Amsterdam’s nightlife is concentrated in four squares and one street, all of them inside or on the edge of the canal belt and all within twenty minutes of each other on foot. Bars close at 01:00 on weeknights and 03:00 at weekends; clubs run to 04:00 or 05:00. After the last tram, night buses take over.
The five places it happens
| Where | What it is | Who goes |
|---|---|---|
| Leidseplein | The biggest concentration of clubs, theatres and late bars, at the south-west corner of the canal belt | Everyone, and most visibly everyone under thirty |
| Rembrandtplein | Large clubs and terraces around a square, ten minutes east of the Leidseplein | Clubbers and stag groups; loud and unapologetic |
| The Red Light District | Bars along two medieval canals, plus everything the district is known for | Mixed, and busiest between nine and midnight |
| The Jordaan | Brown cafes and small bars on quiet streets, no clubs | Locals, and visitors who wanted a conversation rather than a queue |
| Amsterdam Noord | Warehouse clubs and festival grounds at the NDSM wharf, across the IJ | Anyone willing to take a ferry at two in the morning |
Getting home
The last trams and metros run around midnight. After that the GVB night buses take over, running roughly every half hour from Centraal Station along the main routes until early morning. A normal day ticket is not valid on night buses — you tap in with a contactless card or buy a separate night fare. Walking is usually faster inside the canal belt anyway: the Leidseplein to Centraal Station is thirty minutes.
Nightlife by neighbourhood
| Neighbourhood | What you find there |
|---|---|
| The Red Light District | The oldest part of the city, built around two canals, five minutes from Centraal Station |
| The Nine Streets | Nine short streets crossing four canals: independent shops, cafes and 140 listed buildings |
| The Jordaan | The former workers’ quarter west of the Prinsengracht, with markets and hidden courtyards |
| Museumplein | The museum square: Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh, Stedelijk, Moco and the Concertgebouw |
| The Kalverstraat | The main shopping street, from Dam Square to the Munttoren |
Getting there and back
| Route | What it does |
|---|---|
| Tram line 2 | Centraal Station to the Museumplein across the canal belt in fifteen minutes |
| Metro line 52 | The blue line, under the old city from Noord to Zuid, with a free archaeological display at Rokin |
| Map of the canal district | How the four canals, the neighbourhoods and the tram routes fit together |
Worth booking
Clubs on the Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein charge separate entry and often sell out on Saturday. The nightlife ticket below bundles entry to several of them.
- Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket — entry to several clubs on the Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein on one ticket.
- Evening canal cruise — the best way to start an evening, and it ends near the Leidseplein.
- GVB day ticket — valid until the last tram, not on night buses.
The Leidseplein for clubs and live music, the Rembrandtplein for large clubs and terraces, De Wallen for bars along the old canals, and the Jordaan for brown cafes without a queue. All four are within twenty minutes of each other on foot.
Typically 01:00 from Sunday to Thursday and 03:00 on Friday and Saturday. Clubs run until 04:00 or 05:00. Individual venues hold their own licences, so times vary.
GVB night buses run roughly every half hour from Centraal Station along the main routes until early morning. A normal day ticket is not valid on them; pay with a contactless card or buy a night fare. Inside the canal belt, walking is often faster.
Bars are moderate; clubs charge separate entry, typically higher on Friday and Saturday. A nightlife ticket that bundles entry to several clubs works out cheaper if you plan more than one night out.
The Jordaan for brown cafes, and Amsterdam Noord for warehouse clubs at the NDSM wharf. The Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein are where visitors go, which locals will tell you without being asked.
More to do
- Evening canal cruises — the canals lit, before the bars fill up.
- The Red Light District — the district in full.
- Everything to do — the full index.
