The Best Nightclubs in Amsterdam

Situated in a former church just moments from the Rijksmuseum is Paradiso. The impressive acoustics make this the place to go for music acts that span various genres, including rock, pop and dance. It has great energy, attracting big names such as Solomun and New Hope Club, but feels surprisingly intimate once you’re inside.

The name of this nightclub, OT301, is a play on its location, Overtoom 301, which is just north of Vondelpark. Once a squat, today this hipster club pulls in a younger crowd thanks to the reasonably priced entry and drinks. During the week, OT301 tends to put on live music, while the at weekend it pulls together high-quality DJ line-ups from the Netherlands and beyond.

Claire is situated slap bang in the tourist hub on Rembrandtplein. The club is dedicated to incredible programming, bringing in DJs from all over the world. Nights here are well worth the entry price, around €14. The club is skilled at putting together varied line-ups in one night, specialising in house music, and combining up-and-coming and established artists. Claire is just plain fun.

De School was set up by the Amsterdam institution that was Trouw, the now closed nightclub that was one of the first places where you could head to an exhibition, have dinner and then commence clubbing. Situated, aptly, in an old technical college, De School houses a restaurant, art exhibitions and even a gym. The DJ line-up isn’t usually released until 24 hours prior; nonetheless, with such great pedigree, regulars know the programming is discerning and a good time is all but guaranteed.

Shelter can be found under the A’DAM Tower, a ferry ride across the water from Centraal station. More akin to a London club, it is big and spacious, with an intimate dance floor and the DJ situated in the centre. Big names such as Maceo Plex, Richie Hawton and Denis Sulta play here. Every so often, Shelter is granted a 24-hour licence. The subterranean location combined with the ferry crossing means you really feel like you’re escaping the city for the night.

Out to the west of the city, you’ll find De Marktkantine. The Marcanti building was once a canteen for wholesale traders working at the market next door. Now it is a varied space with a nightclub, theatre and workspaces. As one of the largest clubs in the Netherlands, the programming is both impressive and eclectic.

Club NYX is fun and cheeky. It’s situated on Amsterdam’s famous gay street, Reguliersdwarsstraat. You head here for the crowd and the ambience rather than a specific DJ. It’s both LGBTQ- and female-friendly, with club nights happening every Friday and Saturday from 11pm until 5am. Want to try before you buy? Club NYX creates a Spotify playlist for every party it hosts.

A sweatbox in the centre of town, this tiny club puts on some fun nights. This is the place to go if disco, funk, soul, boogie, house or hip-hop are your thing. Open seven nights a week and more affordable when compared to some of the bigger nightclubs, Disco Dolly attracts a younger crowd. Get warmed up for a night out by visiting one of Amsterdam’s best bars.

A small live-music venue, Bitterzoet offers something different every night, whether it’s a DJ line-up one or a live band. The music genres are just as varied, too, with the programming spanning everything from rock and hip-hop to soul and reggae. On weekdays, you can party until 3am and until 4am on weekends. With an affordable entry fee and eclectic music, Bitterzoet draws a young clientele.