Impressive Art-Deco Cinema and other Amsterdam, Netherlands Nightlife Tips

Nightlife Spot: Theater Tuschinski

Theater Tuschinski is an impressive and unusual old-style cinema, close to Rembrandtsplein. After walking past it on our first night, we decided to visit it and watch War of the Worlds, which had just been released.

From the outside the building is extremely strange, like something from Batman's Gotham City. Immediately inside the doors is an old-style luxury lounge with seats, carpets and a bar.

The queues for both ticket booths were long on Saturday night. I wondered whether the film would be sold-out. But once inside, it was clear that the auditorium was vast, like a very large theatre, painted walls, angular lights like 1920's gas lamps, a massive star-like light across the ceiling 100-feet up. And curved balconies stretching around the edge!! Basically, lots of room.

The beautiful cinema made up for the mediocre Hollywood film which, like lots of American films was subtitled in Dutch.

The price was 10 euros per person for films in the main auditorium. Expensive 'London' prices, but I could understand why for such an interesting venue. There were also a massive number of staff, who were all helpful, efficient and friendly.

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Theme: Other
Dress Code: Some people dressed casually, some others were very smart. A complete mixture, though the 'casuals' were in the majority.
Phone: 020 626 26 33
Address: Reguliersbreetstraat, near Rembrandtsplein.
Directions: Trams 4 and 9 go to Rembrandtsplein, though it is only a 10-15 minute walk south of Dam Square.

Nightlife Spot: The Waterhole, near Leidseplein

The Waterhole was one place recommended to us by a friendly barman in our local cafe. It is just off Leidseplein, south of the Jordaan area. Leidseplein has a sort of 'happening' feel about it at night, full of bright neon lights, outdoor bars, take-away food joints.

There was no entrance charge on a busy Saturday night. The drinks were inexpensive, and the usual good Amsterdam standard. It had a live band, doing very passable cover-versions of British and American rock/pop.

It also has an area around the band used as a dance floor. Everyone from 16 to 62 by the looks of it :-)

We eventually left at 2am and it was clear that the night was still young!!

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Theme: Nightclub
Dress Code: Complete mixture, mainly very casual.
Address: 20m northwest of Leidseplein
Directions: Leidseplein is sandwiched between the Prinsengracht, Singelgracht and Leidsegracht, directly south of the Jordaan area.

Nightlife Spot: Cafee t'Gasthuys

Not too far south of Dam Square, off a side road is the Cafee t'Gasthuys. It overlooks one of Amsterdams canals and is a pleasant place to sit for a few beers, or some food.

The crowd were almost all Dutch, with a one table of English visitors when we were there (and us Welsh, of course). The bar serves hot food and snacks till around 10pm. There are at least too very friendly black cats that live inside the pub!

It was an interesting place to sit outside and people-watch, or observe the many night boats that passed along the canal. Some were luxury craft, candle-lit with wealthy passengers drinking wine. Others were loud, pumping music into the night, filled with young revellers having fun.

Watch out for the occasional passing car or motorbike - the lane is narrow and if you are sitting near the road you will get a mouth full of petrol fumes!!

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Theme: Eating and Drinking
Address: Grimburgwal
Directions: Off the Rokin