Nachtgoed
NLEN

Organisations & the night mayor

The night does not run itself. Behind the door is a network of foundations, venues and collectives that organise and defend it.

A healthy night needs people who defend it during the day.

The night mayor

Amsterdam has elected a night mayor (nachtburgemeester) since 2003: an independent voice standing between nightlife and city hall.[1] From 2012, Mirik Milan turned the role professional and became its face worldwide.[2] In March 2023, Freek Wallagh was elected.[3]

Who holds the office at any moment can change; the foundation runs public elections. For the current night mayor, check the foundation's own site.[4]

Who carries the night

Stichting Nachtburgemeester Amsterdam

Advocacy & the night mayor

The foundation behind the night mayor. It gives the night a voice toward the municipality and runs the election of the night mayor.[5]

nachtburgemeester.amsterdam

Nachtraad Amsterdam

Advice & agenda

A council of people from the night that helps shape policy and keeps night culture on the agenda.[6]

nachtraadamsterdam.nl

VNPF

National industry association

The Association of Dutch Music Venues and Festivals represents pop venues and festivals across the Netherlands, from Paradiso to the smaller rooms.[7]

www.vnpf.nl

Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE)

Festival & conference

Every autumn, for five days, ADE turns the city into the largest club festival and the largest conference for electronic music in the world.[8]

www.amsterdam-dance-event.nl/en

The venues & clubs

The cultural memory

Paradiso, Melkweg and the generations of clubs after them are not going-out addresses but cultural institutions, often non-profit, that give new makers a first floor.[9][10]

Nachtgoed

Non-profit night collective

We make the nights we want to experience ourselves, pay makers fairly, and put everything we earn back into the night. That is how we stand in this network.

What we believe

More in the night

Policy & the night worldwideSupport the nightA history of the Amsterdam nightBack to The night

Sources & credits

Last verified:

  1. Wikipedia (NL) — Nachtburgemeester van Amsterdam (2026)
  2. Wikipedia — Mirik Milan (2026)
  3. Koninklijke Horeca Nederland — Freek Wallagh is de nieuwe nachtburgemeester van Amsterdam (22 maart 2023) (2023)
  4. Stichting Nachtburgemeester Amsterdam — Stichting Nachtburgemeester Amsterdam — Over ons (2026)
  5. Stichting Nachtburgemeester Amsterdam — Stichting Nachtburgemeester Amsterdam (2026)
  6. Nachtraad Amsterdam — Nachtraad Amsterdam (2026)
  7. VNPF — Vereniging Nederlandse Poppodia en Festivals (VNPF) (2026)
  8. Amsterdam Dance Event — Amsterdam Dance Event (2026)
  9. Wikipedia — Paradiso (Amsterdam) (2026)
  10. Melkweg — History of the Melkweg (2026)