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Beyond the smoke and red-lighted windows, Amsterdam is a city teeming with music, dance, theater, and art, which has given it the epithet "nightlife capital of the world." Think outside the box—even outside the Grachtengordel—and you'll be amazed at what this city that (almost) never sleeps has to offer.
Many people know that The Night Watch is the name of Rembrandt’s most famous painting, but not everyone remembers that, back in the early 2000s, it was also the nickname of a bunch of "Night Mayors." This group of cultural leaders saw their role as fighters against the frumpiness that had cast a shadow over Amsterdam’s night scene since the city fathers cleared away the "squats"—the deserted buildings that were the settings for city’s wildest nighttime events and raves. Now, 15 years later, Amsterdam has happily reclaimed its reputation as a true nightlife capital. The city is a must-stop on the international DJ circuit, and new pop-up clubs and dance venues, plus a plethora of homegrown festivals, keep all walks of life shaking until the wee hours of the morning. The city is rich with inspired folk who are willing to organize a video-arts festival in a cruise-ship terminal, a gentle Bach recital on a canal, an arts festival in an abandoned factory, a house party in a football stadium, or some heart-stopping spectacle in a park. So get ready to savor Amsterdam’s giant cultural wallop through its numerous venues—from former churches and industrial monuments to the acoustical supremacy of the legendary hall of the Concertgebouw.
A sublime example of the Dutch ability to turn landmark buildings into chic destinations, this hotel features a cavernous glass-and-steel brasserie with a loungy terrace and Taiko Bar, where you can enjoy cocktails and bites combining "Asian flavors, international luxury, and local roots.'' There are DJs on weekend nights.
Borrowing its name from the Yiddish word for "noisemaker," this is the podium for celebrated Dutch stand-up group Comedytrain. Many of its members have grown into national celebrities. The programming is often English-friendly, with regular appearances by international guests, especially during July's acclaimed ComedyTrain International Summer Festival.
This 1920s Amsterdam School edifice is a delightful place for a pre- or post-recital stop, with the Concertgebouw just down the road. The large sunny terrace has great views for architecture enthusiasts and urban anthropologists.
"Podium voor ongehoord geluid" (A stage for unheard sounds) is how this former squat describes itself. It's one of the few places in Amsterdam where you can hear live jazz every Tuesday, and on Thursday, anyone with an instrument can join in with the Oktopedians, a workshop orchestra playing jazz, blues, and world music. The restaurant serves a three-course vegetarian meal some nights.
Founded in 1946, this center of the Dutch Association for the Integration of Homosexuality is the oldest organization of its kind in the world. Check the website for parties and events.
Amsterdam's best lesbian bar, as it's been labeled, started out in the 1920s as a brown café in the Jordaan and has since been modernized; today a "mixed" policy prevails.
