Nightlife near Amsterdam Centraal
There is literally no end to the Amsterdam nightlife. Clubs, Concert halls, brown cafés, cocktail bars, festivals: you can’t call it that crazy or Amsterdam has it in house. Hereby a small selection of this famous Amsterdam nightlife.
Popular party squares
Roughly speaking, the heart of Amsterdam’s nightlife is split into two squares: Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein. On and around these two squares, everything you see is fun in the form of cafés, clubs, theaters and other places of entertainment. Read on for a tip of the iceberg on and around both squares.
When it comes to nightlife in Amsterdam, there are venues, dance festivals and club nights to suit every taste! DJs keep the crowd going with everything from techno, dub step and trance to hip-hop, funk and deep house.
Amsterdam’s nightlife is thriving, with three major new clubs adding to the existing scene. We asked local DJs, producers and music writers to name their favourite party venues.
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De Marktkantine
has been around for about two years. For me, it’s the most unappreciated club in the city even though the programming is high-quality, and varied. There are other clubs in Amsterdam that are trying hard to trademark a certain style but Marktkantine is more relaxed about who can come in. You can still see the balconies and booths from when it was a theatre. The balcony is particularly large and gives a great view down onto the stage. Then, behind the stage there are stairs up to another level with a small bar. They just started a new series of nights, curated by DJ and producer duo Red Axes, with shows every couple of months. The first edition was a success and musically it was amazing.
Shelter
is among the newest additions to the city’s club scene. Finally, a club in the north side of Amsterdam! The venue opened during Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) 2016 and is in the basement of the former Shell tower, hence the name. Standing in front of the entrance you immediately get that underground vibe. Literally. On club nights the venue opens a hatch, which you walk down to get inside. You enter a spacious, concrete room with a very good sound system. It’s dark, but not too dark – you can see who’s dancing next to you. The crowd is really open – whether you play house or techno, people follow your lead. And, with its 24-hour permit, nights merge easily into mornings.
Tolhuistuin
We deliberately picked the Tolhuistuin for our club night, Progress Bar, which focuses on a more socially and politically aware take on club culture. We mix talks, screenings, performance and clubbing into one night. Just a short ferry ride across the IJ from Central Station, Amsterdam Noord prides itself on an edgier and raw atmosphere – that still persists amid the gentrification. Tolhuistuin is a good example of this. It’s in the canteen of the old Shell factory, an industrial remnant that has been repurposed as a cultural destination offering a mix of music, theatre and exhibitions, bringing together mainstream and more avant garde, free-spirited programming.
De School
This place is more than a club: it is also one of the best restaurants in town, a bar, a gym and it shows great art that you can still see during club hours. There are also two other venue spaces, Muzieklokaal and s105, for smaller nights and live shows – and the garden is our favourite spot to hang out on summer nights. There is a great creative energy around this whole building. Of course, the club itself is amazing. It’s exactly what you want: intimate-feeling, but big enough to get lost in, with crisp sound and a sense of freedom.
Sugarfactory
Years ago this building used to be a … sugar factory, but since the venue opened its doors in 2005 – near the centre of Amsterdam – it has been home to Wicked Jazz Sounds, our weekly Sunday club night. We came from a club without any facilities, so by comparison the Sugar Factory felt like getting into a warm bath and then being embraced by lovely, caring people. This club holds up to 500 people but still feels intimate, has a great sound, an amazing amount of lights, and a wide variety of programming, every day of the week.
• Reguliersdwarsstraat: this side street of the square is known for its gay and lesbian scene. Leading nightlife options here are SoHo, Bar Dwars and Club NyX
The Leidseplein
• Jimmy Woo: World famous club with international allure. The Jimmy Woo therefore has a strict door policy. If you get inside, admire the interior!
• Paradiso: World famous pop temple, located in an old church. The acoustics during pop concerts are legendary!
OT301
OT301 is a real Amsterdam heartthrob. The former squat packs in 300 people for experimental and rowdy club nights, concerts and collaborations. Think nights hosted by Rush Hour, Sub:Terrein, Sonic Acts and our own club night, Somewhere Else. The multi-storied, graffiti-covered building holds a club, a tiny underground dance room, a gallery space, a vegan restaurant and a cinema. Subbacultcha has hosted nights at OT301 from the beginning, so we decided it was fitting to celebrate our 10th anniversary last year with a takeover – filling every inch of the OT301 with emerging music.
Oedipus Brewing
The home of Amsterdam’s new favourite local brew, Oedipus, is a gem in Amsterdam Noord. The brewery is a simple spot that offers a few beers on tap, an empty space for dancing and a couple of benches out front. DJ Broadcast had its fundraiser there this year, which was a blast. Catch Red Light Radio’s much-loved Liquid Jams on a given Sunday, when a band is invited to perform amid the beer barrels. And don’t miss the famed Brazil in the Brewery nights that brings the vibes, music and atmosphere of hot Brazilian nights.
Claire
There is obviously a diverse array of clubs in Amsterdam; I love De School for good sound and a night of raw energy; OT301, which is cosy and raw. One club that deserves a special shout out is Claire, where I have a residency, and which has given me the opportunity to grow as a DJ. Claire has great acoustics, a wonderful wooden floor and feels like a living room! Unfortunately it’s in in the not-so-soulful area of Rembrandtplein, though the club itself is a soulful place. It opened during last year’s Amsterdam Dance Event and its lineup presents a great mix of underground artists, from Volcov to the Parisian Antinote crew.
Club NYX
For me, Club NYX is a little bit more “free” than the rest of Amsterdam’s clubs. It’s a three-floor venue and on the third floor, which is the toilet, there’s also a DJ booth – so you can dance and pee and wash your hands in this big penis-shaped sink. The decorations are “out there”: there are neon words everywhere and stairs that go nowhere. The first few times I went I got lost and every time I take someone for the first time they get lost too. Throughout the week there are a lot of parties that focus on being inclusive. It’s still a gay club really, but on Thursday nights it has parties that are for everyone. There’s a regular night, called Vogue, where there are these ballroom parties. Everyone puts on wigs, big dresses and just dances; it’sfun. My friends and I love going because (and it sounds really stupid) it feels like everyone is in it together.
De Trut
De Trut has been going for around 32 years and I’ve been going for 17 of them. It’s only open on Sundays, from 10pm-3am, held in a a former squat that is now a foundation: everyone works there voluntarily and all the money from the club goes to LGBT-related projects. The venue is a cement basement, but is very colourful; there are all these televisions showing gay, or lesbian porn (though now not so much). It’s kitsch, but they also fight for their ideals. By 9pm there’s always a queue and only about 250 people can fit in, and there’s no guestlist. No photography is allowed, either. It’s an amazing place to go if you’re gay.
The Rembrandtplein
• Escape: this club is a household name in the Dutch entertainment world. Escape continues to innovate and that is bearing fruit. The combination of visuals, light and sound attracts national and international DJs!
• Three Sisters Pub: an example of how cozy the cafes on Rembrandplein are! The gigantic bar surrounded by it invites you to socialize. And the later it gets, the more people take a dance!
• De Kroon: You can eat delicious luxury at this neighbor of Escape. From Thursday to Saturday evening, when the crown changes into a hip club, you can start your night out right away.
• The Melkweg: the other famous music venue where many artists have reviewed. The intimate atmosphere is typical of the Melkweg.
• De Balie: this is a cultural center where performances and debates are given, but where you can also just have a drink. De Balie is often a meeting place, after which people go to Paradiso for example.
The brown cafes
The so-called traditional brown cafés are almost part of the Amsterdam heritage. Every true Amsterdammer has a favorite brown favorite bar. Because make no mistake; every brown pub has its own character and atmosphere! Our own recommendation is Café Eijlders on the Leidseplein.
The Jordaan
You can find that old-fashioned, Amsterdam pub atmosphere in the Jordaan neighborhood. Café Lowietje is the genuine example of a typical brown pub. Come along and sing along with classics by Willy Alberti, Aunt Leen and Johnny Jordaan.
But there is nightlife on every corner
Ah, Amsterdam at night, where the city’s vibrant spirit really comes alive. It’s a place where the streets light up, the canals glisten, and the party never stops. Let me give you the lowdown on the nightlife scene in the Dutch capital.
First things first, if you’re a fan of dancing the night away, you’ve got to hit up the city’s legendary clubs. Paradiso is an absolute institution. It’s a former church turned music venue where you can groove to live bands or DJs spinning everything from techno to hip-hop. And let’s not forget the famous Melkweg, where you can catch top-notch acts and dance like there’s no tomorrow.
But the real heart of Amsterdam’s nightlife has to be the Red Light District. It’s not just about, well, the red lights – it’s a buzzing area filled with bars, clubs, and a wild variety of entertainment. From burlesque shows to jazz bars, it’s like a playground for adults.
If you’re into more intimate venues, Amsterdam has a slew of cozy brown cafés. These traditional pubs have that warm, woody, and inviting atmosphere where you can sip local brews, chat with locals, and feel like you’ve stumbled upon a hidden gem.
Now, we can’t talk about Amsterdam’s nightlife without mentioning the coffeeshops. No, not the coffee kind – the other kind. These laid-back spots are where you can sample some of the finest Dutch herbs, if you catch my drift. The vibe is super chill, and you’ll often find people playing board games or just lost in conversation. It’s a unique experience, to say the least.
For a more refined evening, try one of the city’s cocktail bars. Tales & Spirits is an absolute gem, serving up creative concoctions that are as much a work of art as they are a drink. Plus, the bartenders there are like mixology wizards.
And speaking of unique experiences, you can’t miss a late-night canal cruise. Imagine sipping wine, taking in the sparkling city lights, and cruising through the city’s picturesque waterways. It’s like a romantic movie scene, but you’re in it!
Now, the Dutch love their beer, and you can’t leave Amsterdam without sampling some local brews. Head to a beer tasting session, like the one at the Heineken Experience, and learn about the city’s brewing history while savoring some golden nectar.
In a city where the party never stops, the only thing you’ll be short on is sleep. Amsterdam’s nightlife is a wild mix of cultures, vibes, and experiences. So, put on your dancing shoes, get ready for a night of adventure, and explore the electrifying energy of Amsterdam after dark. Cheers to the city that never sleeps! 🌃🍻💃