No matter what kind of nightlife you're after, the Netherlands has it all. From cosy beer cafes with dim lighting and trendy cocktail bars to hip, dazzling clubs and iconic music venues, there is no shortage of places to go for an amazing night out in Dutch cities.
You may be looking for a bar in the city centre of Amsterdam or a friendly neighbourhood pub. Perhaps you’re seeking inspiration to help you decide where to take friends who are visiting from out of town, or somewhere to grab a few beers before catching your train. With this guide to bars and clubs in the Netherlands, we’ve got you covered.
Amsterdam is full of so many incredible bars and clubs, from traditional Dutch brown cafes to hopping nightclubs. There are so many to mention that this list could have been endless, but here's our selection of bars and clubs in Amsterdam, per district:
Here are some of the go-to bars in the city centre of Amsterdam:
Photo: Milos Ruzicka via Shutterstock
De Waterkant is a lively bar and restaurant serving Surinamese dishes, which also has a popping dance floor. Located under an old car park, it's one of the most popular waterside bars - and is easily recognisable from the water with its interlocking spiral car ramps.
Hannekes Boom is a funky dockside restaurant, bar and dance venue, with a large terrace overlooking the IJ, famous for its relaxed atmosphere. The site on which it stands has an intriguing history; it used to be an important access gate through Amsterdam's city walls.
The Flying Dutchmen Cocktails, located on the Singel in the heart of the Dutch capital, offers any kind of cocktail you can imagine. Not only that, but they are famous for their own signature cocktails that include Dutch jenever, speculaas gum syrup and orange-flavoured bitters.
LuminAir is known as “the bar above Amsterdam”, upstairs in DoubleTree by Hilton. The sophisticated interiors exude an air of elegance, featuring cloud-shaped installations and light art that transforms as the skies change. The focus is on high-quality food and cocktails with fresh and energetic pairings.
Supperclub is arguably Amsterdam’s quirkiest clubbing experience. Every Thursday to Monday, the restaurant transforms into a nightclub, which guarantees something out of the ordinary. The club offers themed nights, from cabaret performances to "cocktail suppers", devised to break boundaries and play with your senses.
Paradiso is one of Amsterdam’s most famous venues for music. Converted from an old church, it opened in 1968 and has been a renowned platform ever since, attracting iconic bands and artists and drawing crowds from near and far.
Melkweg, located just off Leidseplein, is one of Amsterdam’s biggest clubbing venues which also hosts live rock and pop concerts and has been running for more than half a century.
Here's our selection of bars in Amsterdam West:
Photo: Ivo Antonie de Rooij via Shutterstock
Pacific is one of Amsterdam’s authentic rock and roll bars, located at Westergas. Serving up a heavy helping of fun music, from 1950s hits to 1990s anthems, Pacific keeps visitors dancing until the early hours. Food is served all throughout the day and, in the summer months, their sun-drenched terrace is the place to put down a few hours.
WestWeelde is a large venue in Amsterdam’s Klonneplein in Westerpark. It’s the result of the amalgamation of the former WesterUnie, WestergasTerras and WesterLiefde. The venue has been running since 2007 and has a reputation for hosting great club nights, events and festivals.
De Nieuwe Anita is an intimate, underground bar located in the West of Amsterdam, and puts on everything from burlesque shows to improv comedy nights and pub quizzes to punk concerts. It is well known across the city yet still retains its alternative and “well-kept-secret” vibe.
OT301 is a former squatter’s den and now houses a multi-purpose space that hosts various art exhibitions, film and theatre shows, workshops and underground parties with music ranging from reggae and dubstep to new wave and electro dance events.
Here are some bars worth knowing about in Amsterdam East:
This bar in the east of Amsterdam is named after the writer Charles Bukowski. Bordering Oosterpark and very close to Beukenplein, Bar Bukowski is approved by locals and internationals alike, with its cocktails, wide range of beers and literary nights and pub quizzes.
Maxwell Cafe has the best of both worlds - cosy in winter and sunny terraces in summer. It’s typically open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. As well as delicious food, wines and beers on tap, Maxwell Cafe offers adventurous cocktails. There are weekly events like live music performances.
Canvas is one of the most popular rooftop bars in Amsterdam. It’s located on the 7th floor of Volkshotel, the former Volkskrantgebouw building. What used to be a place to eat your lunch and discuss journalism is now a burgeoning club, restaurant and exhibition place with an astounding view.
Doka is a club from the masterminds behind Canvas, housed in the basement of Volkshotel on Wibautstraat. From the “sound bar”, DJs, bands and creatives send their sounds out into the world. The basement is the place where different subcultures meet and relax.
Here are some well-loved bars in Amsterdam South:
Located in De Pijp, Twenty Third Bar is on the 23rd floor of Hotel Okura and is renowned for its cocktails. If you’re looking for something sophisticated and refined, Twenty Third Bar is the place to be! Enjoy the staggering views of Amsterdam and the plush interiors.
Calle Ocho on Albert Cuypstraat is the go-to bar for tequila, rum cocktails and Miami street food, which can be summed up as a combination of Cuban, Mexican, North American and European influences. Calle Ocho is renowned for its tacos, not least on “Taco Tuesday”, which, by all accounts, is unmissable.
Here is our selection of bars and clubs in Utrecht:
Photo: courtesy of Olivier Belgian Beer Cafe Utrecht
The impressive and memorable Olivier Belgian Beer Cafe is housed in a former church, located just outside the Hoog Catharijne shopping mall. The range of beers on offer is astounding in its breadth and quality, while the atmosphere of the bar is lively and bustling.
Tivoli Vredenburg is known worldwide as a music complex consisting of five different concert halls. Nowhere else in the world links so many different genres all under one roof. The venue hosts concerts, festivals, club nights, and so many more types of events. The popular bar on-site is De Gegeven Paard, located on the ground floor.
De Helling is a pop podium just a five-minute bike ride away from Utrecht city centre, offering a wide variety of concerts and club nights with a wide range of bands and genres. It’s a mid-sized venue and often attracts indie bands and fringe acts, along with world-renowned artists.
't Oude Pothuys is an atmospheric bar, eatery and a well-known music venue in Utrecht, where musicians perform live every day. The bar is located in one of the iconic cellars along the Oudegracht, the main canal in Utrecht.
Here are some prominent bars and clubs in Leiden:
Annie’s is a beautiful restaurant-bar located in historic cellar vaults on Leiden’s riverbank, where the old and the new tributaries of the Rhine river meet. Annie's menu is classy and the spacious terrace is bustling throughout the summer months. It’s an ideal spot for drinks and dinner or even for coffee and dessert.
Barrera is situated in a gorgeous old building near the Academy Building on Rapenburg and has been in operation since the late 1960s. It is a pub for all seasons, with an attractive sprawling terrace and intimate booths. It’s the ultimate Dutch brown cafe, and its combination of great beers and old-timey decor is a testament to that.
Grand Cafe de Burcht is a beautiful cafe located in a historic building, De Burcht, a historic fort and the oldest surviving example of a castle in the Netherlands. It is both a cultural attraction and a high-quality location to enjoy drinks and food, guaranteeing a memorable experience.
The Duke of Oz is an Australian-themed sports bar which attracts internationals from all over the world to enjoy beers, chat with like-minded internationals and watch sporting events on the multiple screens dotted all over the bar.
Here are some of the most well-liked bars in The Hague:
Bodega De Posthoorn is a traditional Dutch cafe in The Hague that is open seven days a week. It serves typical Dutch snacks like bitterballen and cubes of Gouda cheese along with local Dutch beers. There are regular poetry evenings and live concerts. It’s a longstanding establishment and even Queen Wilhelmina used to visit Bodega De Posthoorn regularly!
Havana is a fun Cuban bar in The Hague, located right near the historic Dutch parliament buildings. The venue specialises in Latin-American cuisine and cocktails and often throws Latin-themed parties and dance nights where you can show off your best salsa moves!
Westwood is a trendy club in The Hague that focuses on R&B, electro, hip hop and house music with frequent live DJ performances and occasional fancy dress nights. It attracts people from various different districts of the city and is celebrated as the oldest disco in the Netherlands.
Cafe De Cloos is a restaurant-bar situated in The Hague’s charming Plein. On Friday and Saturday evenings, the usual chairs and tables are pushed aside to make way for the dance floor, where tunes are hopping until the small hours, thanks to their resident DJ. Monday night is cocktail night, where you pay only a small price for the most elaborate of drink creations.
Here are some well-known bars and clubs in Groningen:
Photo: courtesy of De Drie Gezusters bar Groningen
De Drie Gezusters ("The Three Sisters") is a trio of side-by-side bars on the Grote Markt in Groningen. Watch a match at Sportsbar De Groote Griet, have a beer at Café Hoppe, then drink a cocktail on the heated terrace or go dancing at the Draaibar. There’s even karaoke at the Draaibar, with five uniquely themed karaoke booths, so you and your friends can sing the night away!
De Negende Cirkel is one of Groningen’s most beloved party cafes which has been particularly popular with students for more than 50 years. It offers plenty of drinks, loud music and a spacious dance floor.
Het Pakhuis is a vibrant and lively music venue in Groningen. It has resident DJs who perform sets each night from Thursday to Saturday, as well as live performances by local and international bands. Entrance is always free.
De Pintelier is a cosy beer bar in Groningen. Its menu includes over 100 beers - both bottles and on tap. It was established as the first Belgian beer cafe in Groningen, offering over 25 beers on tap and all kinds of Trappist beers, seasonal beers and other specialities from the low countries.
Here are our recommended bars and clubs in the city of Delft:
Photo: Wolf-photography via Shutterstock
Cafe Belvedere occupies four buildings on the corner of the Burgwal and the Beestenmarkt, which is one of the most scenic city squares in the Netherlands. It’s a cosy and informal place with around 15 different Belgian beers on tap.
Also located on Beestenmarkt, Kobus Kuch claims to be the cosiest cafe in Delft. You’ll have to go there and try it for yourself. It first opened in 1988 and has a charmingly rustic interior. One of its unique selling points is its homemade apple tart.
Locus Publicus is an intimate beer bar. Serving over 200 bottled beers and 13 on draught, Locus Publicus has a crowd of loyal locals, as well as attracting curious tourists and passers-by.
Cafe De Oude Jan is an authentic and welcoming "brown cafe" in Delft. It has a beautiful terrace overlooking the Oude Kerk. The atmosphere is relaxed and, on certain days, it hosts live music.
Here are some great bars and clubs in Maastricht:
Cliniq is located in the heart of Maastricht. The dance floor is hopping on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. It’s so renowned for its cocktails that it even holds cocktail workshops.
Edd’s has been a popular hang-out in Maastricht since its launch in the late 1990s. It is open for partying until at least 2am, seven days a week. Not only that, but it serves food for breakfast, lunch and dinner! The menu is filled with wine, beer, and lots of tasty local dishes.
Ipanema is a calm oasis situated inside the Bonnefantenmuseum in Maastricht. In summer, the terrace is a wonderful place to be, with a fantastic view of the Maas river. It serves not only local Limburg beers, but also wine from the Thorn winery.
Complex Maastricht is a clubbing and concert venue at Griendpark that hosts various events like club nights, techno and electro festivals, and live band performances. It even hosts its own festival each year, the Complex Festival.
Here are some of the coolest bars and clubs in Eindhoven:
Photo: courtesy of Van Moll, Eindhoven
Van Moll is a popular bar and microbrewery in downtown Eindhoven. It's the perfect place for enjoying craft beers and delicious food and it even has its own beer festival, Van Moll Fest!
Bommel is a bar offering good music and reasonably-priced drinks in a sociable environment. Despite its "old-fashioned" feeling, Bommel attracts a mix of both young and old.
O’Sheas Irish Pub is Eindhoven’s largest Irish pub, and is very popular with the city's growing international community. Its regular roster is filled with sports matches shown on the big screen, dance evenings and live Irish music performances.
Thomas is one of Eindhoven’s oldest and most successful bars. It has won the "Best Dance Venue" award three times in the Zuiden op de Nightlife competition.
Here are some must-visit bars and clubs in Rotterdam:
Photo: trabantos via Shutterstock
De Witte Aap is at the pinnacle of the trendy and bustling Witte de Withstraat in Rotterdam. This renowned cafe bar is open seven days a week. Saturdays are usually the most popular nights, with performances by DJs, ranging from aspiring locals to bigger names from farther afield.
Rotown is one of the biggest clubs in Rotterdam. It is known for indie music, and hosts live performances from international up-and-coming bands, as well as DJ nights and regular dance events. It has a vegan cafe where you can enhance your night out with vegan treats and beers.
Concordia is a well-loved bar and restaurant in downtown Rotterdam with a friendly character and a spacious interior with plenty of cosy booths. It’s the perfect venue for nights out and is especially popular with students, being only a stone’s throw from Erasmus University.
Stalles is a lively pub and eatery in Rotterdam. During the day they serve delicious pizzas and other main courses and plenty of typical Dutch snacks. Then, later in the evening, Stalles transforms into a bustling bar, where you can enjoy a great range of not only beers but also many kinds of whisky and wine.
Discover the bars and nightclubs in the Netherlands and plan your night out. You may be looking for a club right in the city or a quiet bar off the beaten track in a lesser-known area - whatever you're looking for, these Dutch cities will provide!
Header photo: courtesy of De Drie Gezusters bar Groningen