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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.
In 1993, a few zany American expats open their own English-language comedy club inspired by life in Amsterdam. Today, their energetic cast takes the stage inside the historic Rozentheater, performing sketch, improv, and stand-up comedy shows that remain popular with an international crowd, including locals and visitors alike.
An adventurous and diverse program of entertainment includes DJs, live bands, and even theater. When it comes to music, hip-hop, Afro beats, Latin, indie pop, and soul share the spotlight.
As the name suggests, this welcoming little café right behind Nieuwe Kerk offers over 50 Belgian beers, including eight on tap.
On the edge of the Red Light District sits this neighborhood institution, which dates back to the 1940s. For better or worse, cracks have started to appear in its jazzy foundation, as the programming has become dominated by karaoke and DJ sets. Open until 4 am on weekends it's a good late night bet.
One of the few authentic pubs around Leidseplein has a genuinely friendly staff, an extensive beer list, and acoustic music sessions, all of which provide an oasis of authenticity among the noisy tourist traps in the area.
Quite popular with students and locals, this well-known brown café near Dam Square has far too many beers to try in one go. In fact, there are more than 250 bottled beers and 14 on tap, mostly from the Netherlands and Belgium. One of six Gollem cafés in Amsterdam, there is also a bar and restaurant, Proeflokaal Gollem ( Overtoom 160--161), with beer tastings and, on some nights, pub quizzes. The latest addition, Biercafé Gollem aan het Water ( Entrepotdok 64), offers waterside views of the ARTIS zoo.
Easily identified by the Vincent van Gogh mural outside, this has been a family business since 1983, and now, a mother-daughter team is in charge. Plenty of plants, rocks, and crystals fill the relaxed interior, where visitors can pick up homemade edibles (including vegan and gluten-free space cake options), prerolled joints, or the weed and hash needed to roll their own.
Indulge your senses in cocktails inspired by the rich Dutch history of trade, distilling and innovation in cozy-chic surroundings on the ground floor of an inn along one of the city's oldest canals. The makers and shakers here have a passion for jenever, korenwijn (old-style traditional jenever), and other local spirits and service is prompt and professional.
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.
"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.
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