Prince fans pack Amsterdam's Melkweg in tribute to late artist

The whole world commemorated Prince last night. The pop icon died at the age of 57 in his estate Paisley Park in Minneapolis on Thursday. Hundreds of fans laid flowers the estate and at club First Aveneu, where the music video for Purple Rain was shot. Google turned its logo purple, surrounded by purple rain. In Amsterdam, a spontaneous concert was organized at music venue Melkweg, free for anyone who wanted to attend. "The event is free for everyone who wants to be together. From midnight several artists bring their tribute to the pop greatness", Melkweg wrote on its website. "I sat at home with a pounding heart all evening. Then I thought, it's (Melkweg, ed) is just around the corner. I'll just take a look", one fan said to broadcaster NOS. Another fan added: "He is among many other big names. When I heard it I thought: no, it can't be. I find it extraordinary that this was organized tonight." One man traveled all the way from Ewijk, near Nijmegen, to attend the event. "I heard it on the NOS news and I immediately came here by train. Because I thought: I want to be there." Prince visited Amsterdam with some regularity over the past years. In July 2011 he made two surprise appearances at the Melkweg, according to AT5. In 2013 he gave two concerts in one night at the Paradiso and in 2014 he gave a show at the Ziggo Dome. He was scheduled for an intimate show in the Carre in December last year, but decided to postpone his European tour after the attacks in Paris. The artist was found unconscious in an elevator at his studio on Thursday morning, American time, according to NU. Emergency services rushed to the scene, but attempts to resuscitate him were to no avail. Prince was declared dead just after 10:00 a.m. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZNtBm2yBz0