Going Out

Amsterdam nightlife is more than the Red Light District — way more. These are the bars, clubs, and live music spots where you will actually run into locals. The places I text my friends about when I want to go out.

Amsterdam Festival Calendar

Jan

Thuishaven

music

Weekly club night. Raw warehouse vibes, serious dancers.

Underground techno, locals only

€€

Trance Energy

music

Major trance festival at Amsterdam ArenA.

Trance & electronic

€€€

Mar

Lentekabinet

culture

Spring art festival in City Theater. Shows, performances, installations.

Art, design, Dutch culture

€€

Apr

DGTL

music

Digital culture festival. Massive electronic music festival.

Electronic music, eco-conscious

€€€

King's Day

culture

April 27 — Entire city turns orange. Beer, boats, chaos, fun. Book your hotel NOW.

National holiday, massive street party

€

May

Rollende Keukens

food

Open-air food festival with food trucks from around the world.

Street food festival

€€

Jun

De Parade

culture

Traveling circus festival with performances, food, art.

Circus, cabaret, theater on wheels

€€

Awakenings

music

Legendary summer techno festival at Amsterdam Sportpark.

Techno, house, electronic

€€€

Tap Oost/Tap West

food

Beer festival with street food vendors. Neighborhood vibe.

Craft beer, street food

€€

Aug

Amsterdam Open Air

music

Multi-day electronic music festival. House, techno, drum and bass.

Electronic music festival

€€€

Dekmantel

music

Boutique electronic festival. Small, curated, quality over size.

Electronic, experimental, curated

€€€

Sep

Strafwerk

music

Urban music festival. Hip-hop, reggae, African, world music stages.

Hip-hop, reggae, world music

€€€

Dec

New Year's Eve Canal Parties

culture

December 31 — Everyone parties on boats and canal sides.

Canal-side celebrations

€€