Gametime: Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a city known for its canals, bustling inner city, and of course, its red light district and numerous, uh, “coffeeshops.” But when the sun goes down, the city becomes a whole new animal, roaring with places to party, dance, drink, and rage until the early morning. If you are looking to spend a night you’ll never forget in Amsterdam, here are the dance clubs you have to see.

 

ClubUp

ClubUp is a true outlier when it comes to inner-city clubs. Normally, a club located right in the middle of a tourist area means a dead dancefloor and people who want to impress their friends by getting bottle service. ClubUp is great because, despite being in the heart of Amsterdam’s commemorative t-shirt district, the environment is super nice. ClubUp has everything: house, techno, hip hop, and more, with the exact music style changing depending on the night. Bouncers are generally cool; don’t be a jerk and you should get through just fine. Beers inside are surprisingly cheap for the location as well, which is a huge plus.

 

De School

De School is one of the most well-known clubs in Amsterdam. Because of this, locals find this place a little pretentious. That said, De School is unlike anything else in Amsterdam, and it’s worth at least a one-night stop. Housed in an old technical school, the building holds a concert venue, a café, a restaurant, an exhibition space, and a gym, and with a 24-hour license, it sells alcohol around the clock. The club area of De School is in the school’s old bicycle repair shop. DJs come from all over the world to play at De School, though the club prefers setting up local DJs to give you a taste of what Amsterdam has to offer. The sound is amazing and the crowd, a mix of locals and visitors from all over Europe and beyond, cannot be beat. Prices are average for Amsterdam – expect a 16-18 Euro cover charge. The bouncers can be a little rough here, so know who’s playing and be calm at the door and you’ll be fine.

 

Woodstock'69

 Amsterdam doesn’t get a lot of sunny days, so when it does, it takes full advantage. Woodstock'69 is the place to do just that. A legendary beach club and live stage just outside of the city, Woodstock'69 has diverse lineups, chill vibes, and offerings for every day of the week from April to September. On weekend nights, DJs come through to spin classic funk and disco records and more to a sandy dancefloor. Get your trunks, because its place on the water means throwing back beach drinks and going for a nearby swim.

 

Jack

For those seeking an authentic house and techno experience, Jack is the ideal club to get a taste of Amsterdam’s gritty underground nightlife. From the outside, the club looks like a gray, boring office building. However, once you get inside, the parties get real wild real fast. Friday nights are a softer experience, with Saturday nights turning up the intensity for parties that power through Saturday night deep into Sunday. Parties at Jack offer the city’s best house, techno, and general rave experience, and in the summer, the rooftop opens up for unbelievable dance events.

Full disclosure: as an authentic underground club, it’s not uncommon to see people of all shapes, sizes, and genders getting a little freaky on the dancefloor. If that’s something you’re cool with, you’ll feel right at home at Jack. Depending on the event, door prices range from 10 to 18 Euros, with tickets often sold in advance.

 

De Marktkantine

One of the biggest clubs in Amsterdam is De Marktkantine. The space is as big as the names they bring in, representing some of the most talented DJs in Europe. When we say the club is huge, we mean huge. The building is a crazy 3,000 square feet, with the largest room capable of squeezing in almost 1,200 people. Other, smaller rooms give you the chance to take a break from the main room, filled with relaxing music and calm spaces to talk and hang out.

 

Festivals

Yeah, we know this isn’t a club. But if you’re visiting Amsterdam, chances are high that there’s a festival on. The Dutch love music festivals, with events like Awakenings, Amsterdam Dance Event, DGTL, and so, so many more happening year-round. See what’s on for the dates you’re traveling and check it out.

 

Tips before you go:

-Have cash on hand. Barely any club accepts a card, and if they do, they won’t let you open a tab, and nothing kills a buzz like having to repeatedly wait to sign a receipt.

 

-21+ means nothing. If an event warns that “under 21s will not be admitted,” don’t worry. This is just a scare tactic meant for newbies in the world of clubbing. Basically, clubs just want to make sure that you’re going to be a good sport. ID checks almost never happen.

 

-Diversify your crowd. One of the biggest turn-offs for a bouncer is seeing a large group of drunk foreign dudes loudly waiting in line to get in. However, chances are you are in a large group of drunk foreign dudes loudly waiting to get into one of Amsterdam’s clubs. So how do you ensure success with the city’s bouncers? Simple: either split up or talk to people. Breaking up into groups of two can increase your chances of entry. Or, if you manage to meet locals or other visitors in Amsterdam’s many bars, invite them out. Bouncers love a group with mixed ages and genders, and if you come ready to throw down, you’ll be sure to pass by the rope without pause.

 

-Get ready to travel. With few clubs in the city center, going out often means buses, bike rides, and navigating Amsterdam’s public transit system. Download the GVB app for the best routes to and from the club.