Steering your own electric boat, genever at Wynand Fockink, techno on Rembrandtplein and the ferry to Noord: here's how to plan your stag do or hen party in Amsterdam, with the best things to do, prices and the city's rules.
Good to know
A beer (0.5 l) costs €6.80 on average in Amsterdam bars, an Amstel fluitje at Café Hoppe €3.50, cocktails at Dutch Courage €14.50 to €18.50. Club entry is mostly €10–25, and from Thursday to Sunday you'll hardly get in for free. Tipping isn't a must, 5 to 10% is usual; tap water is drinkable everywhere.
All costs and money-saving tips ↓Buses and the metro run until 00:30, then night buses leave from Centraal Station, most of them via Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein. The night bus ticket costs €5.70 for 1.5 hours, and the day ticket for €10.00 is valid for 24 hours, nights included. The ferry to Noord is free, and the one to Buiksloterweg runs all night. Taxis with blue number plates wait at the Dam, Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein; the base fare is around €4.15.
GVB night bus ticket ↗In the De Wallen red-light district, bars close at 02:00 at weekends, and new guests only get in until 01:00. Elsewhere the night runs longer: Café Lux until 04:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, Shelter in Noord until at least 06:00, John Doe on Rembrandtplein until as late as 08:00. So start in the Old Town and move on to Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein or Noord.
Amsterdam doesn't want party tourism: the city even runs a “Stay Away” campaign aimed at young men who come to party, drink and smoke weed. Smoking cannabis on the street is banned in the Old Town (up to €100), public urination and noise cost €150 each, and beer bikes are banned in the centre. Alcohol is off limits in most public places, and photos of the windows in the red-light district are not welcome.
A leisure boat may carry no more than 12 people plus the skipper; larger groups need a licensed passenger vessel. Music from speakers is banned on open boats and costs €140; whoever steers may have no more than 0.5 per mille of alcohol in their blood. A rental boat from Mokumboot holds up to 8 people, one from Boaty up to 6, and you don't need a licence for either.
The ICE runs direct to Amsterdam Centraal: from Düsseldorf in 2 h 14 min, from Cologne in 2 h 37 min, from Frankfurt in 3 h 53 min, from Berlin normally in 5 h 51 min. From Schiphol, 8 trains an hour take 15 to 17 minutes to the centre, around €5. Long-distance coaches stop at Sloterdijk and Bijlmer ArenA, both connected to trains, the metro and trams.
For a hotel for your stag or hen do in Amsterdam, De Pijp, Oud-West, Oost and Noord are cheaper than the canal ring. A hostel bed costs €40–65, a budget hotel €100–180 a night, plus 12.5% tourist tax. Watch out: some places explicitly refuse stag and hen parties in their booking terms, so read them before you book.
July brings around 22 °C, October is the wettest month with 90 mm, April the driest with 41 mm; around 133 rainy days a year. Best time to go: late April to early May for the tulips, and July/August. Plan B if it rains: escape rooms at Sherlocked, laser tag and bowling at Aloha, karaoke at Duke of Tokyo or the Heineken Experience.
Plan & map
Bars, clubs, restaurants and activities on one map: filter by type, add your favourites with “+ Add to plan” and share the plan with your group via a link, no account needed. Rather have a ready-made schedule? The itinerary generator builds one for you.
Amsterdam activities by type: click an idea and the list and map show only what matches.
Steer your own electric boat from Mokumboot or Boaty without a licence, the party boat cruise with a drinks option, a canal cruise in German, the beer boat to Brouwerij 't IJ or a pedal boat from the Rijksmuseum.
The Heineken Experience with its rooftop, a group tasting beneath the windmill at Brouwerij 't IJ, pouring your own at the Muurtap at Troost, a beer flight at De Prael, a tasting at Oedipus in Noord and genever sipped bent over the brim-full glass at Wynand Fockink.
Mix your own at a Bols Cocktail Experience workshop or at Dutch Courage, '20s-style cocktails at Bar Oldenhof, on the 11th floor at LuminAir, or at minus 10 °C in the Icebar on the Amstel.
For the stag do, but not only: escape rooms in the Beurs van Berlage with up to 19 players, laser tag and bowling at Aloha near Centraal, private karaoke booths at Duke of Tokyo, glow mini golf, the racing simulator in A'DAM Toren or the Amsterdam Dungeon.
The swing over the edge of the roof at A'DAM Lookout, 100 metres up, the Skybar and Madam by Night on the 20th floor, Club Shelter below, the NDSM wharf with its street art, plus the TechnoDampfer party boat on the water. The ferry from Centraal is free.
Stand-up in English at Boom Chicago, a dinner show with a club afterwards at Chin Chin, dinner on beds at Supperclub, Dutch singalong songs at De Twee Zwaantjes, the food tour with 10 tastings or 19 stalls at Foodhallen.
Tasting room of a genever and liqueur distillery at Pijlsteeg 31, just behind the Dam; the brand has existed since 1679. The custom before the first sip: you bend over the brim-full glass. As well as genever and liqueurs there's beer on tap. The room is small, so make it a quick stop.
Cocktail bar at Zeedijk 12 built around genever and old Dutch liqueurs, with 150 different genevers. According to the menu, cocktails cost €14.50 to €18.50. For groups there are cocktail workshops for 1 to 20 people lasting 1.5 hours with three cocktails each; Fridays and Saturdays until 03:00.
Brewery with a proeflokaal at Oudezijds Armsteeg 26 in the oldest part of the city, with its own beers on tap. A beer flight of 4 tasting glasses with an explanation costs €18.00, the kopstoot of Prael Pils and young genever €9.50. There are special packages for groups, booked by email.
One of the oldest cafés in the city, on Spui since 1670; number 18 is a listed building, interior included. The standing Hoppe at the front, the seated Hoppe next door, and old genever barrels behind the bar. Amstel fluitje €3.50 according to the menu, Jonge Hoppe from €4.00; packed on Friday afternoons.
Bar at Marnixstraat 403, a few steps from Leidseplein, open over several levels; at weekends DJs play and people dance. Beer on tap, cocktails and bitterballen. Groups of 8 or more book via WhatsApp; Fridays and Saturdays from 17:00 to 04:00, for the late part of the night.
Traditional café on the corner of Leidseplein, on this spot since the late 1950s and now in the new building of The Diamond hotel. A grand café downstairs, a bistro with a view of the square upstairs, and a sunny terrace out front; beer on tap, cocktails, often a DJ or football. Fridays and Saturdays until 02:00.
Live music bar at Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 49 with a daily programme from rock and pop to funk and jam sessions, plus pool and live sport. Happy hour daily from 12:00 to 21:00; open until 03:00 Sunday to Thursday and until 04:00 on Fridays and Saturdays. Music without a club door.
Rooftop bar with a terrace on the 11th floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton at Oosterdoksstraat 4, a few minutes from Centraal Station, formerly SkyLounge. Signature cocktails, resident DJs and VIP tables you can book. Over-18s only from 22:00, dress code smart casual; Fridays and Saturdays 12:00 to 03:00.
Bruin café at Prinsengracht 114, open since 1921 and known for singing along to Dutch popular songs. The owner explicitly helps with stag and hen parties and large groups, with live music, an accordion player or a smartlappen workshop (Dutch tearjerker songs) on request. Terrace on the canal, Fri and Sat until 03:00.
Bruin café at Egelantiersgracht 12 with a terrace right on the water; it goes back to Pieter Hoppe's liqueur distillery around 1780. Inside there's wood panelling, a mezzanine and barrels above the bar, plus genever, beer and bitterballen. In good weather the terrace fills up fast.
Roaring Twenties-style cocktail bar at Elandsgracht 84 on the southern edge of the Jordaan, with a film-themed menu that changes with the seasons and piano nights. You can only book for more than 8 people; smaller groups just drop in. Available for exclusive hire; Fridays and Saturdays 18:00 to 02:00.
Brewpub with its own brewery at Cornelis Troostplein 21 in De Pijp; Troost also distils gin and genever from leftover beer. For groups there's the Muurtap, a wall tap where you pour fresh Pilsner straight from the tank yourselves. Kitchen until 22:30, open until 03:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bruin café-restaurant on the corner of Stadhouderskade and Ferdinand Bolstraat, right opposite the old Heineken brewery. You don't need to book; groups message ahead via WhatsApp for a table. Daily from 09:00, Fridays and Saturdays until 03:00: breakfast, lunch, dinner and borrel drinks.
Bar-bistro at Gerard Douplein 1 in the middle of De Pijp, with a large terrace used in summer and winter. Lunch, a borrel menu and dinner; Fridays and Saturdays 10:30 to 03:00. For more than 12 people, book via the group form; smaller groups book online.
Sustainable café on the De Ceuvel site in Noord, a creative hub built largely from salvaged material, with 17 houseboats on the bank. Groups of 8 or more book via a dedicated form; capacity is limited in summer. Group lunch from €17.00 per person.
Sky bar and panoramic restaurant on the 20th floor of A'DAM Toren, daily from 12:00. On Fridays and Saturdays it becomes Madam by Night, with DJs from 21:00 to 03:00, last entry 01:30. You need a ticket or a dinner booking for it; over-18s only, card payment only.
Brewery with a proeflokaal in the former bathhouse beneath the windmill at Funenkade 7, with a large terrace and long tables in summer. For groups of 10 to 40 there's a tasting with 4 beers on tap and snacks, 1.5 hours for €35 per person; open daily until 22:00.
Brewery with a taproom, stage and sunny terrace at Schaafstraat 21 in Noord, brewed fresh on site, with food from Sassy's. Tours & Tastings take you from the tank to the tap with three Oedipus beers; tables can be booked and rooms hired. Fridays until 00:30, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Cultural centre in a former dairy at Lijnbaansgracht 234a, with gigs, club nights, film and exhibitions in several halls. Club nights mostly run until 04:00 or 05:00, and the minimum age for each night is listed in the programme, usually 18. It's around 1 minute from the Leidseplein tram stop.
Concert and club venue at Weteringschans 6, right by Leidseplein, with gigs, club nights and a cultural programme. Many nights require a monthly membership for €4, valid for 30 days; buying it online in advance is quicker. Some club nights don't start until midnight.
Techno club at Rembrandtplein 31: according to the operator, it plays only electronic dance music with a focus on techno. Open until as late as 08:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, with the door closing around 05:00. When it's nearly full, only regulars and ticket holders get in, so buy tickets in advance; over-18s only.
Club in a four-storey former coach house at Reguliersdwarsstraat 42, with three floors, a VOID sound system and room for around 850 people. The club explicitly sees itself as open to everyone, gay and straight. The floors can be hired individually for parties.
Restaurant, cocktail bar, karaoke and nightclub under one roof at Rozengracht 133. On Fridays and Saturdays there's a dinner show in Le Souterrain from 19:00, after which the room turns into a club. VIP tables with fast entry for 4 to 16 people; ID required.
Nightclub at Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 18, with a lounge upstairs and the club downstairs. Open Thursdays from 23:00 to 03:00, Fridays and Saturdays until 04:00. The safe bet for a group is a VIP table: €200 deposit per booking, VIP entry included; physical ID required.
Nightclub in the historic building at Singel 460, Thursday to Saturday from 23:00 to 04:00 or 05:00 with house, disco and Latin; the brand now goes by SUPPER. Before that, the restaurant serves a menu of 4, 5 or 6 courses, eaten on beds. Over-21s only, dress code casual chic.
Bar and club right on Leidseplein 12: the bar opens Tuesday to Sunday from 20:00, the club on Thursdays from 23:00 to 04:00 and Fridays and Saturdays until 05:00. Minimum age 21, lockers for a €2 coin. For moving from a beer on the square into the club night without changing venue.
Club in the basement of A'DAM Toren in Noord, electronic music from house and trance to Italo disco and techno. Club nights from 23:00 until at least 06:00, entry only until 04:00, over-18s only, card payment only. Shirts, suits and football shirts can be turned away at the door.
Club and restaurant in a former car workshop at Gedempt Hamerkanaal 40 in Noord, with a varied programme. The club runs Fridays and Saturdays from 23:30 to 07:00, the restaurant Wednesday to Saturday from 17:00 to 00:00. Club and restaurant can also be hired for private parties.
Interactive exhibition in the oldest Heineken brewery at Stadhouderskade 78. The tour with rooftop costs €29.95 and takes around 2 hours, 2 drinks included; the VIP Tour with a look behind the scenes and 5 beers costs €65.00. Adult rate from 18, and De Pijp is right behind it.
Tour of the Bols Cocktail Experience at Paulus Potterstraat 14 on Museumplein, around 60 minutes for €19.50 with a cocktail in the Mirror Bar. In the cocktail workshop, from €34.50 per person, you mix 2 or 3 drinks yourselves; private group workshops from €45.00. Over-18s only.
Viewing platform 100 metres up on A'DAM Toren with a panoramic view over the IJ and the Old Town, tickets from €16.50. The dare is the Over the Edge swing above the edge of the roof. Daily from 10:00 to 22:00, last entry 21:00; the free ferry from Centraal runs every 5 minutes.
Bar made entirely of ice at Amstel 194; at −10 °C even the glasses are ice. The ticket includes 3 drinks: one in the warm bar and 2 shots or beers inside, where you stay for up to 20 minutes. Over-18s only; open from 15:00 on Fridays, until 23:00 on Saturdays.
English-language improv theatre and comedy club at Rozengracht 117; you sit at tables, with drinks before and during the show. On Fridays and Saturdays at 22:15 there's the stand-up night The Comedy Embassy, and almost every week an improv taster class for €30.
Karaoke and cocktail bar styled like Japanese back alleys at Reguliersdwarsstraat 37, with private booths in various sizes, including for larger groups. You can cancel with a refund up to 72 hours before, minus a €5 fee; there's a second branch in De Pijp.
Escape rooms in the historic Beurs van Berlage, entrance at Damrak 369. The Architect for 2 to 6 players takes 60 minutes and costs from €29 per person, The Vault around 80 minutes from €35. Larger groups play against each other with up to 19 players in rooms that start in parallel.
Indoor leisure centre at De Ruijterkade 151, around 5 minutes' walk from Centraal Station: bowling, laser tag, glow mini golf, karaoke and VR. Laser tag costs €11.00 to €12.50 per game, the VIP room for up to 18 people €300 including food and drink. There's a dedicated stag and hen package.
Horror attraction at Rokin 78 with 8 interactive live shows and 9 actors telling the city's dark history. Online entry costs from €19 instead of €25 at the ticket desk if you book at least a day ahead. Around 10 minutes' walk from Centraal Station, or take the tram to Spui or Rokin.
Self-drive electric boat, no boating licence needed, with a briefing and a water map; departure in the centre at Nassaukade 351 or from five other locations. A boat for up to 8 people costs €97.50 for 2 hours, plus €2.70 tourist tax per person; you can bring your own food and drink.
Self-drive electric boat, no licence needed, departing from the floating jetty on Jozef Israëlskade in front of the Hotel Okura in De Pijp. A boat for up to 6 people costs €79 for 2 hours in the afternoon, plus €2.70 tourist tax per person; the hirer must be at least 18.
Pedal boat for up to 4 people, for an hour on a route of your choice through the canals; departures all year from the Rijksmuseum, Stadhouderskade 520. Online a boat costs from €23.50, with a puzzle tour included. You can bring your own snacks and drinks on board; for 3 boats or more you book as a group.
Food hall in the De Hallen building in Amsterdam-West with 19 independent stalls, from tapas and Indonesian street food to burgers, plus bars with beer on tap. Open daily from 12:00 to 23:00, no bookings: walk in, find seats, and everyone gets what they like.
Restaurant serving traditional Dutch food at Rozengracht 251, known for a rice dish that combines many typical specialities. Only 38 seats, so it books up fast; reservations only via the website, not by phone. From 17:00, kitchen until 22:00.
According to the owners, the oldest pancake house in the city, in a 17th-century warehouse at Prinsengracht 191. Dinner from €14.50, breakfast and brunch from €8.50. Groups of 6 or more book online, ideally 3 days ahead; open until 21:00 on Fridays and Saturdays.
Indonesian restaurant at Singel 498 near Muntplein and the flower market, with rijsttafels to share, including vegetarian or vegan ones. The Kuning rijsttafel costs €31.50 per person and is for the whole table only, the satay platter €18.50. There's a separate booking form for groups.
Grill restaurant at Kerkstraat 41: spare ribs, lamb shoulder, baked potato with garlic butter. A regular portion of spare ribs costs €24.70. No bookings; you wait in the sister bar opposite at Kerkstraat 54. Fri to Sun from 14:00, otherwise from 16:00, until 23:00.
Steak restaurant in the listed Zuid-Hollandsch Koffiehuis at Stationsplein 10, right opposite the central station, with a terrace on the water. It's known for its fried steak in Loetje gravy with white bread, plus fries and salad. Daily from 10:00 to 22:30; there's a separate events offer for groups.
Burger restaurant at Elandsgracht 130 on the edge of the Jordaan, where according to the owners everything is fresh and homemade. A cheeseburger costs €13.70, the Mokum Cheese Burger €15.40, the mini trio with 3 mini burgers €18. Book tables online; a quick, cheap base before the night.
Historic café-restaurant at Rembrandtplein 24 A; between the world wars the Schiller bar was a meeting place for artists and performers. According to the menu, mains cost €21 to €28, bitterballen €9. Book via the website, dinner until 21:00; after that the clubs on the square are waiting.
Canal cruise through the canal ring, according to the listing with the option of unlimited drinks and snacks on board, also available as a private trip. The relaxed start on your first afternoon before the group heads to the pubs. From approx. €23 per person, around 1 to 1.5 hours; the pier is in your booking.
Canal cruise with German-speaking commentary, according to the listing with the option of unlimited drinks during the trip. Good if the group wants a bit of history about the canal houses too. From approx. €25 per person, around 1 hour; departure point and drinks package are in your booking.
Party boat cruise on the canals with music on board, according to the listing with the option of unlimited drinks, bookable in German and also as a private trip for your own group. The classic for the evening before the club. From approx. €22 per person, around 1 hour; the pier is in your booking.
Self-drive electric boat for your own group, according to the listing with five departure points in the city and room for up to 8 people. You steer and choose the route yourselves. From approx. €132 per boat for 2 hours; split 8 ways, that's around €17 per person. The briefing is in your booking.
Boat trip with a beer tasting on board and a visit to Brouwerij 't IJ by the De Gooyer windmill, around 105 minutes according to the listing. Beer, boat and brewery in one: good for groups who'd rather taste than party. From approx. €40 per person; the meeting point and number of beers are in your booking.
Entry to the Heineken Experience in the old brewery on Stadhouderskade, according to the listing with an optional visit to the rooftop terrace and an audio guide on request. The tour ends with a beer, and De Pijp is right round the corner afterwards. From approx. €25 per person; time slot and inclusions are in your booking.
Tour of the Bols Cocktail Experience followed by a cocktail workshop, according to the listing also in German, audio guide optional. You mix your own drinks and try genever, the forerunner of gin. From approx. €35 per person, around 1.5 to 2 hours; venue and schedule are in your booking.
Entry to the Icebar, according to the listing with 3 drinks: the bar is made of ice, it's freezing inside, and thermal clothing is provided. A short, fun stop for the group, close to Rembrandtplein. From approx. €29 per person, around 45 minutes; the time slot is in your booking.
Mini golf in the dark on 12 holes under blacklight, around 45 minutes according to the listing. Good as a game before dinner or as plan B when it rains and the group wants to compete. From approx. €11 per person; venue and time slot are in your booking.
Simulator racing in A'DAM Toren in Noord, according to the listing without a VR headset and without queuing, around 30 minutes. A quick duel for everyone, then carry on up the tower to the Lookout. From approx. €15 per person; the time slot is in your booking, ferry from Centraal.
Entry to the viewing platform of A'DAM Toren in Noord, according to the listing with 1 drink and access by lift. Views over the IJ and the Old Town, and Club Shelter is in the same tower. From approx. €21 per person; time slot and extra options are in your booking, ferry from Centraal.
Techno party on a boat with DJ Anna Reusch, around 4 hours on the water according to the listing. Only for groups who want electronic music; the date is in your booking, so check beforehand whether it falls on your weekend. From approx. €55 per person; pier and schedule are in your booking.
Guided walk with 10 tastings of typical Dutch specialities, around 3.5 hours according to the listing. A good base at Saturday lunchtime before the evening begins, and for anyone who wants to get to know the city through its food. From approx. €79 per person; meeting point and stops are in your booking.
Nightlife square surrounded by bars and clubs, including Chicago Social Club, plus the Internationaal Theater Amsterdam. Terraces by day, and the Vondelpark is close by. Tram 24 comes from Centraal Station via Leidsestraat, and here you change to lines 1, 7 or 19.
Square surrounded by bars, clubs and theatres; round the corner are the Pathé Tuschinski cinema on Reguliersbreestraat and the Kleine Komedie on the Amstel, the city's oldest theatre, from 1786. A few steps away: the Icebar at Amstel 194 and Mulligans Irish Music Bar with live music.
The city's central square with the Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk and the De Bijenkorf department store, with Madame Tussauds right next door. From Centraal Station you walk here along Damrak, and Rokin, Kalverstraat and Nieuwendijk lead off it. Just behind the Dam is Pijlsteeg with Wynand Fockink.
Square with the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk, the Moco Museum and the Concertgebouw, next to the P.C. Hooftstraat shopping street. Tram 24 runs here from Centraal Station via Leidseplein. The Bols Cocktail Experience and the Heineken Experience are within walking distance.
Former shipyard in Noord, now a cultural site with beach bars, restaurants, street art and the STRAAT Museum; the flea market in the IJ-Hallen is said to be the biggest in Europe. The free ferry runs straight there from the back of Centraal Station, around 15 minutes; trams don't go to NDSM.
Market square in the oldest part of the city with the Waag from 1488, surrounded by cafés, bars and restaurants; next door Zeedijk begins, the heart of Chinatown. There's an organic farmers' market on Saturdays and a flea market on Sundays in summer. In the evening there are karaoke bars like Casablanca and The End.
Guide prices excluding travel, food & accommodation. Check the provider for today's prices.
🗺️ Open route in Google MapsNeighbourhoods
Amsterdam parties on two squares, Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein, drinks the historic way in the Old Town and the Jordaan, pours its own in De Pijp and takes the ferry to Noord for views and clubs.
For gigs, clubs and beer on the square
On Leidseplein the big stages are almost next door to each other: Paradiso on Weteringschans, Melkweg in the old dairy on Lijnbaansgracht, plus Heineken Hoek on the corner of the square and Café Lux on Marnixstraat, where people dance until 04:00 at weekends.
For techno, karaoke and long nights
Around Rembrandtplein the party goes on longest: techno at John Doe until 08:00 in the morning, three floors at Club NYX in an old coach house on Reguliersdwarsstraat, private booths at Duke of Tokyo and, on the Amstel, the Icebar, where even the glasses are made of ice.
For genever, a brewery and brown cafés
In the Old Town you drink the historic way: genever sipped bent over the brim-full glass at Wynand Fockink behind the Dam, 150 varieties at Dutch Courage on Zeedijk, beer from its own brewery at De Prael and Café Hoppe on Spui, there since 1670. Bars here close at 02:00 at weekends.
For singalongs, terraces and a dinner show
In the Jordaan the party is on the canal: Dutch singalong songs at De Twee Zwaantjes on Prinsengracht, the waterside terrace outside 't Smalle on Egelantiersgracht, '20s-style cocktails at Bar Oldenhof and the dinner show with a club at Chin Chin Club.
For beer, pouring your own and terraces
In De Pijp a lot of it is about beer: the Heineken Experience in the old brewery on Stadhouderskade, Café Berkhout opposite, the Muurtap for pouring your own at Brouwerij Troost on Cornelis Troostplein and the big terrace at Het Paardje on Gerard Douplein.
For views, clubs and the ferry
The free ferry takes you to Noord in a few minutes: at the top of A'DAM Toren the Lookout swing and Madam on the 20th floor, at the bottom of the tower Club Shelter until at least 06:00, and a little further on Café de Ceuvel among 17 houseboats on a creative wharf.
Sample itinerary
This is what a weekend that works in Amsterdam looks like, whether it's a stag do, a hen party in Amsterdam or a quieter group. You'll find every venue in the planner above, where you can swap out individual stops.
Spare ribs from the grill, no bookings.
Beer on the terrace on Leidseplein, often a DJ.
Dancing over several levels, Fridays until 04:00.
Club night in the old dairy.
Drive your own electric boat, up to 8 people per boat.
Escape room in the Beurs van Berlage.
Beer flight with 4 tasting glasses for €18.00.
A kopstootje on Zeedijk, 150 genevers.
Techno until as late as 08:00, buy tickets in advance.
Workshop: mix 2 or 3 cocktails yourself.
Dutch food, only 38 seats, book online.
'20s-style cocktails, piano nights.
House, disco and Latin on the Singel, over-21s only.
Swing over the edge of the roof, 100 metres up.
Through the canals with drinks, as per your booking.
Dutch singalong songs, with an accordion on request.
Dinner show, then the room turns into a club.
Tasting beneath the windmill, 4 beers on tap.
Rijsttafel to share on the Singel.
Genever and a fluitje on Spui, since 1670.
Meet by the Royal Palace, then on through the Old Town.
Pancakes in a warehouse on Prinsengracht.
An hour on a pedal boat from the Rijksmuseum.
Genever, sipped bent over the brim-full glass.
Steak with Loetje gravy opposite the station.
Stand-up at 22:15, at tables with drinks.
Your group's a bit different? The itinerary generator builds a plan around your group, budget and mood, using the same venues.
Budget
In Amsterdam half a litre of beer costs €6.80 on average, an Amstel fluitje at Café Hoppe €3.50, a cocktail at Dutch Courage €14.50 to €18.50, and a club mostly €10–25. Hotels, VIP tables and dinner shows push the budget up; rental boats split across the group and Foodhallen keep it down.
| Option | Per person | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| One night out | €80–150 | dinner, two bars and a club on Leidseplein or Rembrandtplein |
| A day with an activity | €150–280 | plus a rental boat, escape room, brewery tasting or cocktail course |
| Weekend | €270–540 | two nights out, one activity, one night in a double room, travel not included |
Guide prices per person, based on the prices of the venues and tours on this page. The bride or groom usually doesn't pay; their share is split across the group. The planner above adds up what your programme costs.
Travel isn't included, as that depends on where you're coming from. Accommodation is based on the country's price level. Work out your own budget with the cost calculator.
Seasonal tips
These dates come round every year. If your weekend falls on one of them, the city will be packed. If you'd rather keep things relaxed, plan around them.
On 27 April the whole country celebrates King's Day in orange, with King's Night the evening before. On the canals the rule then is 12 people plus the skipper per boat.
The tulips bloom from late April to early May, one of the best times to visit Amsterdam; book early.
July and August bring around 22 °C: time for rental boats and terraces on the canals and in Noord. Café de Ceuvel limits places for groups then.
Late July to early August, with the Canal Parade on the canals, which you can watch for free from the bank.
In October, 5 days of club festival with around 450 events and about 395,000 clubbers across the city.
From late November to mid-January, around 20 light artworks in the centre, on foot or by boat, lit from 17:00 in the evening.
The canal ring is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore it yourselves in a rental boat for up to 8 people, on a pedal boat from the Rijksmuseum or, for 12 people or more, on a licensed vessel with a skipper.
Free ferries behind Centraal Station take you to Noord in a few minutes: A'DAM Toren with the Lookout, Madam and Shelter, the NDSM wharf with the STRAAT Museum, and Café de Ceuvel.
Brown cafés are named after the dark wood of their bars and panelling and have been part of the city since the 17th century: fluitjes, jenever and bitterballen at Café Hoppe, 't Smalle or De Twee Zwaantjes, rain or shine.
Questions
