Feeling like going out tonight? How about meeting some friends for a beer or two? Below are some of the most popular bars and clubs for expats in the Netherlands.
Nightlife: Bars & Clubs in the Netherlands
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Amsterdam
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LuminAir
Oosterdoksstraat 4, Level 11, 1011 DK
LuminAir, 'the bar above Amsterdam,' radiates energy, music, art, and ever-changing skies over our creative city. The innovative interior features cloud-shaped installations and light projections that transform with the changing skies. The focus is on high-level mixology, with the bar and kitchen collaborating closely to create seamless experiences where cocktails and food effortlessly merge.
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Sound Garden
Marnixstraat 164-166, 1016 TG
Cafe Sound Garden is a true rock bar, with truly cheap drinks, located in the West of Amsterdam.
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Cafe Belgique
Gravenstraat 2, 1012 NM
Cafe Belgique is a cosy bar that offers a wide selection of speciality Belgian beers in the centre of Amsterdam.
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Sugarfactory
Lijnbaansgracht 238, 1017 RC
Sugarfactory is a dance hall / concert venue in Amsterdam.
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Cafe Maxwell
Beukenplein 27, 1092 BB
Maxwell Cafe is open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. As well as delicious food, wines and beers on tap, Maxwell Cafe offers delicious cocktails. There are weekly events ranging from pub quizzes to live music performances.
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Supperclub
Jonge Roelensteeg 21, 1012
Supperclub is, hands down, Amsterdam’s quirkiest dining experience. Having dinner at Supperclub is nothing like an ordinary meal. The club offers themed nights, from cabaret performances to "cocktail suppers," designed to push the boundaries of acceptability and stimulate all the senses.
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De Club Up
Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 26-1
De Club Up is a popular bar located just off Leidsplein in Amsterdam, which miraculously doesn’t attract the usual tourist crowd.
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WestWeelde
Klonneplein 4-6, 1014 DD
WestWeelde is the amalgamation of the former WesterUnie, WestergasTerras and WesterLiefde, a large venue in Amsterdam’s Klonneplein in Westerpark. Although it’s only been running since 2007, this club already has a reputation for hosting great events.
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Whisky Cafe L&B
Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 82
Amsterdam’s Whisky Cafe L&B is the city’s most important venue for whisky aficionados.
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De Nieuwe Anita
Frederik Hendrikstraat 111
De Nieuwe Anita is an intimate, underground bar located in the West of Amsterdam.
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Hard Rock Cafe
Max Euweplein 57-61, 1017
In the center of Amsterdam one will find great American classic dining and a museum's worth of rock memorabilia at Hard Rock Cafe.
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Chicago Social Club
Leidseplein 12, 1017 PT
Chicago Social Club is a popular bar and part-time club in Amsterdam’s Leidseplein. Despite its location, its crowd consists of not tourists but locals.
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Xtracold Icebar Amsterdam
Amstel 194-196, 1017 AG
Xtracold Icebar Amsterdam, the first ice bar in the Netherlands, opened in 2006 and as expected, (almost) everything including the walls, the bar, even the glasses, is made of ice!
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Hannekes Boom
Dijksgracht 4 1019 BS
Hannekes Boom is a dockside restaurant, bar and dance venue, with a large terrace and a relaxed atmosphere, which is open since 2011. The site on which it stands has a fascinating history where there was an important access gate through Amsterdam's city walls.
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De Waterkant
Marnixstraat 246, 1016 TL
De Waterkant is a lively bar and restaurant, which also has a happening 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.
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Bar Bukowski
Oosterpark 10, 1092 AX
Named after the writer Charles Bukowski, Bar Bukowski is a popular bar in the east of Amsterdam, bordering Oosterpark and very close to Beukenplein.
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Flying Dutchmen Cocktails
Singel 460, 1017 AW
The unique cocktail bar, Flying Dutchmen Cocktails offers any kind of cocktail you can imagine, as well as their own signature cocktails that include Dutch jenever, speculaas gum syrup and of orange-flavoured bitters.
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Twenty Third Bar
Ferdinand Bolstraat 333, 1072 LH
Located in De Pijp, Twenty Third Bar is on the 23rd floor of Hotel Okura and is renowned for its cocktails.
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Calle Ocho
Albert Cuypstraat 226I, 1073 BN
Calle Ocho on Albert Cuypstraat is the go-to bar for tequila, rum cocktails and Latin-American street food.
Delft
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Kobus Kuch
Beestenmarkt 1, 2611 GA
Kobus Kuch claims to be the cosiest cafe in Delft. It first opened in 1988 and has a charmingly rustic interior.
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Locus Publicus
Brabantse Turfmarkt 67, 2611 CM
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.
Eindhoven
Groningen
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De Drie Gezusters
Grote Markt 36-39, 9711 LV
De Drie Gezusters (or "the three sisters") is technically a group of venues in Groningen.
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De Negende Cirkel
Poelestraat 25, 9711 PH
De Negende Cirkel is one of Groningen’s most popular party cafes. It offers plenty of drinks, loud music and a spacious dance floor.
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De Pintelier
Kleine Kromme Elleboog 9, 9712 BS
De Pintelier is a cozy beer bar in Groningen. Its menu includes over 100 beers - both bottles and draughts.
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Mr Smith's Loft
Poelestraat 53-55, 9711 PK
Mr Smith's Loft, formerly Enzo (&ZO), is a stylish nightclub in Groningen with a futuristic but at the same time homely atmosphere.
Leiden
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Grand Café de Burcht
Burgsteeg 14, 2312 JS
Grand Café de Burcht is a beautiful cafe located in De Burcht, an old fort from the 11th century. It is both a cultural attraction and a satisfying lunch or drink stop.
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Maastricht
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Complex Maastricht
De Griend 6-7, 6221 AJ
Complex Maastricht is a venue in the centre of Maastricht that hosts various events.
Rotterdam
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Stalles
Nieuwe Binnenweg 11a, 3014 GA
Stalles is a friendly pub and snack bar in Rotterdam. During the day it offers delicious pizzas, gourmet dinners and plenty of bar nibbles. Then later in the evening, Stalles transforms into a bustling bar, serving a wide range of whisky and fine wines.
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De Witte Aap
Witte de Withstraat 78, 3012 BE
De Witte Aap is a popular bar-cafe in Rotterdam. It is open seven days a week and organises small parties most days. Saturdays are usually the most popular nights, with performances from DJs (ranging from aspiring locals to bigger names).
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Villa Thalia
Kruiskade 31, 3012 EE
Villa Thalia is a spacious, stylish club in Rotterdam with regular DJs and delicious cocktails by specially trained bartenders.
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Club Vibes
Westersingel 50a, 3014 GV
Club Vibes is an intimate and laid-back nightclub in Rotterdam.
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Locus Publicus
Oostzeedijk 364, 3063 CD
Locus Publicus is a friendly, old-fashioned bar in Rotterdam that serves more than 200 different beers.
The Hague
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Bodega De Posthoorn
Lange Voorhout 39a
Bodega is a traditional Dutch beer cafe in The Hague which is open seven days a week
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Grote Markt
Grote Markt 25, 2511 BG
The Grote Markt is one of the main entertainment areas with numerous bars and terraces in The Hague.
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Wicked Wines
Bazarstraat 42, 2518 AK
Wicked Wines takes pride in serving high-quality drinks and food at reasonable prices. The menu offers a comprehensive list of affordable wines from both the "new" and "old" worlds.
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Zwarte Ruiter
Grote Markt 27, 2511 BG
Zwarte Ruiter is a bar in The Hague which is passionate about 2 things: live music & good food.
Utrecht
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Club Poema
Drieharingstraat 22, 3511 BJ
Club Poema is a busy student-orientated bar, located a mere five minute walk from Utrecht’s central station.
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De Helling
Helling 7, 3523 CB
De Helling is a pop podium just outside of the Utrecht city centre, offering a wide variation of (inter)national bands and genres.
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Tivoli Vredenburg
Vredenburgkade 11, 3511 WC
Tivoli Vredenburg is a unique contemporary music complex in Utrecht, consisting of five different halls, as well as the popular bar, De Gegeven Paard.
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Kafé België
Oudegracht 196 3511 NR
Kafé België is the pinnacle of Belgian beer speciality in Utrecht. Enter the bar and you’ll see a jaw-dropping board, listing over 500 types of Belgian beer.
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Olivier Belgian Beer Cafe
Achter Clarenburg 6a, 3511JJ
The impressive and memorable Belgian beer cafe, Olivier Belgian Beer Cafe, is housed in a former church, located just outside the Hoog Catharijne shopping mall.
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De Kromme Haring
Europalaan 2c, 3526KS
The Kromme Haring Brewery and Brew Pub is near Transwijk park, located outside Utrecht city centre. There you can enjoy an extraordinary night out, a brewery tour or a beer-tasting session.
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't Oude Pothuys
Oudegracht 279, 3511 PA
'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.