Cheap Amsterdam: how to live the city like a local (pro)

Here is a list for you with the inn’s and out’s of Amsterdam.

Clubbing in Amsterdam

A trip to Amsterdam is not complete without a visit to one of our biggest clubs right in the middle of the city centre. The MELKWEG a big nightclub on the Leidse square. With dance nights on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Another nice place is the Paradiso also on the Leidse square (Weteringschans 6), with club nights for students on Wednesday and Thursday. On Friday and Saturday, they have different club nights.

And Club Escape located on the Rembrandt square, especially for house music fans. You can find the Escape on Rembrandtplein 11, tram 4 stops for the door.

Besides going to nightclubs, Amsterdam has a big assortment of bars (dancing) where you can go to. If you feel like swinging your hips and getting into the Latin salsa, you should definitely bring a visit at bar Cantinero on a Friday night, entrance is free. There are two dance floors and you will see Profs and amateurs showing their best moves. You will find bar Cantinero at Marie Heinekenplein 4, tram 25 stops in front of the door (stop= Heinekenbrouwerij). Besides Salsa there is Danssen bij Janssen loved by students, especially on Wednesday and Thursday you will find the place packed with students. Here they play any type of music, especially pop and top 40. You can find Danssen bij Janssen at the Handboogstraat 11, in front of the side entrance of the shopping mall Kalvertoren. After shaking and dancing you can visit the “Ice bar”, but don’t forget to bring your jacket and hand gloves. You will definitely have the coldest beer you will ever get in Amsterdam. Check out the Ice bar at the Amstel 194-196.

Restaurants

After, all these parties in clubs and bar and besides all the joints and other stuff that you take during your trip to Amsterdam. You should have a healthy meal in one of these places. Especially the first place is worth the visit, tasty and cheap (7.95 for a daily menu). It is named Het Pakhuis you can find this restaurant at the Voetboogstraat 12 (next to the shopping centre Kalvertoren in the Kalverstraat).

For a not so healthy but typical Dutch snack/ dinner you need to go to Febo. Here you can eat kroketten, Patat met, Frikandel, and many more interesting things... You can find the Febo at the: Damrak, Munt / Rembrandtplein, Leidseplein, Dappermarktand the Albert Kuijp market. Then there also is the Spanish tapas restaurant Pata Negra the best tapas in Amsterdam. You pay around 3 to 4 euro per tapas. You can find Pata Negra at Utrechtsestraat 124, 1017 VT Amsterdam. Tram 4 stops in that direction.

Coffeeshops

And how cliché it might be, we all know that you come to Amsterdam to smoke a joint (legally!!) You should check out one of these two places, where you can just chill and smoke a joint, such as at the Hill Street Blues in the Warmoestraat 52. And don’t worry for those of you who don’t know how to roll a joint (Amsterdam has them already rolled for you). And there are many more in the city to discover!

Hostels

Even though you might be so busy, smoking, visiting the red light district and biking through the city. You will love to see a bed at the end of the day. These are some clean and affordable hostels. Check them out!

Events

As many other big cities in Europe, Amsterdam offers a broad agenda of events and festivals that you can come and visit during the whole year. These are the biggest events and the ones you should definitely check out. But besides coming to these events, you should come and see Amsterdam whenever you want because it never sleeps zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

On the 30th of April, Holland celebrates the birthday of their queen: this day is called Queens Day by the Dutch called "Koninginnedag"

On the 5th of May the Dutch citizens celebrate” Bevrijdingsdag” they celebrate their freedom; this was the day when the Dutch people were freed from the Germans during the Second World War. Still every year, the Dutch people celebrate their freedom with big festivals throughout the whole country. In Amsterdam, you will find many street concerts and music parties.

Then during the summer months, Amsterdam has this event called: Uitmarkt held on the 29/ 30 /31 of August. This is a yearly event that is celebrated each last weekend of August. It stands symbol for the start of a new cultural year. You have many food stands, music and concerts.

Another event that is held in the summer months is the Parade held from the 31st of July till the 16th of August, this is a theatre, music, dance and film festival that travels through the Netherlands during the summer months. All the parks will be transformed into a cultural sightseeing, with fountains, theatre and much more.

Parks

The park is a popular hangout place during the summer months. You can entertain yourself the whole day by watching people play soccer, make music, groups smoking joints and people skating and jogging through the park. The best parks to go to are The Vondelpark, Safati Park and the Rembrandt Park.

Markets

If you like to buy some fruit and vegetables to cook a healthy meal in your hostel or just like to stroll over the market. You should bring a visit to one of these markets. The Albert Kuijp market (A’dam south, tram 4, 24 and 25), the Dapper market (A’dam east, tram 10 and 7) and the Kinker market (in the Kinkerstraat tram 17).

Shopping

And of course, for those of you who also come to Amsterdam to do some shopping, check out these places you will definitely find something of your taste! The kalverstraat ( centrum), Utrechtse straat (centrum). The Kinkerstraat (west), the neighbourhood around the Albert Kuijp market in the south, and also the neighbourhood around the Dapper market in the east has some nice shops. Then a famous place among the “ Amsterdammers” is the “Negen straatjes” the nine streets this is the neighbourhood of the Jordaan, there is nine long street where you can find second-hand stores, nice gadgets and antiques. You also have the possibility to visit these two small shopping malls The Kalvertoren and the Magna Plaza.