Café de Gieter is a student party bar at Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 179, just off Amsterdam’s Leidseplein nightlife area. Expect Dutch singalongs, chart music and a late night rather than a quiet pub conversation. It is a useful choice if you want an informal bar evening with friends instead of choosing a club for a particular DJ.
What kind of bar is De Gieter?
In Amsterdam, a feestcafé is a party pub: drinks, recognisable songs and dancing in a bar setting. Despite the word café, De Gieter is an evening venue rather than a place to settle down with a daytime coffee. The student-bar identity is part of its appeal.
Dutch songs are part of the soundtrack alongside Top 40 music. You do not need to know every chorus to enjoy a night here, but it helps to know that this is a different experience from a house or techno club. For an event-led night, compare clubs and bars around Leidseplein, including Club Up and Chicago Social Club.
Café de Gieter opening hours
- Sunday to Thursday: 20:00 to 03:00.
- Friday and Saturday: 20:00 to 04:00.
The closing times are in the early hours of the following morning. If you arrange to meet in the afternoon, start at one of the cafés near Leidseplein before coming here in the evening.
Finding the entrance
Address: Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 179, 1017 RA Amsterdam. Use the full street name and number in your map app. Korte Leidsedwarsstraat and Lange Leidsedwarsstraat are different streets, and simply agreeing to meet “at Leidseplein” leaves quite a large area to search.
For public transport, plan your journey to Leidseplein and walk the final stretch. Leidsestraat is a useful approach from the canal belt. Our Amsterdam public transport guide explains how the city’s trams, buses and metro fit together.
Food and drinks before your night out
You can eat in the same neighbourhood before heading to De Gieter. Our restaurants near Leidseplein include Indonesian food, Dutch dishes and canal-side dining. Choose somewhere nearby if you want to avoid spending your evening travelling between districts.
For a different kind of late bar, Pianobar Maxim on Leidsekruisstraat has live piano music. Concert-goers can also combine the area with Paradiso; allow for the show’s finishing time before planning your next stop.
Getting back after closing
A bar closing at 03:00 does not mean your usual daytime tram still runs. Plan the return to your accommodation for the time you expect to leave. Staying near Leidseplein lets you walk back, although rooms facing nightlife streets may be noisy.
Compare hotels near Leidseplein
For other areas, compare our guide to where to stay in Amsterdam.