The Pre-Drink: Amsterdam

Amsterdam has long been a favorite of student travelers making their way to Europe, and for good reason. Everyone in Amsterdam knows English, and with gorgeous canals, seemingly endless cycling paths, the notorious “coffeeshops,” and plenty to do, the city is a top spot to spend everything from winter breaks to summer vacation.

One of Amsterdam’s downsides, however, can be its costs. Though not as bad as cities like London, if you’re not careful, a night of drinks and partying in Amsterdam can leave you waking up with a headache and a significantly lighter wallet than what you went out with the say before.

Students in Amsterdam know this. That’s why they’ve found the best local bars and hangs to spend a night out without breaking the bank. Luckily, we’ve managed to convince them to spill their secrets. Here are the best student bars in Amsterdam.

 

Café de Gieter

A two minute walk from Leidseplein, one of Amsterdam’s main squares, Café de Gieter is a student favorite for a weeknight drink (and that’s not just because beers are discounted to an unbelievable 2 Euros from Monday to Thursday).

The bar is tight – just accept that you’re going to be hitting elbows and bumping drinks. But it’s always energetic, and if you’re trying to meet real students from Amsterdam and abroad, Gieter has plenty of strangers eager to drink with you.

Standing room starts to fill up as soon as the bar opens, and people tend to keep going until the owners force everyone out. There’s not really space to sit – you’ll end up standing most of the time you’re inside – but the environment and prices can’t be beat. Plus, you’re right next to a lot of good drunk snack food.

 

Hannekes Boom

This waterfront bar and cafe is perfect if you’re looking for a little less chaos. Boom’s interior is filled with art and upcycled furniture, and if you’re hungry, the eats are sick. They’ve got cafe food and even some stuff for all of your vegetarian friends.

There’s also plenty of space to dance – Boom’s owners to bring in DJs and live music on the weekends, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself bumping on the dancefloor after a few drinks. Boom is definitely better during the summer, but they stay open during the winter for food and to host weekend events.

 

Cafe Sound Garden

Probably the dive-iest dive bar in Amsterdam. Sure, it’s got a nice outdoor area if you want to bring your parents there or something, but on the inside, it’s all punk rock, foosball, and cheap beer.

Don’t expect to see tourists here. It’s all students, young people, and old dudes who don’t want to deal with the high prices of the inner city. Hungry? They have nachos, but we’d say pass – just hold off and pick up a waffle, kebab, or pizza slice on the way back.

If you get tired of the ruckus, there are plenty of other bars in the area. It’s super close to Lijn and, if you’re looking to treat yourself, De Brandstof.

 

 

Café Vrijdag

Café Vrijdag is weird, but hear us out. The place used to be an unsuccessful fancy restaurant, so instead of trying to make it work, the owners just ripped everything out and turned it into a cafe and bar.

That makes inside feel like you should be paying much more than you actually are. Locals always describe this place as “cozy” – that’s probably why it’s got the most twenty-something women out of anywhere in the city.

Prices can get a little rough, but they’ve got good beers on tap and if you’re lucky enough to be there when they’re throwing an event, the best people in Amsterdam always come out.

 

Bloemenbar

 

Most bars in Amsterdam close at 3 AM. Bloemenbar doesn’t, and that’s why people love it. Any day of the week, you’ll find locals drinking and having a good time and trying to meet people.

There’s space to relax – they’ve got fancy-looking couches and the vibe inside is super chill. Like any good bar you’re trying to throw some beers back in, they’ve also got a dancefloor if you want to take a new friend out for a dance.

The neighborhood is surprisingly bougie, but even if you don’t stay until whenever close is, Bloemenbar is worth checking out.

 

De Nieuwe Anita

De Nieuwe Anita is one of the coolest bars/clubs in Amsterdam, but good luck finding it. If you’ve managed to make your way through the maze that is Amsterdam’s canals, the entry to this place is just a doorway with a doorbell. Before you go in, you gotta ring it and wait for someone in the bar to (hopefully) hear it.

Is it worth it though? HELL yes. The front space is a living room and feels super tight and cozy. Talking to people inside is easy, and the crowd is everyone from students to old people.

The back space changes completely. It’s got a dancefloor and crazy music. Sometimes, they’ve got local house DJs. Other times, they’ll bring in something weird like an Indian mandolin player. Check the schedule before you go, but definitely go.

Prices are average for the city, and there are more than enough drunchies in the area.

 

Insider Tips

Except for the bars that we mentioned here, beer prices across Amsterdam are pretty consistent. For the best time, just talk to students and see what’s going on that weekend. Sometimes they won’t want to tell a foreigner what’s up, but as the city has gotten more international students at their universities, they’ve started to let more and more outsiders into their clique. Play your cards right, you might start your night pregaming in some dude’s student housing before heading to the club.

Finally, get the GVB app. This will help you figure out all of the public transit so you don’t blow all your cash on cabs. Make sure to save your location so you don’t have to think too hard trying to get back to your hostel or AirBNB at the end of the night.