Nightlife · Amsterdam · Netherlands
Amsterdam nightlife
Where the evenings happen in Amsterdam, from early drinks to late nights.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: C messier, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Amsterdam's nightlife ranges from centuries-old brown cafés and jenever tasting rooms to clubs with 24-hour licences and a major dance-music week each October. Bars cluster around Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein and De Pijp, while larger clubs sit on the edges of the centre and in Noord. The main areas are Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein, Jordaan, De Pijp and Amsterdam-Noord.
Key facts
- Nightlife areas
- 5
- Stay near the action
- Old Centre (De Wallen and Dam)
- Local drink
- Jenever
Where to go out
Leidseplein
Bars, the live-music venues Paradiso and Melkweg, and late-night cafés around the square.
Rembrandtplein
Busy bars and clubs, with LGBTQ+ venues on nearby Reguliersdwarsstraat.
Jordaan
Brown cafés and wine bars with a local crowd.
De Pijp
Cocktail bars and terraces that fill with locals from early evening.
Amsterdam-Noord
Club and event venues in former industrial buildings, reached by free ferry.
Nightlife tips
- Trams and the Metro stop around midnight; night buses cover the rest.
- Cannabis is sold only in licensed coffeeshops; street dealers in the Red Light District sell fake or dangerous substances.
- Book tickets for Amsterdam Dance Event and King's Day parties well ahead.
Evening sights
Viewpoint · Amsterdam-Noord
A'DAM Lookout
Take the free ferry from behind Centraal Station to Buiksloterweg, a five-minute crossing, and go up for sunset.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
- After dark
What to drink
- Jenever — Dutch juniper spirit, the ancestor of gin, served in a tulip-shaped glass filled to the brim; tradition says you bend down and take the first sip without lifting it.
Evenings through the year
Sunset and the overnight low decide how long the outdoor part of a night lasts. July has the warmest evenings, with lows around 13°C (55°F).
| Month | Sunset (15th) | Overnight low | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | About 16:56 | 1°C (34°F) | 12 |
| April | About 20:38 | 5°C (41°F) | 8 |
| July | About 21:56 | 13°C (55°F) | 9 |
| October | About 18:46 | 8°C (46°F) | 12 |
Getting home late
- Tram — Always check out when leaving; if you forget, you are charged a higher fare.
- Metro — The North–South line (52) runs underground from Noord through Centraal Station and De Pijp to Zuid, much faster than the tram on those routes.
- Walking — Walking is the best way to see the canal ring and the Jordaan; distances are short, but look out for bikes at every crossing.
- Ferry — Free GVB ferries leave from behind Centraal Station for Buiksloterweg (for the A'DAM Tower and the EYE) and for NDSM, running frequently.
- Taxi — Use official ranks or apps rather than drivers touting near nightlife areas.
Late-night bites
- Stroopwafel — Market stalls at the Albert Cuyp and Lindengracht markets make them to order.
- Raw herring — Herring carts and fish stalls across the city.
- Bitterballen — Brown cafés and pubs everywhere.
- Kroket — Snack bars and bakeries; FEBO's automats are a late-night institution.
- Fries with mayonnaise — Specialist fries shops in the centre, especially around Spui and Leidseplein.
Staying safe at night
Amsterdam is generally safe, but pickpockets work around Centraal Station, on trams and in the Red Light District, and bike theft is common. Street dealers sell fake drugs, and most canal edges have no railings, so take care walking home at night.
- Emergency number
- 112 (European emergency number)
Where to stay for nightlife
$$$ · Best for first-timers, nightlife and budget
Old Centre (De Wallen and Dam)
The oldest part of the city spreads from Centraal Station to Dam Square, with the Royal Palace, the Oude Kerk — Amsterdam's oldest building — and the canals of the Red Light District. It is the most convenient base for transport but the busiest and noisiest, with stag parties on weekend nights.
- Good
- Steps from Centraal Station; Plenty of hotels and hostels; Late-night bars
- Watch out
- Crowded and noisy, especially at weekends; Rowdy behaviour in the Red Light District
- Nearby
- Dam Square, Royal Palace, Oude Kerk, Centraal Station
Questions travellers ask
+Where is the best nightlife in Amsterdam?
Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein and Jordaan. Bars, the live-music venues Paradiso and Melkweg, and late-night cafés around the square.
+Which area of Amsterdam is best for nightlife?
Old Centre (De Wallen and Dam): Medieval core around Dam Square, the Oude Kerk and the Red Light District.