The digitized posters on view are a selection from the billboard and poster collection of the Internationaal Instituut voor Sociale Geschiedenis (IISG - International Institute of Social History); they advertise the programs of the two Amsterdam temples to pop music, De Melkweg and Paradiso. For decades, these cultural centers have set the image of Amsterdam as the European capital of pop music: nearly all the bands and artists that were in vogue through the years performed there.

But Paradiso and De Melkweg had much more to offer than pop music. Theater and dance, films, photography and media art have always been part of their programs. In addition, socially relevant events took place there as well. The posters paint a good picture of this diversity through the years.