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Things to do between 03:00 and 07:00 (Amsterdam overnight without a hotel)?
Posted: 2014-11-28, 7:43 pm

TurricaN
Posts: 129
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Hey all,

I'd like to hear some thoughts on the feasibility of staying overnight in Amsterdam without a hotel.

I live one hour away from Amsterdam by train and often visit Amsterdam just for a day out, usually on a Saturday. I normally arrive at 10:00 and leave at 23:00 on the last train. Lately I've been wondering if I could skip the last train in favour of an all-nighter, then take a train back the next morning instead? The earliest train would be 07:00, so I'd need to last at least until then. Note that I would be doing this alone.

I recently had my first hotel stay in Amsterdam, during which I was able to experience Amsterdam beyond 23:00 for the first time and had some great nights. The latest I stayed out was around 03:00, by which time it seemed to be getting quiet and a lot of the bars seemed to be closing, although I wasn't actually looking for bars at this time since I just wanted to sleep, so I can't be sure of the exact status. But suffice to say, I don't really know what (if anything) goes on in Amsterdam beyond 03:00.

So here's my question: Am I likely to find bars still open between 03:00 and 07:00? Clubs? Anywhere to get snacks? Anything else to do? Would this be a fun time to be around Amsterdam? I'm not too fussy about exactly where I go or what I do, but I'd like to be reasonably certain that I won't end up spending four hours wandering around in the cold of night.

For what it's worth, the Dutch guy I rent my apartment from said he used to do Amsterdam all-nighters around 40 years ago. He thinks it should still be possible and says it should always be able to find a few places open in De Wallen. However, I don't feel certain since I'm assuming a lot could have changed over the last 40 years.

Any thoughts or ideas on this? Does anyone have any experience?

Cheers,
Turr
Re: Things to do between 03:00 and 07:00 (Amsterdam overnight without a hotel)?
Posted: 2014-11-29, 12:16 am

theswipe
Posts: 6
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On my last trip we went out on the Saturday night, ended up at Club NL... Decent place, interesting people and generally a fun time! We ended up leaving around 5am, and there was no sign of the place slowing down. Give it a look, it's on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal
Re: Things to do between 03:00 and 07:00 (Amsterdam overnight without a hotel)?
Posted: 2014-11-29, 4:49 am

fizzersix
Posts: 67
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dude, 25 years ago I visited Amsterdam and it was freighting to be out past 1am, can't imagine what it would have been like 40 years ago. My dad could weigh in on it, he's been going there since the 60's. Back in the 80's, I was mugged, non physical confrontation, near the Die Port Van Cleve/Dam Square area waiting for a tram. The streets were empty and it was probably 1-1:30am. I had a buddy with me and that dumb ass took all his money and hash on the town, he didn't pay attention to the warnings and they pretty much they took all his weed and money..all they reaped from my pockets was a couple of guilders.
Fast forward to the current times, it's shocking to see so many people still up and about at 1,2, 3 am, on the recent trips..I walk about on the town by myself and don't feel anywhere near uncomfortable as in the 80's..it could be that I have a "dutch" disguise, so people don't really f' with me..well, except for the dude on shrums and a few "coke" wannabe dealers. Sorry,this isn't what you're looking for , i digressed for a moment.


good luck on finding something to do for those 4-5 hours. I went for a walk at 5am on a recent trip and saw some people hanging around the small park, by the large department store/parking structure, that sits just off the main street-- Damrak (is it?). It's, of course, full of bicycles, but they have a bench or two that they have been sitting on/talking not asleep.
Re: Things to do between 03:00 and 07:00 (Amsterdam overnight without a hotel)?
Posted: 2014-11-29, 8:12 am

Roland Power Kat
Posts: 556
Location: Amsterdam
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Easy to do.

Depends though on the weather and how old you are and what you like.

Choices for music include Paradiso and other "clubs" . They are open till 5 am. After hours parties start at 1 and go till 8.

Special events like Wasteland finish at 6:30 am.

Live music for me is always Bourbon Street. Open till 4 on weekdays and 5 on weekends.

Few food places open till 6.

Albert Cuyp market coffee shop opens at 6 and you can watch the market get set up.

There are also 24 hour gyms if you like to work-out.

Make some Amsterdam friends.

Regards, Roland

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Re: Things to do between 03:00 and 07:00 (Amsterdam overnight without a hotel)?
Posted: 2014-12-01, 4:28 pm

mr brightside
Posts: 114
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There are 4 bars I know which are officially "closed" but if you're in early enough and you aren't a prick to the bar staff you will be allowed to stay for a lock in, usually all night. That said you need to be buying drinks and if you fall asleep you'll be kicked out. Wandering around at gone 3am isn't that great, it's not New York and most everything is shut up.

Why not just get a bed in a hostel? You'll probably spend as much on drinks in a few hours as a budget hostel would be.
Re: Things to do between 03:00 and 07:00 (Amsterdam overnight without a hotel)?
Posted: 2014-12-01, 7:42 pm

ams2008damPower Kat XXX
Power Kat XXX
Posts: 1767
Location: UK
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you also have the Holland casino if your funds would allow a bit of gambling for a few hours or you could just have some food and drink there.i would just go on the last train as after 9 most of the night shift girls are around.
Re: Things to do between 03:00 and 07:00 (Amsterdam overnight without a hotel)?
Posted: 2014-12-04, 5:01 pm

block
Posts: 458
Location: Texas 2
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Sorry for the old war story but I wandered around Amsterdam all night 25 years ago as well. As I recall it was a Saturday night and after 0200 a lot of the activity in the RLD and city center slowed way down. During those days the bridges were swarming with drug pushers and generally shady looking folks. I think the last of the windows closed at 0400 and after that it was a ghost town. I never really felt threatened and if you stay aware of your surrounding and dont do something really stupid I would think ya would be okay.

If I am not mistaken I think the night buses run all night so if ya get tired of walking ya might wanna hop a night bus and ride.

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Re: Things to do between 03:00 and 07:00 (Amsterdam overnight without a hotel)?
Posted: 2014-12-04, 7:49 pm

george47 Power Kat
Posts: 1074
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Act very drunk in front of a policeman and get a warm cell for the night.
Re: Things to do between 03:00 and 07:00 (Amsterdam overnight without a hotel)?
Posted: 2014-12-04, 10:43 pm

YIN
Posts: 36
Location: South Dublin
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Dutch cops are so nice and laid back they would probably just buy you burger and coffee to sober you up.
Re: Things to do between 03:00 and 07:00 (Amsterdam overnight without a hotel)?
Posted: 2014-12-08, 8:49 pm

TurricaN
Posts: 129
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Thanks everyone for the suggestions and sorry for the late reply. I see quite a few options there!

The most appealing suggestion so far would probably be the casino, but the only casinos I've ever been to were in Las Vegas earlier this year. I loved the over-the-top atmosphere, colourful surroundings, jingles of the slots, etc. I enjoyed just playing the cheap machines and getting free drinks. I'm definitely not big on gambling, but I did find it pretty fun just for the entertainment as a one-off thing. Visiting a casino in Amsterdam would be a new experience for me, but I really have no idea how it would compare to those in Vegas.

Anyway, I checked the website of Holland Casino and it appears to close at 03:00, so it looks like that wouldn't be an option. I might go to check it out sometime anyway just to do something different.

I see a lot of suggestions for clubs too, which could be an option, but some of the websites and posts in this thread specify closing times of 04:00 or 05:00 (e.g. Club NL), which is earlier than I'd like since it still leaves me with 2-3 hours to kill. I'd also prefer something a little more relaxed (maybe these clubs have chill-out rooms or something, which would probably be good - I never really enjoyed going to loud hyperactive clubs in the UK and haven't been to a club in over ten years). If nothing else though, at least it could be another new and interesting experience for me I guess.

Alternately, I guess I could go for a really cheap hotel, but it seems a bit wasteful if I'm only going to be spending 3-4 hours there. On the other hand, a few hours of sleep could keep me going further into Sunday instead of going back on the first train, so it would buy me some more time in Amsterdam. I probably wouldn't go for a hostel though because I'm a bad sleeper and I don't think I'd be able to sleep at all in a room filled with other random people.

Anyway, I'm still thinking of trying this in January or early February, so I'll post about how things go if I end up doing it. :)

Cheers again for the suggestions and interesting stories!
TurricaN
Re: Things to do between 03:00 and 07:00 (Amsterdam overnight without a hotel)?
Posted: 2014-12-08, 11:50 pm

lilji
Posts: 432
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TurricaN wrote:
Thanks everyone for the suggestions and sorry for the late reply. I see quite a few options there!

The most appealing suggestion so far would probably be the casino, but the only casinos I've ever been to were in Las Vegas earlier this year. I loved the over-the-top atmosphere, colourful surroundings, jingles of the slots, etc. I enjoyed just playing the cheap machines and getting free drinks. I'm definitely not big on gambling, but I did find it pretty fun just for the entertainment as a one-off thing. Visiting a casino in Amsterdam would be a new experience for me, but I really have no idea how it would compare to those in Vegas.

Anyway, I checked the website of Holland Casino and it appears to close at 03:00, so it looks like that wouldn't be an option. I might go to check it out sometime anyway just to do something different.

I see a lot of suggestions for clubs too, which could be an option, but some of the websites and posts in this thread specify closing times of 04:00 or 05:00 (e.g. Club NL), which is earlier than I'd like since it still leaves me with 2-3 hours to kill. I'd also prefer something a little more relaxed (maybe these clubs have chill-out rooms or something, which would probably be good - I never really enjoyed going to loud hyperactive clubs in the UK and haven't been to a club in over ten years). If nothing else though, at least it could be another new and interesting experience for me I guess.

Alternately, I guess I could go for a really cheap hotel, but it seems a bit wasteful if I'm only going to be spending 3-4 hours there. On the other hand, a few hours of sleep could keep me going further into Sunday instead of going back on the first train, so it would buy me some more time in Amsterdam. I probably wouldn't go for a hostel though because I'm a bad sleeper and I don't think I'd be able to sleep at all in a room filled with other random people.

Anyway, I'm still thinking of trying this in January or early February, so I'll post about how things go if I end up doing it. :)

Cheers again for the suggestions and interesting stories!
TurricaN


You could try Shelter City hostel. It's a christian hostel with a 24 hour reception/entry. Mixed crowds and when I stayed there I thought I was heading in early at midnight but looked like most were already asleep. Big rooms so if you check in early in the day you can ask for a bed at the back (less noisy). Plus it's pretty cheap too.
Re: Things to do between 03:00 and 07:00 (Amsterdam overnight without a hotel)?
Posted: 2014-12-09, 6:20 am

TurricaN
Posts: 129
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It's not the noise that I'm worried about; just the presence of other people being there would be enough to keep me awake. At home, I can't even sleep just knowing that my bedroom door is open, despite the fact that I can't even actually see the door.
Re: Things to do between 03:00 and 07:00 (Amsterdam overnight without a hotel)?
Posted: 2014-12-09, 10:41 am

french7034
Posts: 126
Location: Paris
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I've done all nighters several times and generally I just wander the streets and stumble into anywhere which looks half open. A lot of bars which are closing have been happy for me to sit in there with a quiet drink.
As I said on another post yesterday, between 4am and 7am things can get a little interesting, mainly due to the fact that you're left with the night crawlers and street walkers. Imagine De Wallen but without tourists, mongerers or (many) police. It's a crazy place but I have been doing all night explorations since I was 17 when I would fly out in an afternoon, stay all night and fly back the following lunchtime, all without booking a hotel.

I've got to say that I have come across dangerous, fascinating, hilarious, frightening, comatose and friendly people during these hours, but it depends on your sense of adventure / level of crazy :) I make sure I have two full packs of cigarettes (last resort bargaining tool with the nutters), some money in different parts of my clothing and a bottle of water in my back pocket so if all else fails I can sit around and smoke a Marlboro.
Honestly, when people ask me "where did you grow up?" I would like to answer "the streets of Amsterdam's RLD when everyone else has gone home", but it can give off the wrong vibe! Seriously though, it taught me a lot at that age and I still love doing it. Personally I think you see a different side to a city once you've wandered around all night and watched the sun come up; I have done so in London, Prague, Barcelona, San Francisco, Granada, Paris and amazingly enough Sofia (which was a truly frightening experience!).

You'll have fun stories if you just take a walk and find anywhere you can!

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Re: Things to do between 03:00 and 07:00 (Amsterdam overnight without a hotel)?
Posted: 2014-12-10, 12:58 am

lilji
Posts: 432
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I arrived once at between 4:30am and 5am to Amsterdam Centraal from a coach from Berlin once on a Sunday morning. The streets down Damrak and centraal station itself seemed to be filled with folk coming out of clubs. The RLD was empty and I must have saw the last girl leaving alongside the first cleaner arriving. I think maybe the train station is opened all night so if you get freaked you could head there for a bit. I remember the starbucks opened and also note that the guys toilets in Centraal only have *ahem* urinals.

I've been down oude nieuwstraat in singel past 3am before and find that more scary than de wallen tbh.

I'd like to do an all nighter soon. Might go on thurs 15th jan and do it.

French - do you do it solo or with folk?
Re: Things to do between 03:00 and 07:00 (Amsterdam overnight without a hotel)?
Posted: 2014-12-10, 11:03 am

french7034
Posts: 126
Location: Paris
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lilji wrote:
French - do you do it solo or with folk?


Hi lilji,
I have done both. Last time I was with a mate, which obviously helps as the banter is there all night and the stories are shared - like two midgets attempting to mug us on NYE last year (we are both 6ft 5 and 300 lbs). Solo is good fun because (if you're anything like me) you use the time exploring, starting conversations and generally stumbling around.
Not sure when you were in De Wallen but I don't find that things start to die down until 6/6:30am. Before 6 there is still plenty of shadiness imho.
You're right about Singel, the dark alleyways and general lack of people means that there are a few unsavoury characters hanging around (though I have only wandered through during my all night wanders).
Like you said about CS, there is always a place to take a seat and have a bit of shelter for an hour or two, you've just got to be creative.
I arrive in less than three weeks but am renting a place in Haarlem. Fuck getting a taxi home, I'll just have a few all night strolls over the course of my trip! Anyone wants to meet up in those small hours over the course of 30th - 2nd Jan, more than happy to explore the city together, just send me a pm.
I'm sitting here in my safe European home but I guess I like the homelessness for a night here and there; I've got to say kudos to those who do it because they have no choice - I can't imagine how awful that must be...

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