Potential pleasure-palace extraordinaire (and not open at press time), the Westergasfabriek reopened in the autumn of 2003 as an arts and cultural center. Covering the historic 19th-century Western Gas Factory grounds, its site consists of 13 monumental buildings of various sizes and shapes, which play host to film and theater companies, fashion shows, corporate functions, movie shoots, art shows, operas, techno parties, and assorted festivals, plus bars, nightclubs, and restaurants. Visitors interested in all matters of culture should certainly check out how things are shaping up there.