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Going Out in Amsterdam

Amsterdam nightlife

Amsterdam’s nightlife scene is thriving and constantly evolving. There is the club scene, but  there are also more venues that host club events during the year. 

If you’re looking for a more laid-back atmosphere, the Jordaan neighborhood is a great option. Here, you’ll find plenty of cozy pubs, wine bars, and live music venues. The Leidseplein area is also a popular spot for nightlife, with lots of bars and clubs that stay open late into the night. 

Find below a selection of tips for going out in Amsterdam

About going out in Amsterdam

Going out in Amsterdam: the clubs

These are the well known clubs in Amsterdam, mainly located on or around Leidseplein and Rembrangtplein. Have in mind for most club you must be properly dressed. There are door policies.

Club AIR

Club Air Amsterdam

© Club Air via Facebook

Club Air is a famous club in Amsterdam. The club in fact is located on ‘holy ground’. It’s on the ground of the former world famous ‘iT’ club. This was the clubbing spot number 1 for years in Amsterdam. 

Nowadays Club Air is an international club with 5 bars, and 3 areas. The club has a superb sound system with and a spectucular light and laser shows.

Info: 

  • Open on Thursdays and Sundays from 11:30 PM till 4 AM and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 PM till 5 AM
  • Minimum age: 21 years
  • Buy your tickets online for entrance
  • Location: at Rembrandtplein

Fun fact: by day the club turns into Our House Experience.

Escape Amsterdam

Going out in Escape in Amsterdam

Escape Amsterdam is one of largest en most popular clubs in Amsterdam. The club has a modern and trendy interior with state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems. The atmosphere is lively and energetic, creating the perfect environment for a night out.

Club Escape features a variety of music genres, including house, techno, hip hop, and R&B. The club attracts both local and international DJs, so you can expect to hear some of the best music from around the world.

Info: 

  • Open on Thursdays  from 11 PM till 3 AM and on Fridays and Saturdays from 11 PM till 4 AM
  • Minimum age: 21
  • Buy your tickets online for entrance
  • Location: at Rembrandtplein

Jimmy Woo Night Club

Dance and night club Jimmy Woo in Amsterdam

© Jimmy Woo via Facebook

Jimmy Woo has a unique and luxurious interior design with a mix of Asian and Art Deco influences. The club is known for its dark, intimate and mysterious atmosphere, with plush furnishings and impressive lighting.

If you’re looking for a more exclusive and upscale nightclub experience in Amsterdam, Jimmy Woo is definitely worth checking out.

Info: 

  • Open on Thursdays and Sundays from 10 PM till 4 AM and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 PM till 5 AM
  • Minimum age: 21, some nights minimum 18
  • Buy your tickets online for entrance
  • Location: at Leidseplein

Shelter Night Club

Going out in Amsterdam in Club Shelter

© Shelter via Facebook

The club is built like an underground bunker, with brick walls, dim lighting, and a  sound system, which provides a unique clubbing experience. 

It’s known for its focus on electronic dance music, with a particular emphasis on underground techno and house music.

The club hosts events and parties that celebrate diversity, including LGBTQ+ events.

Info: 

  • Open on Friday and Saturday from 11 PM till 6 AM, sometimes to 7 AM
  • Minimum age: 21, some nights minimum 18
  • Buy your tickets online for entrance
  • Location: below the A’DAM Tower

Other Club Venues for going out in Amsterdam

These venues often host club events at night.

Paradiso Amsterdam

Club Paradiso Amsterdam

© Paradiso via Facebook

Paradiso was originally a church, built in the late 19th century. In the 1960s, the building was transformed into a music venue and cultural center, hosting concerts, dance parties, and other events.

Paradiso is known for its eclectic and diverse music program, featuring a wide range of genres, including rock, pop, electronic, hip hop, jazz, and world music. The venue has hosted many famous musicians over the years, including Prince, Nirvana, David Bowie, and the Rolling Stones.

Info: 

  • Open on: depends of the event
  • Minimum age: 18, but some nights will require a minimun age of 21
  • Check site for events and tickets
  • Location: near Leidseplein

Melkweg Amsterdam

Going out in Amsterdam in the Melkweg venue

© Melkweg via Facebook

Melkweg was originally a milk factory (melk in Dutch is milk), built in the early 20th century. In the 1970s, the building was transformed into a cultural center and music venue, hosting concerts, theater productions, dance parties, and other events.

Melkweg is known for its diverse and eclectic music program, featuring a wide range of genres, including rock, pop, electronic, hip hop, jazz, and world music.

The venue has multiple stages, including a large concert hall, a smaller venue, a cinema, and a gallery space

Info: 

  • Open on: depends of the event
  • Minimum age: 18, but some nights will require a minimun age of 21
  • Check site for events and tickets
  • Location: behind the Leidseplein

Thuishaven

Going out in Thuishaven Amsterdam

© Thuishaven via Facebook

Thuishaven festival in Amsterdam

© Thuishaven via Facebook

Now this is truly a hidden gem in Amsterdam. Do you like festivals? Here you will find a permanent outdoor festival venue. It also has a building for clubbing during the night (indoor). 

Thuishaven is a venue, consisting of several open-air stages and spaces. The venue is decorated with a mish-mash of colorful and whimsical installations, including recycled materials, vintage items, and quirky art pieces.

The venue is known for its eclectic and experimental music program, featuring a wide range of genres, mainly techno and house.

Although it’s an outdoor venue, the stages are indoor in tents. During summer season there is an open-air stage as well.

Info: 

  • Open by day: almost every Saturday & Sunday from 1 PM till 11 PM. By night: almost every Saturday from 11 PM till 5 AM.
  • Minimum age: 18
  • Check site for events and tickets
  • Location: at the end of subway line 50 and 51, station Isolaterweg. From there a 10 minutes walk

Concert Venues in Amsterdam

These are the largest venues for concerts for international artists and bands. These venues also host massive club nights from time to time

Ziggo Dome Amsterdam

The Ziggo Dome venue in Amsterdam

© Ziggo Dome via Facebook

The Ziggo dome is a massive indoor concert venue with a capacity of 17.000 people.

The venue has a modern, futuristic design, with a distinctive dome-shaped roof and a glass façade.

The Ziggo Dome hosts a wide range of music concerts and events, including rock, pop, electronic, techno, EDM, hardstyle and classical music. The venue has hosted many famous artists over the years, including Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Adele, and Coldplay.

Info: 

  • Open on: depends of the event
  • Minimum age: 18, but some nights will require a minimum age of 21
  • Check site for events and tickets
  • Location: in Arena Park (opposite Johan Cruijff ArenA). Take the train or subway to station Amsterdam Bijlmer

AFAS Live

AFAS venue in Amsterdam

© AFAS Live via Facebook

This venue was formally known as The Heineken Music Hall. It’s a an other large venue for concerts of international artists and bands. 

The venue hosts massive club nights as well.

Info: 

  • Open on: depends of the event
  • Minimum age: 18, but some nights will require a minimum age of 21
  • Check site for events and tickets
  • Location: in Arena Park (opposite Johan Cruijff ArenA). Take the train or subway to station Amsterdam Bijlmer

Rooftop and sky bars for going out in Amsterdam

Going for some drinks? Check out these sky and rooftop bars in Amsterdam.

Madam Amsterdam

Restaurant and skybar Amsterdam

© Madam via Facebook

Inside Skybar Madam in Amsterdam

Madam is a restaurant and sky bar and is located on the 20th floor in the A’DAM Tower.

Once the sun goes down or after 9:30 PM the skybar and restaurant turns into a club. A DJ will start his gig and the colors of the bar, the champagne and drinks along with the beats of the DJ will turn Madam into a dazzling place to enjoy a night out in Amsterdam.

Mind the dress code for the club nights: it’s casual chic. Club night usually take place on Friday and Saturday.

The entrance to Madam for a club night is free of charge after 9:30 PM. Of course, you can go earlier, however then you need to pay the regular entrance for the Look Out observation deck.

Info: 

  • Open on: daily, from 9 PM until late
  • Minimum age: 21 (in the evening)
  • Check site for more info
  • Location: in the A’DAM Tower, go the back of Amsterdam Central Station and take the free ferry across

Skylounge Amsterdam

The skylounge bar in Amsterdam

© Skylounge via Facebook

View at Amsterdam from the SkyLounge

Skylounge Amsterdam is a skybar and a rooftop bar, so if the weather is fine for the evening you can have a drink in open-air on the terrace with one of the best views of Amsterdam’s city center! During winter you can just sit in one of the chairs along the windows to enjoy the views.

There is a (cocktail) bar inside with a lot of seats and a terrace with a bar outside.

Besides cocktails and drinks, you can also enjoy a lunch or dinner, as soon as the moment of the sunset pops up, a DJ will turn up the music. A cocktail starts at € 16,- and you have plenty to chose from.

During the night you can always order savory snacks varying from sweets, sushi up to kaviar, mixed nuts, and the famous Ducth bitterballen.

Info: 

  • Open on: daily, from 11 AM until late 1 AM, Wednesday and Thursday until 2 AM, Friday and Saturday until 3 AM
  • Minimum age: 18 (in the evening)
  • Check site for more info
  • Location: in the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, next to Amsterdam Central Station.

Floor 17

Rooftop terrace Floor 17 in Amsterdam

© Floor 17 via Facebook

Views of Amsterdam from the Floor 17 rooftop terrace

© Floor 17 via Facebook

Floor 17 has it all: a restaurant, a skybar and a rooftop bar outside! From the whole floor, you have a stunning view at the city center of Amsterdam and from to other to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport! Floor 17 has a trendy, modern, luxury design.

The Skybar is located on the same floor as the restaurant. You can have a seat at the bar or chose one of the tables at the windows to even have better views of Amsterdam. On Friday and Saturday, a DJ will take care of the music!

The rooftop terrace is open from 12 PM till late in the evening, however, depending on the weather conditions. Rain or strong wind will close the rooftop terrace. There is a bar at the rooftop terrace as well. When closed, you can get your drinks at the Skybar of staff will serve you.

Don’t forget to enjoy the views of Amsterdam from the rooftop terrace!

Info: 

  • Open on: daily, from 12 noon until 12 PM, Friday and Saturday till 1 AM.
  • Minimum age: 18 (in the evening)
  • Check site for more info
  • Location: on top of the Leonardo Hotel at Rembrandt Park

Whisky and cocktails bars in Amsterdam

Enjoy a delicious cocktail or some really good whisky.

JD William's Whisky Bar

JD William's Whiskey bar Amsterdam

© J.D. William’s Whisky bar via Facebook

This bar is the sport for whiskey lovers. It is a nice and cozy bar with a pub atmosphere.

Instead dozen of bottles of liquor, you find here dozens of whiskey bottles. You can enjoy your own whiskey tasting. The staff explains well about all sorts of whisky. Ask them the taste you most like and they will tell you which whisky will match your taste.

You can also dine here to complete the evening.

Info: 

  • Open on: daily, Sunday 7 PM – 12 PM, Monday 7 PM – 1 AM, Tuesday – Thursday from 5 PM – 1 AM, Friday 5 PM – 3 AM, Saturday 3 PM – 3 AM
  • Location: Prinsenstraat 5 (see map below)

Calle Ocho Tequila & rum bar

Tequill and rum bar calle ocho in Amsterdam

© Calle Ocho via Facebook

For the tequila and rum lovers around, this is the place to be. 

Focus of the cocktails is tequila and the rum which the barteners (Thomas and Oscar) turn into delicious cocktails with some crazy names like the ‘Notorious Escobar cocktail’.  The slush machine serves a superb frozen margaritas!

You can combine the cocktails with food, inspired by a mix of latin-american cultures.

Info: 

  • Open on: daily, from 6 PM untill 3 AM, Friday and Saturday until 4 AM
  • Location: Albert Cuypmarkt (see map below)

Lotti's

Lotti cocktail bar in The Hoxton in Amsterdam

© Lotti’s via Facebook

Located at the Herengracht canal in The Hoxton hotel. You can also enjoy a breakfast, lunch and dinner here.

In the evening Lotti’s serves delicious cocktails like the Napoleon Dynamite and the Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Cocktails are from € 12. Getting a headache? They serve strong lattes as well.

The ambience is cozy, like a living room. Perfect for relaxing with a tasty cocktail.

Info: 

  • Open on: daily, from 7 AM until 12 midnight, Friday and Saturday until 1 AM
  • Location: Herengracht 255 (see map below)

Going out in Amsterdam map

See all the spots mentioned above on the map

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