The country's most famous concert venue, and former church, Paradiso, known as the "pop temple" for its vaulted ceilings and stained glass, began its days as a hippie squat allowed by the local government who hoped it might help empty the Vondelpark (then serving as a crash pad for a generation). To this day, the Paradiso remains an epic venue to witness both music's legends and up-and-comers, regardless of their genre. Most concerts are followed by a club night to the early hours that showcases the latest dance sounds. Flexible staging arrangements also make this a favorite venue for performance artists and multimedia events.