Anita, a kitschy yet stylish club that plays host to live bands, film screenings, open-mic nights, guest parties, and more.

The décor is reminiscent of a vintage thrift store, with accordion lamps dangling from the low ceiling and illuminating a collection of second-hand odds and ends and well-worn Chesterfield furniture.

Mismatched 50s wallpaper in pearl and avocado forms the backdrop for the scattering of plants, used dressers, and bookshelves stocked with recycled books.

An upstairs lounge area features two half-circle bars where a sociable crowd gathers for cocktails, while the gritty downstairs area is reserved for performances by underground and alternative rock bands from all over Europe, the UK, and the US.

The space is also used for movie showings as De Nieuwe Anita is well known for its involvement with a number of film festivals throughout the year.

The club’s steady increase in popularity has turned it from a small and secretive artists’ dive into a hip nightspot for urban trendsetters.

The clientele is now a diverse mix of the two, which has resulted in a friendly and culturally open mentality that has given De Nieuwe Anita a reputation for representing the authentic and alternative roots of Amsterdam’s liberal past.