Netherlands Guide
Amsterdam
Nightlife
1 Arena ‘s-Gravensandestraat 51, tram #7 from Centraal Station. 
020/850 2400 
www.hotelarena.nl Opening time: Fri & Sat 10pm–4amHip club set within in a restored chapel adjoining a hotel that used to be an orphanage and asylum. Open Fridays and Saturdays, with occasional salsa nights and special parties hosted on a Sunday. International DJs sometimes drop by – and that's when you can expect the entrance fee to jump from around €11 to €20.
2 Bimhuis Piet Heinkade 3, east of Centraal Station 020/788 2188 www.bimhuis.nl In 2004 the city's premier jazz and improvised music venue moved to its spanking new building next to the Muziekgebouw, featuring events from Dutch and international artists throughout the week, as well as jam sessions and workshops; there are free improv workshops on Tuesdays. There's also a modern bar and restaurant for concert-goers with fantastic views over the water.
3 Café Alto Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 115 020/626 3249 www.jazz-cafe-alto.nl Opening time: Daily from 9pmIt's worth hunting down this legendary little jazz bar just off Leidseplein for its quality modern jazz, performed every night from around 10pm until 3am (even later at the weekend). It's big on atmosphere, though slightly cramped, but entry is free.
4 Maloe Melo Lijnbaansgracht 163 020/420 4592 www.maloemelo.nl Dark, low-ceilinged bar, with a small back room featuring lively local blues acts every day of the week. Jam sessions Monday to Thursday.
5 Melkweg Lijnbaansgracht 234a 020/531 8181 www.melkweg.nl Probably Amsterdam's most famous entertainment venue, plus one of the city's prime multimedia arts centres, with a young, hip clientele. A former dairy (hence the name) just round the corner from Leidseplein, with two separate halls for live music, putting on a broad range of bands covering everything from reggae to rock, all of which lean towards the "alternative". Excellent DJ sessions go on late at the weekend, with Que Pasa providing a Latino flavour to Friday nights and anything from dancehall to indie pop thrown down on Saturdays. There's also a monthly film programme, a theatre, gallery and café-restaurant (Marnixstraat entrance; Wed– Sun noon–9pm).
6 Paradiso Weteringschans 6–8 020/626 4521 www.paradiso.nl A converted church near the Leidseplein, revered by many for its atmosphere and excellent programme, featuring local and international bands ranging from the newly signed to the more established. Popular club nights such as Friday's Paradisoul still draw in the crowds, and look out too for DJ sets featuring live performances on Saturdays. It has been known to host classical concerts, as well as debates and multimedia events (often in conjunction with the nearby Balie centre.
7 Winston Warmoesstraat 123 020/623 1380 www.winston.nl Adventurous small venue, next to a hotel, featuring everything from live Ghanean percussion and symphonic rock to R&B, punk/noise and club nights. Poetry night once a month on Monday.
8 Beurs van Berlage Damrak 213 020/521 7575 or 530 4141 www.beursvanberlage.nl The splendid interior of the former stock exchange has been put to use as a venue for theatre and music, among other things, and there are regular concerts in its various impressive halls.
9 Carré Theatre Amstel 115–25 0900/252 5255 www.theatercarre.nl A splendid hundred-year-old structure (originally built for a circus) which represents the ultimate venue for Dutch folk artists, and hosts all kinds of top international acts, anything from Swedish gospel to Carmen, with reputable touring orchestras and opera companies squeezed in between.
10 Concertgebouw Concertgebouwplein 2–6 020/671 8345 www.concertgebouw.nl After a recent facelift, the Concertgebouw is now looking – and sounding – better than ever. There are two halls here and both boast a star-studded international programme. Prices are very reasonable, rarely over €35, and around €15 for Sunday-morning events. Free lunchtime concerts are held from September to May every Wednesday at 12.30pm.
11 Muziekgebouw Pietheinkade 1 020/788 2000 www.muziekgebouw.nl This massive new development of two new medium-sized concert halls has given new impetus to the redevelopment going on alongside the IJ, as its top-quality programmes of opera and orchestral music draw a highbrow crowd to this part of town. Worth a visit for the building alone. The same development also includes the relocated Bimhuis.
12 Muziektheater Amstel 3 020/625 5455 www.muziektheater.nl Part of the €150 million complex that includes the city hall. The theatre's resident companies, Netherlands Opera and National Ballet, offer the fullest, and most reasonably priced, programme of opera and dance in Amsterdam. Tickets go very quickly.
13 Oude Kerk Oudekerksplein 23 020/625 8284 www.oudekerk.nl Hosts organ and carillon recitals, as well as occasional choral events. In summer, in conjunction with the Amstelkring Museum, the church organizes a series of "walking" concert evenings, consisting of three separate concerts at different venues, with time for coffee and a stroll between each.
14 Stadsschouwburg Leidseplein 26 020/624 2311 www.stadsschouwburgamsterdam.nl These days somewhat overshadowed by the Muziektheater, but still staging significant opera and dance (it's the home theatre of the Hague's innovative company, the Dutch Dance Theatre), as well as visiting English-language theatre companies.
15 Waalse Kerk Oudezijds Achterburgwal 159 020/623 2074 Tickets €10–15. Weekend afternoon and evening concerts of early and chamber music.
16 Boom Chicago Leidseplein 12 020/423 0101 www.boomchicago.nl Something of a phenomenon in Amsterdam, this rapid-fire improv comedy troupe hailing from the US performs at the Leidseplein Theater nightly to crowds of tourists and locals alike. With inexpensive food, cocktails and beer served in pitchers, the comedy need not be funny – but it is.
17 Cinecenter Lijnbaansgracht 236 020/623 6615 www.cinecenter.nl Opposite the Melkweg, this shows independent and quality commercial films, the majority originating from non-English-speaking countries. Shown with an interval.
18 Filmmuseum Vondelpark 3 020/589 1400 www.filmmuseum.nl The Filmmuseum holds literally tens of thousands of prints, and although Dutch films show regularly, there are also regular screenings of all kinds of movies from all corners of the world. Silent movies often have live piano accompaniment, and on summer weekend evenings there are free open-air screenings on the terrace. Tickets €7–8.
19 Kriterion Roeterstraat 170 020/623 1708 www.kriterion.nl Stylish duplex cinema close to Weesperplein metro that shows arthouse and quality commercial films, with late-night cult favourites. Friendly bar attached. Trams #6, #7 or #10.
20 The Movies Haarlemmerdijk 161 020/624 5790 www.themovies.nl A beautiful Art Deco cinema, and a charming setting for independent films. Worth visiting for the bar and restaurant alone. "Filmdiinner" nights Mon– Thurs include a three-course meal plus film for €29. Late shows at the weekend.
21 Nachttheater Sugar Factory Lijnbaansgracht 238 020/627 0008 www.sugarfactory.nl Opening time: Closed TuesBusy Leidseplein's latest addition is the recently opened "theatrical nightclub", which hosts a stimulating programme of cabaret, live music, poetry and theatre, plus a late-night club that kicks off after the show. Pulls in a young and artistic crowd, and features up to two events per evening.
22 
Bitterzoet Spuistraat 2 020/521 3001 www.bitterzoet.com Opening time: Daily 8pm–3am, 4am at weekendsBar-cum-club with DJs every night and sometimes live music too – reggae, hip-hop, dance. No entrance fee if you arrive before 11pm.
23 Dansen bij Jansen Handboogstraat 11–13 020/620 1779 www.dansenbijjansen.nl Opening time: Daily 10pm–4am, Sat & Sun until 5amClub with upstairs bar that was founded by – and for – students. It's very popular, playing a mixture of pop, chart and R&B. though officially you need student ID to get in. €2 Mon– Wed & Sun, €4 Thurs– Sat.
24 Escape Rembrandtplein 11 020/622 1111 www.escape.nl Opening time: Thurs– Sun 11pm–4/5amThis vast club has space enough to house 2000 people, but its glory days – when it was home to Amsterdam's cutting edge Chemistry nights – are long gone and it now focuses on weekly club nights that pull in crowds of mainstream punters.
25 Exit Reguliersdwarsstraat 42 020/625 8788 Opening time: Thurs 11pm–4am, Fri & Sat midnight–5amA classic gay club ideally situated for the fall-out from the surrounding nightlife, with four bars playing different music from R&B to house. Attracts an upbeat, cruisey crowd. Predominantly male, though women are admitted.
26 Jimmy Woo Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 18 0202/626 3150 Opening time: Wed– Sat 11am–3/4am, Sun 8pm–1amIntimate and stylish club spread over two floors. Upstairs, the black lacquered walls, Japanese lamps and cosy booths with leather couches ooze sexy chic, while downstairs a packed dance floor throbs under hundreds of oscillating lightbulbs studded into the ceiling. Popular with young, well-dressed locals so look smart if you want to join in.
27 Ministry Reguliersdwarsstraat 12 020/623 3981 www.ministry.nl A flourishing club near Rembrandtplein that tries to catch a wide brand of party people and featuring quality DJs playing speed garage, house and R&B. Monday night jam session with the local jazz talent. Open late.
28 Odeon Singel 460 020/521 8555 www.odeontheater.nl Opening time: Club Thurs– Sat 11pm–4/5am, bar Wed– Sun 6pm till late; restaurant Thurs– Sat from 6.30pmOriginally a brewery, this beautifully restored old canal house has since been a theatre, cinema and concert hall until it was gutted in a fire in 1990. Rescued, it's now a stylish nightclub and restaurant, with a splendidly decorated bar overlooking the canal.
29 Panama Oostelijke Handelskade 4 020/311 8686 www.panama.nl Host to a wide variety of funky gigs and themed club nights, also with a theatre and restaurant. Well out from the centre in the Oosterdok.
30 Vrankrijk Spuistraat 216 www.squat.net/vrankrijk . Regular club nights at this squat club and café – as you might expect the emphasis is on punk, speed garage, and the like.