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Amsterdam Nightlife

Amsterdam is one of Europe's top party cities with all sorts of weird and wonderful activities on offer nightly. Start off with a romantic stroll or bar hop before partying until dawn in one of the numerous clubs. Otherwise you might dip into the sordid side of a city with few inhibitions. If you're up for dancing the night away, head for the Rembrantsplein-Leidseplein area. If it's cheap thrills you're after, wander round the Walletjes and indulge. The gay and lesbian scene thrives, with Reguliersdwarsstraat one of the more cutting-edge nightlife districts. Amsterdam tolerates the sale and use of soft drugs, which centres around smoking cafés euphemistically known as ‘coffee shops.’ These places usually have a cannabis menu, with varieties of varying strength on offer.

An ever-vibrant and varied cultural scene has plenty to offer theatre, music and dance buffs. The highly varied music scene ranges from street performers and carillons (bell towers) to midday and evening performances in the Concertgebouw, noted for its superb acoustics. To find out what’s happening and purchase tickets for cultural events, stop by the Amsterdams Uitburo, Leidseplein 26 (www.amsterdamsuitburo.nl, in Dutch). Half-price tickets for selected events are available starting at noon. While you're there, pick up a copy of Uitkrant, their free what's on guide. It's in Dutch but it's fairly easy to follow the listings. Otherwise, check the What's On page of www.iamsterdam.com.

Bars in Amsterdam

Cafe Hoppe

One of the most authentically Dutch bars in town, the Hoppe started life as a distillery way back in 1670. It has two sections, the more atmospheric one being on the corner with Heisteeg. On any given evening, both Amsterdammers and tourists crowd the narrow room with sandy woody floors and ancient barrels of Jenever behind the beautifully preserved bar.

Spui 18-20
Tel: (020) 420 4420.
Website: www.cafe-hoppe.nl

Address Spui 18-20, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Dampkring

Of the more than 200 'coffee shops' (code name for Holland's marijuana and hash vendors) currently operating in Amsterdam, this is perhaps the most famous one, since a scene from the 2004 film Ocean’s Twelve was shot here. With its trippy décor, extensive menu of cannabis varieties and friendly staff, it's popular with visitors and locals alike and can get quite crowded.

Tel: (06) 638 0705
Handboogstraat 29.
Website: www.dampkring.nl

Address Handboogstraat 29 , Amsterdam, Netherlands
In De Wildeman

Beer aficionados should make a beeline for In De Wildeman, a former distillery tasting house which serves 18 beers on draught and over 200 bottled beers. Most of the featured draught beers, served in 25cl glasses, are crafted by small Dutch and Belgian breweries, though German wheat beer and English ale are also poured.

Kolksteeg 3
Tel: (020) 638 2348.
Website: www.indewildeman.nl

Clubs in Amsterdam

Bitterzoet

A stone's throw from Centraal Station, Bitterzoet is a narrow hall adorned with mock Gothic windows and mirror balls. It's a relaxed club (no menacing bouncers or dress code police here) but extremely popular with party people and often filled to capacity. The place jumps most nights to hip hop and DJs, though it also hosts live rock, reggae, soul and folk.

Spuistraat 2
Tel: (020) 421 2318.
Website: www.bitterzoet.com

Address Spuistraat 2, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Telephone: (020) 421 2318
www.bitterzoet.com
Panama

Panama caters to an older crowd in the up-and-coming Zeeburg warehouse district. Try the original Panamartini (vodka, crema ciocolata and espresso).

Oostelijke Handelskade 4
Tel: (020) 311 8686.
www.panama.nl

Studio 80

Studio 80 is a dance music mini-factory with top DJs and long lines to get in. Located at the nightlife nexus of Rembrandtplein, it attracts a smart bunch of techno aficionados on the lookout for fresh beats. A port of call on the international DJ circuit, it also serves as a sort of laboratory for new sounds, inviting local collectives to present their artists at exciting dance events.

Rembrandtplein 17.
Website: www.studio-80.nl

Address Rembrandtplein 17, Amsterdam, Netherlands
www.studio-80.nl
Sugar Factory

Not just fans of electronica will appreciate this dance cave around the corner from Leidseplein. The ingeniously illuminated space stirs art, poetry, comedy and dance into the mix for a richly varied theatrical experience. A mostly Dutch, twentyish set crowds in for the famous and almost famous DJs who customarily kick the club. If you prefer your music live, check out Wicked Jazz Sounds evenings.

Lijnbaansgracht 238
Tel: (020) 627 0008
Website: www.sugarfactory.nl

Address Lijnbaansgracht 238, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Telephone: (020) 627 0008
www.sugarfactory.nl

Live Music in Amsterdam

ArenA Stadium

As well as being home to Amsterdam's AFC Ajax football club, the ArenA Stadium stages many of the bigger international rock and pop acts, with a capacity for over 52,000 fans.

ArenA Boulevard 1
Tel: (020) 311 1333.
Website: www.amsterdamarena.nl

Bimhuis

Perched at the top of the Muziekgebouw, a short distance from Centraal Station, the Bimhuis is the city's top jazz venue. An intimate space with views of silently passing trains, trams and bicycles through the windowed wall that forms the stage's backdrop, it encourages direct communication between audience and artist. Every jazz luminary has performed here, including the stars of the Dutch scene.

Piet Heinkade 3
Tel: (020) 788 2188.
Website: www.bimhuis.nl

Paradiso

A temple of rock and pop music, the Paradiso in fact started life as a church. It now functions as a concert hall, club and cultural centre rolled into one. The fiercely eclectic program covers the musical spectrum from world music to rap to alternative rock. After the encores, the DJ sets get started. In addition to a ticket, you must purchase a 'membership' pass (€3.50), valid for a month.

Weteringschans 6-8
Tel: (020) 626 4521.
Website: www.paradiso.nl

Address Weteringschans 6-8, Amsterdam, Netherlands

Classical Music in Amsterdam

Concertgebouw (Concert Hall)

The Concertgebouw is home not only to the world-famous Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra but also plays host to visiting companies and international soloists. Free concerts take place in either the Grote Zaal (Great Hall) or Kleine Zaal (Recital Hall) of the Concertgebouw, on Wednesdays 1230-1300.

Concertgebouwplein 10
Tel: 0900 671 8345.
Website: www.concertgebouw.nl

Dance in Amsterdam

Muziektheater (Opera House)

The Muziektheater is home to the Dutch National Ballet, considered one of the best and most versatile companies in Western Europe, and the Netherlands Opera. The world-famous theatre also plays host to the Netherlands Dance Theatre, the nation’s other world-class ballet company, as well as foreign companies. Situated on a curve of the Amstel, this cultural landmark remains, despite its size (seats 1,600), amazingly intimate.

Amstel 3
Tel: (020) 551 8117.
Website: www.muziektheater.nl

Theatre in Amsterdam

Koninklijk Theater Carré (Royal Theatre Carré)

Named after the Carré family, renowned circus performers who had it built for their performances in the late 19th century, this famous theatre stages stands on the east bank of the River Amstel. The eclectic program consists of international musicals, Dutch cabaret and folk artists and touring international artists the likes of Ry Cooder and Paolo Conte. Nearby, the Kleine Komedie (www.dekleinekomedie.nl) is a charming cabaret venue dating back to 1786.

Amstel 115-125
Tel: (020) 252 5255.
Website: www.theatercarre.nl

Stadsschouwburg (Municipal Theatre)

Located on the popular Leidseplein, the Stadsschouwburg is an impressive 19th-century building that often stages English-subtitled theatre productions, as well as dance performances. Numerous lively restaurants and bars in the neighbourhood are perfect for before or after performance refreshments.

Leidseplein 26
Tel: (020) 624 2311.
Website: www.stadsschouwburgamsterdam.nl

Film in Amsterdam

Eye Film Institute Netherlands

A must for movie buffs, the institute maintains an archive of 32,000 films and screens pristinely restored prints of cinematic classics at its various festivals. Classic children's films are screened at weekend matinees, and in summer there's an open-air cinema. Films are shown in the original language with subtitles. The institute is scheduled to move to larger space in north Amsterdam in 2012, with four cinemas and a permanent exhibition space.

Vondelpark 3
Tel: (020) 589 1400.
Website: www.programma.eyefilm.nl

Address Vondelpark 3, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Tuschinski

Amsterdam is also known for its arty cinemas. The art deco Tuschinski shows films from all over the world. Films are rarely dubbed into Dutch but are shown in the original language with subtitles.

Reguliersbreestraat 26-34
Tel: 0900 1458.
Website: www.pathe.nl/tuschinski

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