Amsterdam Nightlife: RLD Tour + TOP 30 Bars & Clubs
The ultimate Amsterdam nightlife guide to the city’s best bars, nightclubs, techno, live music, pub crawls, and late-night experiences. Party through De Wallen, Rembrandtplein, and Leidseplein, with standout venues like Escape, Club NYX, Paradiso, Melkweg, Jimmy Woo, Duke of Tokyo, and Wynand Fockink, plus the famous Amsterdam Smoke Boat and Red Light District Pub Crawl. Experience Dutch feestcafés, historic jenever tasting rooms, coffeeshop culture, canal cruises, and one of Europe’s most legendary nightlife cities!
- Why: Naughiest party capital of Europe
- When: June, July & August
- Last Call: None, bars stay open till 5am, certain clubs are 24hrs
- Best Amsterdam Bar: Surprise Bar (Friday night)
- Best Amsterdam Cocktails: The Tailor Bar
- Best Amsterdam Nightclub: Club NYX (Saturday night)
- Best Amsterdam Hotels: From $14 USD – Grab Today’s Deals!
- Related: Paris Nightlife Guide
- Book Now: Amsterdam Pub Crawl, just $14 USD
Buy Tickets for Amsterdam
Amsterdam has one of Europe’s most famous nightlife scenes, concentrated around three major areas: De Wallen, Rembrandtplein, and Leidseplein. De Wallen combines historic bars, coffeeshops, unusual attractions, and Amsterdam’s legendary Red Light District. Rembrandtplein is the heart of the mainstream club scene, with big nightclubs, young crowds, and Dutch feestcafés, while Leidseplein offers pubs, live music, cocktail bars, and late-night parties. Add underground techno, canal cruises, pub crawls, and Amsterdam Dance Event, and this compact city offers an incredible amount of nightlife within walking distance.
Amsterdam Map Download
Attractions • Restaurants • Rooftops
Bars • Nightclubs • Walking Routes
and Bonus Tips.
Best Places for Nightlife in Amsterdam
1. Amsterdam Red Light District Tour
Also known as "De Wallen Tour", is the best tour in Amsterdam! Giving you an in-depth perspective on how the district came to be including the 300 red lit windows, smartshops, coffeeshops and historical facts. It truly is a must! Just $27 USD!
2. Casa Rosso
The district's most famous adult show, running since 1968. Performances every night from 7pm until 2am, with tickets at $75 USD including one drink. Definitely not for the easily shocked!
3. Mascini
A cozy bar on the Zeedijk that is actually part of a theatre, where you can often catch live jazz. Right across the street from the legendary Café 't Mandje!
4. Cafe In ‘t Aepjen
Located inside one of Amsterdam's oldest wooden buildings, dating back to around 1519. A tiny, atmospheric sailor's bar on the Zeedijk and one of the most historic drinking spots in town!
5. The Bulldog
Amsterdam's very first coffeeshop, dating back to 1975 and still a major tourist landmark. Expect big crowds, a canalside terrace and plenty of souvenir shopping!
6. Smoke Boat
Cruise Amsterdam's canals with a few drinks while soaking up local coffeeshop culture, sailing past the Maritime Museum and its giant VOC ship. Beers $3 USD, cocktails $10. Get 10% off through Reformatt!
De Wallen is Amsterdam’s most notorious nightlife district, packed with canals, narrow alleyways, bars, coffeeshops, unusual shops, and roughly 300 red-lit windows. Start with traditional Dutch jenever at Wynand Fockink, one of Amsterdam’s oldest tasting rooms, dating back to 1679, or try a classic kopstootje at Dutch Courage. Other highlights include The Tailor for premium cocktails, Bierfabriek, Belushi’s, and The End Karaoke. Explore Oudezijds Voorburgwal and the incredibly narrow Trompettersteeg before visiting historic spots such as Café ’t Mandje and Café In ’t Aepjen. For the complete experience, join a guided De Wallen tour covering the district’s fascinating and sometimes wild history.
7. Wynand Fockink
One of Amsterdam's oldest tasting rooms, dating back to 1679, pouring a huge variety of traditional Dutch jenever from classics to apple pie and bitter orange. Slurp the top layer without touching the glass, 15% to over 40% alcohol!
8. Dutch Courage
A great spot to strike up conversations and learn some Dutch, with a vending-machine wall dispensing the traditional kopstootje, a beer with a shot of jenever. Just $10 USD, and remember, don't touch the glass, just slurp!
9. Bar The Tailor
One of the better cocktail bars in Amsterdam with a sophisticated menu, though do expect premium prices. Even the edge of the bar is designed to resemble a tailor's measuring tape!
10. Amsterdam Pub Crawl
One of the most fun bar crawls in Europe! For just $18 USD hit 4 bars and one of the best nightclubs in town, partying with locals, expats and fellow travelers. Get an exclusive 10% discount through Reformatt!
11. The End Karaoke Amsterdam
A super fun dive bar with a performance stage where you can show off your karaoke skills in front of all your friends. Even the microphones have questionable shapes! Open daily until 3am with free entry!
12. Bierfabriek Amsterdam
A giant beer hall-style venue in the heart of the centre, often with live music and a laid-back local vibe. Perfect for grabbing a big round of drinks with a group!
Rembrandtplein is one of the best areas for Amsterdam nightlife and attracts a younger mixture of locals, students, expats, and travelers. Start at Duke of Tokyo, a colorful Japanese-inspired karaoke bar, before experiencing a traditional Dutch feestcafé at Jantjes Verjaardag. Club Smokey plays pop, house, hip-hop, and R&B, while De Kroon offers cocktails and late-night drinks in a historic setting. Escape is one of Amsterdam’s biggest nightclubs, hosting up to 1,500 people and major DJs. For techno, check out Club John Doe, or continue to Club NYX, a colorful three-floor nightclub famous for its unpredictable music and hilarious toilet DJ.
13. Belushi’s
A great bar to mingle with locals and travellers, with a restaurant, pool tables and a solid draft beer selection. Visit on weekends for a live DJ and good vibes. Snacks start around $5 USD!
14. Lolo Amsterdam
For excellent cocktails in a unique Italian atmosphere, hit up Lolo. The bar itself is gorgeous and the cocktails are absolutely incredible, plus mouthwatering dishes from fresh pastas to loaded salads!
15. Duke of Tokyo
A cozy Japanese-themed karaoke and cocktail bar near Rembrandtplein, with private karaoke rooms inspired by Tokyo's neighborhoods and a colorful interior modelled on the city's backstreets!
16. Jantjesverjaardag
A true Dutch-style feestcafé known for Dutch sing-along songs and party classics, especially popular with a young local crowd. The perfect place to party like a real Amsterdammer!
17. Club Smokey
Located directly on Rembrandtplein, this fun spot plays everything from pop and house to hip-hop and R&B. A solid choice right in the middle of the square's nightlife!
18. De Kroon
Meaning 'the crown', this stylish bar and restaurant dates back to 1898 and is great for cocktails, dinner and late-night drinks. As a nightclub it is often the final stop of the Amsterdam Pub Crawl!
Leidseplein is packed with pubs, cocktail bars, live music venues, and some of Amsterdam’s most iconic nightclubs. Surprise Bar and Ganbei offer classic Dutch feestcafé parties with young local crowds, while NJOY specializes in premium cocktails. Jimmy Woo is one of Amsterdam’s best-known upscale clubs for hip-hop and R&B. Nearby Paradiso is an iconic concert venue inside a former church, while Melkweg hosts international bands, electronic music, concerts, and club nights inside a former milk factory. Chicago Social Club offers a more local late-night atmosphere, while Café De Krul is perfect for a casual drink. On weekends, several venues continue partying until 4 or 5 a.m.
19. Oliva
Right next to De Kroon, one of Rembrandtplein's most popular late-night party spots, playing mostly urban, hip-hop and R&B. Regularly visited by Dutch fashion models!
20. Escape
The biggest nightclub on Rembrandtplein, hosting up to 1500 people and major international DJs. Expect a huge dance floor, powerful sound and stage dancers, though beers run around $6 USD!
21. Club John Doe
A smaller underground club just off Rembrandtplein and the go-to spot for solid techno nights. Perfect if the bigger mainstream clubs are not your thing!
22. Club NYX
A colorful club spread across three floors, jumping between pop, house and hip-hop. The best part is the toilet DJ on the top floor, where you literally take a piss behind the DJ booth! Open until 5am on weekends!
23. Surprise Bar
A classic Dutch party café on Leidseplein with Dutch party music and a young local student crowd. One of the best places in the city to mingle with actual Amsterdammers!
24. Ganbei
Another lively feestcafé on Leidseplein, and funnily enough this one even has karaoke. Definitely a bar to check out on a busy night!
Most beautiful view of Amsterdam during sunset
One of the easiest ways to meet people is by joining an Amsterdam Pub Crawl. The Red Light District Pub Crawl takes you through several bars around De Wallen before finishing at a nightclub, while similar crawls operate around Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein. Amsterdam is also one of Europe’s great electronic-music destinations. Dance Valley takes place near the city every August, Loveland brings house and techno to Sloterpark, while Awakenings hosts major techno events. The biggest event is Amsterdam Dance Event, better known as ADE, a massive five-day electronic-music takeover every October featuring thousands of artists across venues throughout Amsterdam.
25. NJOY
A cozy speakeasy-style cocktail bar known for excellent negronis and a laid-back atmosphere. Just remember, you are required to ring the doorbell before you can get in!
26. Jimmy Woo
An Asian-inspired premium nightclub and one of Amsterdam's most famous, especially popular for hip-hop and R&B nights. Don't miss the ceiling packed with over 12,000 lights. Entry $11 to $17 USD on weekends!
27. Paradiso
One of Amsterdam's most iconic music venues, located inside a former church building dating back to 1880. Expect a massive dance floor, a huge international crowd and everything from live bands to club nights!
28. Melkweg
Meaning 'Milky Way', this legendary venue sits inside a former milk factory and is best known for live bands, concerts and club nights, attracting over half a million visitors every year!
29. Chicago Social Club
Located right next to Jimmy Woo, this spot is known for having a more local hipster vibe. A great alternative if the bigger Leidseplein clubs feel too touristy!
30. Cafe De Krul
A true local bar right next to the Surprise Bar, with a very local vibe and popular with students. Perfect for a cheap beer before hitting the bigger Leidseplein venues!
Amsterdam has plenty of excellent restaurants and late-night food between parties. Lolo combines a gorgeous Italian-inspired interior with cocktails, fresh pasta, and loaded salads, making it an excellent date spot. For something more traditional, visit Café Thijssen near the Jordaan or experience Dutch genever and cocktails at Bols. After partying, grab Flemish fries topped with mayonnaise, peanut sauce, and chopped onions, or visit FEBO and pull hot snacks directly from its famous vending-machine wall. From crispy croquettes and cheese soufflés to burgers and fries, Amsterdam has plenty of affordable food options for satisfying those late-night cravings.
Chicago Social Club
No Amsterdam nightlife guide would be complete without the city’s famous coffeeshop culture. The Bulldog became one of Amsterdam’s earliest and most famous coffeeshop names after opening in De Wallen in 1975, while Green House Centrum has attracted numerous celebrity visitors over the years. One of the most unusual experiences is the Amsterdam Smoke Boat, cruising through the historic canals while enjoying drinks and the atmosphere of the local coffeeshop scene. Alternatively, rent your own motorboat and explore Amsterdam’s roughly 165 canals, stretching for more than 100 kilometers and crossed by around 1,500 bridges. Cruising through Amsterdam after sunset is one of the best ways to experience the city.
Getting around Amsterdam is incredibly convenient, with trains, trams, metros, buses, ferries, bicycles, and walking connecting the main nightlife districts. Amsterdam Centraal is only around 17 minutes from Schiphol Airport by train and offers thousands of luggage lockers for short-term visitors. For accommodation in the middle of the action, The Winston sits behind Dam Square with Belushi’s downstairs and De Wallen just minutes away. For the ultimate night out, start around the Jordaan, explore De Wallen after dark, move toward Rembrandtplein around 11 p.m., and finish around Leidseplein after 1 a.m. From historic bars and Dutch party cafés to techno, live music, canal cruises, and massive nightclubs, Amsterdam easily ranks among Europe’s great nightlife destinations.
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