I have closed down more Amsterdam clubs than I care to admit to my mother, so consider this the nightlife guide written by someone who genuinely did the research, repeatedly, at unreasonable hours. The city's nights are intimate, queer-friendly, and refreshingly unpretentious compared to other European capitals. Here's where I send everyone who wants to actually have fun.

Jimmy Woo

Jimmy Woo is the glamorous one, the club that still feels like an event years after it opened. Dark, moody, drenched in that famous ceiling of lights, it's where you go to feel like you've arrived somewhere special. The crowd is stylish, the dance floor is serious, and the door can be selective, so dress well and bring your charm. This is my pick when I want to feel fabulous and dance until my feet file a complaint.

Chicago Social Club

Chicago Social Club, right on the Leidseplein, is the dependable good time. Live music some nights, DJs on others, a crowd that's there to dance rather than pose. It manages to be cool without being exhausting about it, which after fourteen years I have come to deeply appreciate. Great for kicking off a night or sliding into the small hours.

DND

DND is the kind of bar-club hybrid that keeps the energy buzzing without demanding you commit to a full rave. Stylish, social, perfect for cocktails that drift into dancing. It's where I take people who say "I'm too old to club" and then somehow stay until two.

The Reguliersdwarsstraat

Now, the heart of it all. The Reguliersdwarsstraat, "the Reguliers" to those of us who can pronounce it, is Amsterdam's legendary gay street, and it is glorious. A short stretch packed with bars, dancing, drag, and the most welcoming crowd in the city. As a queer guy who came up partying here, I can tell you this street raised me. Bar-hop the whole thing, talk to strangers, and let the night unfold. Everyone is welcome, and everyone has a better time for it.

Supperclub

Supperclub is less a restaurant, less a club, more a glorious fever dream where you eat lying down on big white beds while performers swirl around you and the night slowly transforms into a party. It's theatrical, a little surreal, and absolutely worth doing once, ideally with a group game for anything. By dessert you've stopped asking questions and started dancing.

Chin Chin Club

And the Chin Chin Club brings the retro-glam fantasy: think gold, mirrors, cocktails, and a crowd dressed to be photographed. It's flirtatious and fun, perfect for a night that wants a bit of sparkle without taking itself too seriously.

A few survival tips

  • The Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein are your two main nightlife hubs, an easy walk apart.
  • Cash is rare, cards rule, so don't stress about an ATM run.
  • Pace yourself. Dutch nights start late and end later.
  • Be kind to the queer spaces. They're sacred, joyful, and for everyone who respects them.

Amsterdam nightlife isn't about velvet ropes and attitude, it's about joy, freedom, and dancing with strangers who become friends by sunrise. Wear comfortable enough shoes to lie about how comfortable they are, and go make some questionable, wonderful memories.