It’s time to take your feet off the floor and discover Amsterdam’s nightlife. Dance late into the night to the beats of the world-famous DJs or enjoy a beer in a classic ‘brown café’. Whether you like R&B more or prefer to listen to a trance, there’s something for everyone in Amsterdam. With the Leidse square, Rembrandt Square and the Red Light District, the city has a number of bustling nightlife centres in Amsterdam. It’s only at night that life really starts here. There are plenty of places to go out and that makes the choice of a destination complicated. Below are a number of options where you can go for a nice night or a nice afternoon/evening.
Discover the best Cocktail Bars in Amsterdam
Experience of the nightlife of Amsterdam from a local
Leidse square
The Leidse square is the entertainment area of Amsterdam. Here you will find plenty of restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy a bite to eat or a drink in the evening. If you sit on a terrace you can enjoy the street artists who entertain people with good weather. For art and culture you are also in the right place. The Stadsschouwburg and the DeLaMar theatre attract full theatres every evening and Pathé de Munt shows dozens of films every day. Furthermore, the world-famous pop stages Paradiso and Melkweg are close to the square. The Leidse square is the place to go for an evening out with both the Dutch and tourists. On and around the square you will find numerous clubs and cafes, where you can dance late into the night. From hip hop and folk music to edm and guilty pleasures.
Discover the best bars and clubs at Leidse square
- Pub crawl on Leidse square
There are so many bars and clubs on and around the Leidse square that it’s hard to find the place where you want to dance all evening. The best way to discover this nightlife area is through a pub crawl. With the ultimate pub crawl on the Leidse square you pass 6 famous clubs and bars. These nightlife venues are located on both Leidse square and Rembrandt square in the heart of Amsterdam. The tour starts at 20:30 at the Cadela bar, where you can enjoy unlimited vodka shots for half an hour. Afterwards, the experienced guides will take you to all the other well-known places, where you will be served a drink as soon as you enter. At the first 3 spots you can have a free photo taken before you blend in with the crowd. At the end of the evening you will have a good impression of the nightlife area of Amsterdam. Of course the evening doesn’t stop at the end of the tour. You can continue until the sun rises again.
Together with the group you will gather at 20.30 hrs at the Cadela bar, where you can shoot unlimited vodka until 21.00 hrs. The pub crawl takes about 6 hours. With an online ticket for this tour you get free entrance to 6 clubs and bars, one free drink per location, professional guides and a free T-shirt for women. Don’t forget to bring valid identification and put on closed shoes.
- House of Bols
There are plenty of bars and pubs where you can have delicious drinks. But how are these drinks actually made? What is the special ingredient? During the Cocktail & Jenever Experience in House of Bols you will discover everything about the oldest brand of spirits in the world. Lucas Bols is a Dutch brand of spirits. Bols has a Jenever and various liqueurs. During this tour through The House of Bols you will learn more about the history of the brand through films, photos, flavours and fragrances. You will visit several rooms that will tell you the complete story of Bols. In the Hall of Taste the 38 liquors of Bols are on display and in the Ingredient Room you’ll find out what the main ingredients of the Jenever are. In the Mirrorbar you can see how a professional bartender makes your favourite cocktail and finally you can also shake your own cocktail.
House of Bols is located on the Museumplein, opposite the Van Gogh Museum. From the Leidse square you can get here by tram. With an online ticket you get access to the house, an audio guide available in several languages and a cocktail during your visit. In House of Bols you can walk around on your own. A guide is still possible on request. House of Bols also has a Bols shop, where you can get delicious souvenirs. For a fee, you can enjoy a second cocktail.
Rembrandt square
Next to the Leidse square, the Rembrandt square is the most popular nightlife area in Amsterdam. The square is named after the famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn. In the thirties hotels and cafes settled here and it became the nightlife spot for artists and performers. Now there are numerous clubs, bars, restaurants and hotels here. During the day the cosy terraces are always full and in the evenings the square becomes the centre of the vibrant nightlife of Amsterdam. And there’s a club or pub to suit everyone’s taste. Hip-hop, house, pop, indie, you name it.
More information about Rembrand square here
- Icebar Amsterdam
On the Rembrandt square you will find various clubs and bars. At one club it’s all about having fun and at the other you just want to be seen. But if you want to have a drink with friends, you should visit one of the cool bars. And which one is “cooler” than the Icebar? The Icebar in Amsterdam is made of 35 tons of ice cream. Here you can drink delicious cocktails out of ice-cream glasses in an atmospheric environment. Take a seat on the frozen bench and admire the beautifully lit ice sculptures while enjoying the music. To keep everything cool, the temperature in the bar is -10˚C. Don’t worry, you don’t have to take off your winter clothes. At the bar you’ll get a jacket and gloves to keep you warm. A visit to the Icebar is a unique experience and one not to be missed when staying in Amsterdam.
The Icebar is just around the corner from the Rembrandt square. After purchasing an online ticket you can choose a time slot. Only during the time lock you can visit the bar. With an online ticket you get access to the bar, a welcome drink in the heated area, 2 drinks in the cold area and a jacket and gloves. The Icebar is only accessible to visitors over the age of 18. It is also important to dress warmly. Although you will be given a coat and gloves upon entry, it is not wise to wear flip-flops.
The Red Light District
For many tourists the Red Light Districts are an attraction and a must do in the nightlife of Amsterdam. Yet in this area you can experience much more than people think. It belongs to one of the oldest areas of Amsterdam. The streets are narrow, everywhere you will find beautiful canal houses and the rows of trees make the area charming. However, the evening is the best time for a walk in this neighbourhood. Besides the fact that the area is incredibly beautiful, it is also very lively and cozy. You will find numerous restaurants, pubs and clubs here. From a karaoke bar, where you can sing your favourite song, to a cosy pub, where you can enjoy a delicious special beer and a drink with friends.
Pub Crawl on The Red Light District
It is difficult to find a nice pub or pub on the Red Light District if you are not familiar with the neighborhood. Discover the cozy area with the ultimate party pub tour. With this tour you will pass 5 pubs and a club that are located on the Red Light District. The evening starts at Players, where you can enjoy unlimited vodka shots for an hour. After that the trip really starts. The guide will take you to the nicest pubs of the area and you will also visit a club. On every occasion you start off well with a free Jägermeister shot and the rest of the evening you can take advantage of the excellent offers. At the end of the pub crawl you can of course go back to the nicest place you’ve visited.
There will be a gathering at Players between 20.00 and 21.30. From 20.30 you can enjoy one hour of free unlimited vodka shots here. With an online ticket you’ll get free entry to the pubs and the club and a free shot at all occasions. During this tour there is no special dress code, but with open shoes and shorts you won’t enter the pubs and the club. Also bring valid identification.
Beer tasting in Delirium café
Do you have to organize the next company outing and do you want to keep it simple but fun? Or do you just want to go out with friends? Then the Delirium café is the place for you. At this café you can enjoy a delicious beer tasting. With more than 720 types of beers in the assortment, there is probably something you want more of. During the beer tasting you will get 3 special beers, served in 15cl glasses. Of course, this also includes tasty snacks. Typical snacks for a beer tasting, such as bitterballs, wraps, cheese snacks and nuts are on the menu here. When everything is on the table, the bartender will tell you a bit more about the beers. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. On the wall hangs a huge map that shows where the beers come from. Delirium also has some of its own beers.
The Delirium café is located next to the IJtunnel, close to Amsterdam Central Station. The café is located near the entertainment area de Wallen. During this beer tasting you can taste 3 beers and get 3 small snacks. For this beer tasting the group must consist of at least 8 people.
Are your ready for the nightlife of Amsterdam?!