Amsterdam, by Night

From tree-lined canals and museums by day, to an explosion of electronic music and illicit offerings at night, Amsterdam certainly lives up to its name as a European party destination. In that spirit here are my recommendations for a night out on Amsterdam’s straats (streets) and pleins (squares).

Before you dive deep into Amsterdam’s nightlife grab a copy of the Amsterdam Weekly, an English-language newspaper. It is free, so keep your eyes open for copies in cafés or bookstores. In addition to being an interesting read, having concert schedules, and special events, it tells you what is happening at major nightspots literally every night of the week. New issues come out each Wednesday.

One last word of advice: Before you lose your way under the influence of Heineken or purple haze, know that all trams end up back at Centraal Station, and take note that they do not run after 1 a.m. Taxis can be expensive, but will get you home safely in a pinch. Biking with a buzz is the way of the locals, but not necessarily recommended for inexperienced urban cyclists. Enjoy the straats and try shot of Genever (a Dutch gin) somewhere along the way, if only to clear the sinuses.

Amsterdam by Night: Red Light District, Leidseplein, Centraal Station

The Red Light District is definitely more active in the dark and worth a gander, but offers little in the way of entertainment other than sports bars, bachelor parties, strip clubs, and those infamous ladies of the night. If this is your scene, then read no further, for you are in heaven. (Or, if you fancy, take a guided nighttime walking tour of the Red Light District). Leidseplein is the centerpoint for more mainstream nocturnal amusement, but there are plenty of other options throughout the city. If you like techno music, it is the world capital.

Club 11 is a trendy nightclub thumping house music into the early morning. It is on the eleventh floor of an industrial building, also temporarily housing the Stedelijk Museum. Take a freight elevator up to the top before stepping out into a posh club with world-class views and DJs. Cover charges can be hefty (about fifteen euros or so), and doormen are strict with attire and disproportionate male-female ratios, but once inside you will be glad you came. Get there soon as the building has been long rumored awaiting demolition.