Rembrandtplein and the surrounding area

Rembrandtplein is one of the main areas for nightlife in central Amsterdam. The square and nearby streets contain bars, restaurants and several large clubs. It is particularly convenient if you want different options within walking distance.

Escape Amsterdam

Escape Amsterdam is located directly on Rembrandtplein. The club has been part of the city's nightlife since 1986 and hosts DJ-led club nights in a large venue with multiple spaces. The programme varies by evening, so checking the event schedule before visiting is recommended.

AIR Amsterdam

AIR Amsterdam is on Amstelstraat, just off Rembrandtplein. The venue is known as a large nightclub with several bars and dance areas and has hosted electronic music, house, hip-hop and larger club nights. Its operating status and programme have changed recently, so check the latest information before planning your night around AIR.

Prime Amsterdam

Club Prime is located directly on Rembrandtplein. Its central position makes it easy to combine with the bars and other clubs around the square. The programme is mainly aimed at late-night clubbing, with DJs and contemporary dance music.

Reguliersdwarsstraat

Reguliersdwarsstraat is a nightlife street in the centre of Amsterdam, a short walk from Rembrandtplein. It is particularly important within Amsterdam's LGBTQI+ nightlife scene. The street and surrounding area contain clubs, bars and late-night venues.

Its location means you can easily combine Reguliersdwarsstraat with a night around Rembrandtplein without needing public transport between the two areas.

Club NYX Reguliersdwarsstraat Amsterdam

Club NYX is located on Reguliersdwarsstraat. The club has several floors and a mixed, queer-oriented programme. Depending on the night, you can hear pop, R&B, house and other dance music.

Different floors can have different music and atmospheres. Check the programme before visiting, as individual club nights can vary considerably.

Leidseplein and nearby clubs

Leidseplein is another major nightlife area in central Amsterdam. It has theatres, music venues, bars and clubs within a compact area. Compared with Rembrandtplein, there is a particularly strong emphasis on live music and venues that combine concerts with club nights.

Paradiso Amsterdam

Paradiso Amsterdam is close to Leidseplein and is housed in a former church. It is primarily a music venue, but its programme also includes electronic events, festivals and club nights. The type of night can therefore differ considerably depending on the agenda.

Melkweg Amsterdam

Melkweg Amsterdam is another major venue in the Leidseplein area. It has multiple halls and programmes concerts alongside club nights covering genres such as drum and bass, techno, hip-hop and dancehall.

Jimmy Woo nightclub Amsterdam

Jimmy Woo is located close to Leidseplein. It is a nightclub rather than a concert venue and regularly focuses on hip-hop, R&B, house and mainstream club music. The door policy can differ by event, so check the conditions for the specific night before visiting.

Club OUT Amsterdam

Club OUT Amsterdam is located on Lange Leidsedwarsstraat, close to Leidseplein. The venue focuses strongly on Latin nightlife, with club nights featuring styles such as reggaeton, salsa, bachata and other Latin music. Check the current programme and admission conditions before visiting.

Nightlife in De Pijp

For a different kind of night out, De Pijp is also worth considering. The neighbourhood is known for its lively streets, restaurants, cafés and bars, especially around areas such as Marie Heinekenplein and Gerard Douplein. The nightlife here is generally more focused on bars, drinks and smaller venues than on the large nightclubs found around Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein.

De Pijp is therefore a good option if you prefer a more relaxed evening where you can move between different bars and restaurants before continuing elsewhere in the city later at night.

Other nightlife venues in Amsterdam

Not all of Amsterdam's nightlife is concentrated around Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein. Other venues and individual nightlife concepts can be found across the city, including several well-known clubs outside the historic centre.

Supperclub Amsterdam

Supperclub Amsterdam, now part of SUPPER, combines nightlife with dining, drinks, DJs and performances rather than operating solely as a traditional nightclub. The programme depends on the evening and can include dinner events followed by late-night music.

Shelter Amsterdam

Shelter Amsterdam is an underground nightclub in Amsterdam Noord, beneath the A'DAM Tower. The club is particularly focused on electronic music, house and techno and regularly hosts DJs from Amsterdam and abroad.

RADION Amsterdam

RADION Amsterdam is located in Amsterdam Nieuw-West and is an important venue within the city's electronic and underground nightlife scene. Its programme regularly includes techno and experimental electronic music, alongside cultural events and nights organised by different collectives.

Lofi Amsterdam

Lofi Amsterdam is located in a former bus garage near Amsterdam Sloterdijk. The large industrial venue has several spaces, including an indoor club and courtyard, and regularly hosts electronic music events ranging from house and techno to drum and bass.

Garage Noord

Garage Noord is a smaller club and bar in Amsterdam Noord, housed in a former car repair garage. Its programming tends to be more alternative and experimental than that of many of the larger city-centre clubs, with a broad range of electronic music and underground events.

Parallel Amsterdam

Parallel Amsterdam is located in the Tolhuistuin complex in Amsterdam Noord, a short ferry ride from Amsterdam Central Station. The venue hosts club nights as well as concerts and cultural events, with music ranging from electronic genres to hip-hop, amapiano, dancehall and other international club sounds.

Choosing between Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein

For visitors who want several conventional nightclubs within a small area, Rembrandtplein is a practical starting point. Escape and Prime are directly around the square, while Reguliersdwarsstraat and Club NYX are also within walking distance.

Leidseplein makes more sense when live music is part of the plan. Paradiso and Melkweg have extensive concert calendars as well as club nights, while Jimmy Woo and Club OUT provide more conventional nightclub options nearby.

Neither area represents the full Amsterdam nightlife scene. Smaller clubs, queer nightlife, lively bar areas such as De Pijp and individual events can be found elsewhere in the centre and other parts of Amsterdam.

Check the party Amsterdam agenda before you go

A club's name alone does not tell you what to expect on a particular night. Amsterdam venues regularly change their programming according to the day, organizer and event. A venue might host techno one evening and hip-hop, pop or a live performance the next.

Before going out, check the party Amsterdam agenda for the date you are visiting. Look at the music style, start and end time, minimum age, ticket requirements and door policy. This is especially important for venues that host different organizers throughout the week.

Major annual events in Amsterdam can also have a big effect on the city's nightlife and how busy the city centre becomes. Events such as Amsterdam Dance Event can bring much larger crowds to clubs and venues across Amsterdam, so it is worth checking what is happening during your visit.



Best Clubs in Amsterdam by Music Style

Amsterdam's nightlife ranges from large mainstream clubs to dedicated techno venues, jazz stages and Latin clubs. The overview below shows some of the best-known places for different music styles, together with the area where you can find them.

Keep in mind that the music at many Amsterdam clubs changes depending on the night. Venues such as Paradiso, Melkweg and AIR host different club concepts throughout the week, so it is worth checking the programme before you go.

Music style Club / venue Area What to expect
House AIR Amsterdam Rembrandtplein / Centrum House, dance and all-round electronic music
Paradiso Leidseplein House and electronic music on selected club nights
LuminAir Centraal Station / Oosterdok House-focused DJ nights in a rooftop bar setting
Techno Melkweg Leidseplein Techno nights alongside a much broader music programme
Paradiso Leidseplein Techno and house depending on the event
Shelter Amsterdam-Noord Underground electronic music with a strong focus on techno and house
Drum & Bass Melkweg Leidseplein Home to established drum & bass and jungle nights such as Cheeky Monday
Hip-Hop / R&B Jimmy Woo Leidseplein Hip-hop, R&B, urban and mixed club nights
Club Prime Rembrandtplein Hip-hop, R&B, EDM and mainstream dance
Club NYX Reguliersdwarsstraat Selected floors and nights feature hip-hop and R&B
Paradiso Leidseplein Regular hip-hop, R&B and urban club concepts
Melkweg Leidseplein Hip-hop, R&B and urban nights depending on the programme
Disco / Mainstream Dance Escape Rembrandtplein Mainstream dance, pop and commercial club music
AIR Amsterdam Rembrandtplein Dance, house and all-round club programming
Club Prime Rembrandtplein EDM, dance, hip-hop and R&B
Jimmy Woo Leidseplein Commercial, urban and mixed club nights
e Club NYX Reguliersdwarsstraat Pop, disco, dance, hip-hop and mixed floors
Jazz BIMHUIS Oostelijke Eilanden Dedicated venue for jazz and improvised music
Latin / Reggaeton Club OUT Leidseplein Salsa, bachata, reggaeton, merengue and Latin house
Comedy Boom Chicago Jordaan / Rozengracht English-language stand-up, improv and comedy shows