Hello!
Early 30's couple will be spending New Years Even in Amsterdam in 4 weeks. Can anyone recommend a fun restaurant to have dinner before the count down? Is there a preferred fireworks/concert area that we can go after dinner to ring in the new year?

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-bombastic.cfm

some general takes from my visit to Amsterdam New Years Eve a few years back - bmbs start about noon from ALL over town.

For younger folk there is a concert I believe at Museum Plein but don't know where the official celebration is as when I was there it was all over the place, from every roof top, etc.

http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/visitin...e-celebrations

I would find a local area where they let off fireworks. It is like a war!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8e3sUmAYZY

I had to watch where I was walking - the pavement in front of me - several times youths threw loud firecrackers willy-nilly along some narrow lanes.

Keep your eyes peeled.

I have been privileged to be at two Dutch New Year Eve celebrations. One was watched from a balcony in Amsterdam, and the second in the central park/square of a small suburb. To a fireworks nut like me they were heaven! The one looking down on the street looked like peering into a canyon of fire as young guys raced up and down exploding stuff like maniacs. The second in the town square was equally bombastic. On the latter occasion our host provided and made sure each of us wore safety glasses, as he had lost an eye to fireworks when he was young. Not a bad idea, as the Dutch go simply insane on NYE!

There is an organised show by the Scheepsvaart museum, as well as the informal fireworks. This year they can only be set off from 6pm until 2 am.
In addition to Nye fireworks you may enjoy http://www.amsterdamlightfestival.com/ on other evenings.

Do book a restaurant for nye. Some are closed and the rest will probably be busy, and possibly reservation only.

Oh, and the party at the Museumplein kicks off at 21.30, and gets very crowded, so if that appeals get there as early as possible.

Inthe afternoon before the party at Museumplein I saw a line of huge beer tankers parked - looked like they expect a lot of suds to be drunk!

In addition to eye protection you might want to be sure to pack earplugs. Many types of fireworks, including cherry bombs and other types tossed around in the street, not just shot out of cannons, have the same potential to permanently damage hearing and cause lifelong ringing in the ears as standing on a gun target firing range would without ear protection.

To give you some idea:

30 decibels -- soft whisper
50 decibels -- rain
60 decibels -- normal conversation/computer typing
70 decibels -- expressway traffic
>> 85 decibels -- earplugs recommended for repeated exposure at this level <<<
90 decibels -- subway, lawnmower, shop tools
100 decibels -- chainsaw, snowmobile, drill
110 decibels -- power saw
115 decibels -- loud rock concert, sandblasting, car horn
130 decibels -- race car
150 decibels -- fireworks/jet engine takeoff
170 decibels -- shotgun

Elf and safety!

is there a website where one could find which restaurants are open on NYE? Iamsterdam has lots of restaurants but no word which are actually open on NYE

thanks for the note about safety glasses! Will add to list

www.iens.nl is a popular restaurant site - only in Dutch I think. Still you can tell by the ratings if it's a good restaurant.

This site shows what's open on Christmas and New Year's;
http://www.dinnersite.nl/kerst
It's in English too. Book asap. Have a look at the Supper Club.

how much of a clubber are you?

http://www.djguide.nl/maand.p?maand=Oud%20en%20Nieuw

club lite is always nice. take a taxi, because it's way out west, but they always have interesting "spiritual" new-agy parties.

speedfreax would be my choice, but that's because I know people in the line up

be aware though, that sales have already started.

really special would be Trans Orient Express in Ruigoord, which is an old village in the Amsterdam harbour area. It's a squat/freestate/hippy place and perhaps as closest to mythical free thinking amsterdam you can get.

http://ruigoord.nl/evenementen/tranc...new-years-eve/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZHf5dc0enM

thank you all. Booked restaurant Van Speyk for NYE. Not too far from the hotel and great reviews!

Yep, Van Speyk is a good one.

one last question..for the official fireworks at Oosterdock, would I need to buy tickets? Or is it like NYC, free for anyone who is willing to stand in a crowd for hours waiting?

I have not been to the fireworks at Oosterdock, but I would assume that the fireworks happen on the stroke of midnight, as they do in the rest of Holland. Stay in a warm restaurant and pop our shortly before 12:00.

With a bottle of bubbly and some plastic glasses and offer drinks to passers-by. You'll bond instantly.

And there's this: running well into January. http://vimeo.com/114140911