Things to do in Amsterdam at Night

Sure, Amsterdam comes with a slightly, shall we say, seedy reputation, but there’s so much more to this city’s vibrant nightlife than just red lights and cannabis cafés. Join us on our journey through all the best things to do in Amsterdam at night.

By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak
Published: September 6, 2024
Amsterdam canals by night
Neon tulips at the Amsterdam Light Festival

Our guide to a great evening out in Amsterdam includes:

 

  • Canal cruises
  • The famous red light district
  • Cycle rides along atmospheric cobbled alleyways
  • The Van Gogh Museum
  • Live music at the Melkweg and Concertgebouw
  • Drinks atop the A’DAM Tower
  • The Amsterdam Light festival
  • The hottest club nights in town
  • …and more!

 

Read on for the very best of Amsterdam’s after-dark activities…

Cruise Amsterdam’s Canals

Canal boats and 17th-century townhouses in Amsterdam

It’s a city built on water, so it stands to reason that the best way to see Amsterdam is on a gentle cruise along some of its 100 kilometers of picturesque canals. Naturally, the canals are at their most magical by night, when the city lights reflect on the water and major landmarks, including Anne Frank's House, the Rijksmuseum, the Skinny Bridge and the Westerkerk are beautifully illuminated. Cameras at the ready for Insta-perfect canalside houses from the Dutch Golden Age, and the hundreds of colorful houseboats that bob on the water.

Evening (and daytime!) canal cruises (plus dozens more activities, tours and attractions) are included with a Go Amsterdam pass. Find out more and get yours now!

Stroll the Red Light District

Neon lights in Amsterdam's red light district

Amsterdam’s sex industry is well regulated and sex work has been legal here since 2000. Even with that caveat, we’re aware the red light district won’t be for everyone! But, if you do want to see the city’s oldest profession in action, it is safe to do so, and may well be the quintessential Amsterdam experience. Stroll the medieval canalside streets, where neon lights glare, ladies ply their trade in the windows, and adults-only shops dot the lanes. Those with more than a passing interest can discover more in the fascinating Erotic Museum and Red Light Secrets Museum, while former sex workers also run brothel tours in the area. When the hustle, bustle and lurid sights get too much, simply duck down a side street and seek refuge in a Dutch café or Asian restaurant.

Night at the Museum

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

Culture vultures (and vampires) rejoice! Many of Amsterdam’s best museums stay open late on the weekend. The Van Gogh Museum, for example, is open until 9PM on Fridays, and just happens to contain the largest collection of the maestro’s work on the entire planet. We’re talking sunflowers, starry nights, wheat fields, self portraits and more. There’s art of a more contemporary stripe at the bleeding-edge Moco Museum, open 9PM Friday–Sunday and available on the Go Amsterdam pass. Visiting in November? Your luck’s in, for this is when more than 50 of the city’s leading museums and galleries open late (very late), with the added attraction of live music and DJs, special events and other surprises.

On Your Bike!

Illuminated green 'go' sign for cyclists in Amsterdam

Riding the cobbled canalside streets on two wheels is practically a rite of passage for visitors to Amsterdam, and the cycling infrastructure here is second-to-none. Over 500 kilometers of dedicated lanes criss-cross the city, allowing hopeless romantics to pedal their way from medieval lane to swoonsome sunset bridge, night market to cute candlelit side-street bar. Don’t know where to begin? Fear not: there are dozens of guided cycling tours available, taking in illuminated monuments, off-the-beaten-track Amsterdam attractions, and hip bars and eateries.

Get a Bird’s-Eye View of Amsterdam

Giant swing at the A'DAM Lookout in Amsterdam

Way up top of the waterfront A’DAM Tower is a 360-degree sky deck: an epic lookout point with easily the best aerial views of the port and canals in town. Thrill-seekers can have hairs raised on the swing deck which – true to its name – launches willing punters out high above the cityscape on a giant swing. Or, if you prefer to steady your nerves, the popular 22nd-floor MA’DAM sky bar is a safe bet for craft cocktails and sweeping starlit views across the twinkling city. Access to the A’DAM Lookout is included with the Go Amsterdam pass. The swing (and cocktails) cost extra.

Explore Amsterdam’s Live Music Scene

The Royal Concertgebouw in Amsterdam

Rock? Classical? EDM? Amsterdam’s got you covered. The grand 19th-century confection that is the legendary Concertgebouw is, thanks to its pin-drop acoustics, one of the finest (and most popular) venues on the planet in which to experience live classical concerts. For that reason, be sure to book your seat well in advance. You might even have a religious experience at the Paradiso, a converted church compete with balconies and stained-glass windows which has hosted names including Nirvana, Bowie, James Brown and Lady Gaga, to name just a few. Or mosey over to the Melkweg, a former dairy with a similarly impressive pedigree: Prince and U2 have both graced the stage here down the years. 

Amsterdam Light Festival

Exhibit at the Amsterdam Light Festival

Visit Amsterdam in deepest, darkest winter and not only will you be wowed by the city’s spectacular Christmas lights and festive markets: there’s also the Amsterdam Light Festival to enjoy. This eye-popping visual feast hits town in December and sticks around through January, bringing illuminated artworks and installations to major plazas, parks, gardens and canalside streets. Expect highly Instagrammable exhibits by contemporary designers, artists and architects from the Netherlands and beyond. You can join a walking tour or grab a map of the exhibits and plot your own meander through this magical winter wonderland.

Hit the Clubs

DJ in a club

Dedicated clubbers will find much to enjoy in Amsterdam’s many mega-venues, where you’ll find the world’s top DJs banging out the tunes until the sun comes up. Club nights at the aforementioned Paradiso and Melkweg are local faves, while Club Prime, set in the heart of the old town, draws an international crowd to its cavernous halls. Then there’s Cafe Amsterdamned, the industrial chic of Gashouder and LGBTQ+ stalwarts like FunHouse and Taboo. Dive in and dance yourself dizzy ‘til dawn!

Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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Sunflowers in front of a sign pointing to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam
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Van Gogh Museum vs Rembrandthuis Museum Comparison Amsterdam

Ask anyone to name all the Dutch painters they’ve ever heard of and you can guarantee the first two out of their mouths will be Rembrandt and Van Gogh; one the leading artist of the Dutch Golden Age, the other the OG ‘tortured artist’ of Post-Impressionism who, in death, became one of the most famous and influential figures in the history of western art. Unsurprisingly, given their incalculable contribution to Dutch and European art and culture, both have been honored with their own dedicated museums in the Netherlands’ capital. But which of these essential Amsterdam attractions is best? Read on for the lowdown as we pit the Van Gogh Museum vs the Rembrandthuis (aka the Rembrandt House Museum)...  Van Gogh Museum vs Rembrandthuis Museum: Vital Statistics Size: Compared to Amsterdam’s main art museums – the Rijksmuseum and Stedelijk among them – both Rembrandt’s House and the Van Gogh Museum are relatively small, requiring only 1-2 hours of your time to get a real feel for the life and work of these visual virtuosos. Age: The Rembrandt House Museum opened in 1911, welcoming the Netherland’s Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Hendrik as its very first visitors; the Van Gogh Museum opened at Amsterdam’s Museumplein in 1973. Artworks: The collections are quite different, in that – as the name suggests – the Rembrandt House Museum is Rembrandt’s actual former home, where he lived with his family (and various lovers) from 1639 until bankruptcy forced him to give it up in 1658. Inside, you can experience the house roughly as it would have looked in Rembrandt’s day, the furniture having been carefully sourced and replaced, based on a 1656 auction inventory of its art, furnishings and various other household items.  There’s also a near-complete collection of Rembrandt etchings here (260 of the approximate 290 he created in his lifetime), plus paintings by his students, teacher and contemporaries, as well as a pair of pots used to mix quartz and clay for canvas preparation by Rembrandt himself. The Van Gogh Museum on the other hand, is a straightforward gallery of the Post-Impressionist prodigy’s work. There’s nothing ordinary about the collection here though, which comprises some 1,300 Van Gogh paintings, drawings and letters, including iconic works like The Potato Eaters and Sunflowers. Alongside this, the largest collection of Van Gogh pieces on the planet, the museum also showcases notable works by his Impressionist and Post-Impressionist contemporaries, among them paintings by Monet, Gauguin and Toulouse-Lautrec, and sculptures by Rodin. Annual visitors: The Van Gogh Museum outflanks most of the local competition here, pulling in around 2.2 million visitors every year to Rembrandt’s 250,000. The Van Gogh Museum vs Rembrandt House: Highlights We’re talking about two of the greatest all-time wizards of western art here, so your expectations are likely to be high, and the Van Gogh Museum does not disappoint. Here’s where you can view some 200 of the maestro’s paintings, among them his beautiful Almond Blossom which – if you like it – is also available to purchase in a gazillion different formats in the museum’s gift shop. Then there’s his Sunflowers, his Irises, his Wheat Field with Crows, his Self Portrait with Pipe, and the challenging masterpiece that is The Potato Eaters, Van Gogh’s depiction of 18th-century Dutch peasants at dinner. Add to this some 400 drawings and 700 letters, and Van Gogh votaries will be in clover. The Rembrandt House Museum is more of an immersive experience, one in which you can step into the Golden Age master’s former home and experience the living quarters and studio roughly as Rembrandt and his family would have done in the 17th Century. Authentic contemporary furnishings and artworks adorn the rooms, including pieces by Rembrand’s teacher Pieter Lastman, and his students Ferdinand Bol and Govert Flinck. Rembrandt’s etchings were far better-known than his paintings during his lifetime (due to the relative ease of mass reproduction), and are considered some of the greatest examples of the art form to this day. The museum owns the vast majority of these, and some of them can be viewed here, alongside relics including pots used by the artist, as well as his funeral medallion. If it’s an insight into Rembrandt’s life you’re after, this is very much the place for you. If, however, you want to ogle some of the artist’s most celebrated works up close, you’ll need to hit up the nearby Rijksmuseum, home of The Night Watch pictured above), Self Portrait with Disheveled Hair and other world-famous Rembrandt masterpieces. Van Gogh Museum vs Rembrandt House: Which is Better? Well, it’s less a question of which is better and more a case of whether you have a particular fondness for the (very different) work of Rembrandt or Van Gogh. Of course, you could kill two birds with one stone and see works by both of them (and many many more) at the Rijksmuseum, but if you’re looking for a deep dive into the life and works of these Dutch masters in particular, you’ll find no better place on the planet than the Van Gogh Museum and Rembrandt House in Amsterdam. Rembrandt House and the Van Gogh Museum: Fun Facts Did you know? In 1656, Rembrandt’s spiraling debts led to him petitioning for bankruptcy. The contents of his house were meticulously cataloged for sale, making it much simpler, 250 years later, for the house to be restored to its original state before opening as a museum in 1911. Did you know? Van Gogh is one of the original selfie takers, painting some 36 self-portraits across his brief 10-year career. His tally is topped only by – you guessed it – Rembrandt, who racked up around 100 paintings, etchings and drawings of his own fair phizog, but over a much longer period. Save on Tours, Attractions and Activities in Amsterdam Save on admission to Amsterdam attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam
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Rijksmuseum Vs the Van Gogh Museum Comparison Amsterdam

Amsterdam is home to some of the finest Dutch art on the planet. Understandable, perhaps, given it’s the Dutch capital. But the sheer quantity and variety of national art you can ogle here is frankly mind-boggling. We’re talking Van Gogh, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Hieronymus Bosch and Willem de Kooning, to name just a few. We compared the collections of two of the most famous galleries – that’s the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum – to help you decide which you should visit on your Amsterdam vacation. Read on for our Rijksmuseum vs Van Gogh Museum comparison. First up… The Rijksmuseum Name: The Rijskmuseum’s name translates roughly as ‘state’ or ‘national’ museum, and is pronounced ‘rikes’. Age: The Rijsmuseum originally opened in The Hague in 1798 with an exhibition of around 200 paintings and historical artifacts, before moving to Amsterdam in 1808. It's been in its current location, a grand purpose-built gothic and renaissance confection designed by celebrated Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers, since 1885. The Rijskmuseum in brief: The Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands, and the country’s largest, housing an epic collection of Dutch and international art (but mostly Dutch) that spans a period of some 800 years, from the 13th Century to the late 20th. What really sets it apart, and puts it up there with the likes of the Louvre, the British Museum and St Petersburg’s State Hermitage, is the quality of its collection; world-famous pieces here include Rembrandt’s The Night Watch (pictured above), Vermeer’s The Milkmaid, and The Merry Drinker by Frans Hals. Other European artists including El Greco, Rubens and Tintoretto also feature, and there’s a small collection of Asian art housed in the Asian Pavilion. The Rijksmuseum in Numbers: Size: It’s the largest museum in the Netherlands, with four levels and around 1.5 kilometers of walking required if you want to explore all the galleries. Number of artworks: There’s an absolutely whopping one million pieces in the Rijksmuseum collection, with around 8,000 on display at one time. Visitors: Around 2.2 million annual visitors make the Rijksmuseum one of the most visited in the Netherlands. Three Unmissable Rijksmuseum Highlights Rembrandt’s masterpiece of the Dutch Golden Age, The Night Watch, is considered so important that it has a gallery all to itself. This is also partially due to its popularity (and size: a whopping 12 by 14 feet.) Don’t miss Rembrandt’s iconic (and much smaller) Self Portrait with Disheveled Hair, also on display at the Rijksmuseum. Johannes Vermeer’s The Milkmaid, depicting domestic country life in 17th-century Netherlands, is his most celebrated work. Judith Leyster is one of just a handful of female artists whose work hangs in the Rijksmuseum. Attributed to Frans Hals for 250 years, The Serenade’s masterful use of light makes it one of her very best. Entry to the Rijksmuseum is included with an Amsterdam attraction pass from Go City, which can save you money if you plan to do several popular tours, activities and attractions while you’re in town. Get more information and buy your Amsterdam pass here. Next up… The Van Gogh Museum Name: The Van Gogh Museum is of course named after (and dedicated to the work of) the Netherlands’ most famous son. Age: The Van Gogh Museum opened at Amsterdam’s Museumplein in 1973, close to the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and Concertgebouw concert hall. The Van Gogh Museum in Brief: It’s the world’s only museum dedicated entirely to the works of the Dutch maestro, and boy is it a doozy. We’re talking the largest collection of Van Gogh pieces on the planet, comprising some 1,300 paintings, drawings and letters, including iconic pieces like Sunflowers and The Potato Eaters. There’s also a decent smattering of notable works from Van Gogh’s Impressionist and Post-Impressionist pals to ogle here, among them sculptures by Rodin and paintings by Manet, Monet and Toulouse-Lautrec. The Van Gogh Museum in Numbers Size: significantly smaller vs the Rijksmuseum. You can ‘do’ the Van Gogh Museum in around two hours, whereas you’ll need more like five to fully explore the Rijksmuseum. Number of artworks: There are around 200 paintings, 400 drawings and 700 letters charting the development of Van Gogh’s work throughout his life. Visitors: The Van Gogh Museum packs a solid punch, attracting as many annual visitors as the much larger Rijksmuseum: around 2.2 million. Three Unmissable Van Gogh Museum Highlights Van Gogh created only five paintings for his celebrated Sunflowers series, and one of them hangs proudly here in the Van Gogh Museum. If you only see one painting while in Amsterdam, you might want to make it this one. Almond Blossom – branches and pale blossoms against a clear blue sky – is a fine example of one of Van Gogh’s favorite subjects. We guarantee you’ll leave the museum shop with this in at least one format: prints, postcards, playing cards and porcelain cups are all available. Dark, coarse and challenging, The Potato Eaters is considered a Van Gogh masterpiece for its realistic depiction of peasants gathered around a plain meal of potatoes. The Rijksmuseum or Van Gogh Museum: Which is Better? These are two very different museums, one charting the entire history of Dutch art; the other focusing primarily on one absolute master of his craft. So which of the Van Gogh Museum or Rijksmuseum should you visit? Well, if you want to really get under the skin of Netherlands art and culture the answer is… both. The Rijksmuseum is going to tick a lot of boxes for you: old masters of the Dutch Golden Age, the Hague School, and 20th-century abstract modernism among them. But the one artist who is under-represented here (for perhaps obvious reasons) is Vincent Van Gogh (although, to be fair, the Rijksmuseum does contain his iconic Self-Portrait with Grey Felt Hat). So, if you love the Dutch legend’s colorful, choppy brush strokes, you’ll definitely want to take in the Van Gogh Museum too. Save on Tours, Attractions and Activities in Amsterdam Save on admission to Amsterdam attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info. Grab an Amsterdam pass and see it all while you save!
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
canal cruises
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Boat Trips and Canal tours in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a city swimming in waterways, canals, and connecting bridges. While not as damp as the likes of Venice, it's about as close as you can get without the stilts. And with so much water, one of the best ways to see the city is by boat. Whether you're looking to see all the biggest landmarks, enjoy a bottomless brunch with your friends, or have a romantic meal on the water, Amsterdam has some amazing boat trips and canal tours to experience in the city. So, which are the best? Well, read our handy list and discover for yourselves! These are our picks for the best boat trips and canal tours in Amsterdam! Including: 100 Highlights Cruise Hop on-Hop off Boat Tour G's Brunch Boat Candelight Cruise Pizza Cruise and more! Everything, everywhere, pretty much in one go If you want to see all the sights Amsterdam has to offer in one fell swoop, consider hopping aboard the 100 Highlights Cruise. Pack your camera and get ready to snap the likes of the Anne Frank House, Westerkerk, and so much more. Thanks to the audio guide you'll get when you board, available in myriad languages, you'll learn all about the city and canals' history, as well as the highlights of each landmark you pass. It's the perfect introduction to Amsterdam's waterways and gives you the chance to learn about landmarks you might want to visit on land afterward! Hop to it If you're hoping to see the sights up close, then check out a Hop on-Hop off boat tour instead! You're in complete control, so you board when you want, leave when you want to see one of the amazing landmarks that Amsterdam has to offer, and then hop back on the next boat to continue one. It's that easy! You'll pass the likes of the Rijksmuseum, the Heineken Experience, A'DAM Lookout, and the Anne Frank House, which are all well worth exploring on foot. So, if you want the freedom to go and see what you please on dry land, a Hop on-Hop off boat tour is one of the best boat trips and canal tours in Amsterdam! Boat brunch like a G Sure, you could spend your tour of Amsterdam's canals sightseeing. Or, you could enjoy a brilliant bottomless brunch courtesy of G's Brunch Boat! Two options await you on your watery adventure. Either pick a drink and one of the amazing brunch options from G's impressive menu. Or, go all-in on the bottomless brunch, help yourself to as many cocktails, beers, wines, or proseccos as you like, and top it all off with a meal from the menu. Food-wise, you'll find brunch classics like Eggs Benny, and breakfast burritos alongside meatier options like chicken and waffles, chicken burgers, and salmon-topped brioche. Then, sit in for 75 minutes of amazing views, amazing drinks, and amazing food. Does it get any better than that? Probably not. Romance on the waves If you're visiting Amsterdam with that special someone, or you're a resident who wants to impress their significant other, consider a romantic canal Candlelight Cruise! You and your muse will sit down to a delicious selection of traditional cheese and meats as your tour guide waxes lyrical about all the landmarks you pass. Sip on unlimited drinks, with beers, wines, and soft drinks on offer. It's a great way to get the lay of the land, while enjoying the lights reflecting off of the water. And your partner's eyes, of course. Romance, right? Top stuff. A pizza paradise Boats and pizza - typically not two things you'd associate with one another, but when has that stopped humanity from making things happen? We created bacon mayonnaise, after all. So, why not see pizza and boats beautifully combine on a Pizza Cruise of Amsterdam! Served by one of the city's favorite pizza chains in New York Pizza, you'll get to choose a pizza of your choice before you set off along Amsterdam's beautiful canals. Your guide will regale you with tales of the sights and sounds you see along the way, all while you tuck into your slices and a couple of drinks to boot. Ideal if the sun is shining and you have a group of friends with you, this 1.5-hour tour is easily one of the best boat trips and canal tours in Amsterdam! Learn on the water What if you could combine your love of water and boats with a sprinkling of learning and culture? Well, we have great news for you. You can, thanks to the Museum Line - Amsterdam's best museum cruise! Following a set schedule, you'll glide along Amsterdam's canals, stopping off at major museums such as the Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House, and the Hermitage. At each stop, you'll have the chance to explore and learn, filling your withered brain up with key information. There'll even be the opportunity to do some shopping, should you require tributes to the in-laws back home. And all of that in one-and-a-half hours. Not bad! Not bad at all. Sail like a semi-pirate And finally, we'll end this list of the best boat trips and canal tours in Amsterdam with an old classic - the booze cruise. Yes, even Amsterdam's beautiful waterways are graced with these bad boys. So why not take a pub cruise and explore the more exciting parts of the city? Your trip will take you through the red light district, where the eponymous lights will dance off of the canals. Beautiful, right? You'll also be free to drink beer, wine, and munch on a variety of snacks as you go, in case all that booze leaves you with cravings! And that was our list of the best boat trips and canal tours in Amsterdam!
Dom Bewley

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