Melkweg
Melkweg (Dutch for "Milky Way") is a popular music venue and cultural centre in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It is located on Lijnbaansgracht, near Leidseplein, a prime nightlife square of Amsterdam. It is housed in a former dairy and is divided into a number of spaces of varying sizes. Besides four halls for varying genres of music concerts, the venue houses a cinema, a restaurant and an exhibition space. Melkweg is run by a nonprofit organisation founded in 1970. History. In the 19th century a sugar refinery was established on Lijnbaansgracht. In 1920, the milk company OVVV bought the factory and  used it until closing in 1969. The building was closed for a year, but reopened as a cultural centre in 1970. It was only open for the summer; it featured a café, a restaurant and one hall for music and theatre. This was a success: Melkweg reopened in the summer of 1971 and 1972 before becoming a permanent venue since 1973. In the years that followed, Melkweg became one of the most important pop venues of Amsterdam and the Netherlands. A meeting place for hippies in the 1970s and 1980s, the Melkweg embraced all music styles and has evolved into  a multidisciplinary center for all music styles. Popcultural references. Melkweg is referenced in the Cracker song "Euro-Trash Girl", the Lagwagon song "Infectious" and in title of the Half Man Half Biscuit song "Prag Vec at the Melkweg". The title of The Church's song "Under the Milky Way" is also a reference to the Melkweg. Heather Nova's 1995 EP "Live from the Milky Way" was recorded here, as was Spacemen 3's album "Performance". Frank Black and the Catholics recorded their live album "Live at Melkweg" there on 24 March 2001. Halls. The venue has six halls: Melkweg