It’s a fact; the Netherlands generally does not have a fantastic climate, and certainly not outside the summer months. With an average of 192 rainy days a year, you often have to rely on indoor activities. If you are a bit fed up with staying at home or in a hotel and you feel bored, this list will surely help you find fun indoor activities in Amsterdam during bad weather!
10 indoor activities in Amsterdam
In this post:
1. Mezrab
One of the most fun and alternative indoor activities in Amsterdam is Mezrab. In this cozy bar all kinds of stories are told every Wednesday and Friday night. On other nights, stories are combined with dance, visual art and poetry, among other things.
Get a cheap beer and a delicious bowl of fresh lentil soup and be surprised by the evening’s stories. On Wednesday nights it is open-mic so if you have your own cool stories to share, sign up with one of the volunteers at the bar!
2. Pong
For a game of ping pong and a drink, Pong in the West of Amsterdam is the place to be. Besides drinking, you can also have a great bite to eat. An hour of ping pong is €6.50 pp and can be booked online. Booking on the weekend is a MUST, otherwise the evening will stick to drinking beers while enjoying ping pong sounds and cheering on avid participants.
3. Arcade in Amsterdam
If you love a night of gaming with a drink on the side, then Blast Galaxy in the North is the way to go! This cool arcade is located on the popular NDSM site in the north of the city. Play the classics like Donkey Kong and Pacman or have a game of air hockey. But the arcade also features the craziest Japanese games and various fighting games.
With a €15 entrance ticket, you can have unlimited use of all the machines for as long as you want. Blast Galaxy is open Wednesday through Sunday.
At the TonTon club in Westerpark you can also have a great evening. Instead of an entrance ticket, at this arcade you pay for the machines. In between playing, I can definitely recommend trying out the delicious food. The kitchen offers Asian specialties as well as delicious greasy snacks. Reservations for groups are recommended!
4. Foodhallen
Feeling hungry? To score a good bite, wandering around the Foodhallen in the West of Amsterdam is highly recommended. You’ll find a wide selection of cuisines from all over the world. From juicy American burger, to Vietnamese specialties.
The foodhallen is open Thursday through Sunday from 12:00 – 0:00 and an hour longer on weekends.
5. Pool in Amsterdam
One of the most fun activities with a few friends, for me, is a fanatical game of pool. You can do that at several places in Amsterdam! For example, The Waterhole on Leidseplein has a number of pool tables available for enthusiasts. A game costs a few euros.
Another great bar is The Poolbar next to Spui. With a collection of eight good tables, it lives up to its name. In addition to pool, you can play darts and old-fashioned Dutch shuffleboard. One thing is for sure, you will have a great time for an evening!
The real pool fanatics go to Club 8 in the West. It’s a relaxed sports bar with lots of pool and snooker tables. There are also a number of dart boards hanging on the wall and they serve good beers. What more can you ask for?
6. Cinemas in Amsterdam
With bad weather in Amsterdam, the cinema is of course also a good option among the indoor activities! The Royal Theatre Tuschinski with beautiful Art Deco and Art Nouveau architecture is considered one of the most beautiful cinemas in the world. If you go to the movies there, definitely try to go for a movie in the impressive hall 1.
The brand new Eye Filmmuseum in the North of Amsterdam is also highly recommended for catching a movie. Besides being a cinema, it has a huge collection of Dutch and foreign films and movie posters. A perfect place for movie buffs!
7. NXT Museum
Not far from the Eye Film Museum, the NXT Museum is focused on new media art. In about 1 hour you walk through different rooms with cool projections and music. It’s a whole different museum experience than you might be used to!
Tickets for NXT Museum are a bit on the pricey side in my opinion at €24.75 for the whole experience. These can only be purchased online and not at the museum itself.
8. Amaze
A similar visual experience is Amaze in the West. Amaze offers a cool 1-hour aural and visual experience in different rooms. think smoke, lasers and electronic music.
A ticket costs €26.95 and is well worth it. Tickets can be purchased online which allows you to reserve a time slot. Don’t worry, you can stay there as long as you want! By the way, the cocktails are also highly recommended before or after the show!
9. Cat cafe Kopjes
When I found out that Amsterdam also has a cat cafe, I was an even happier person. At the cat cafe Kopjes in the West cat cafe Kopjes in the West, several cats casually roam the bar. The majority, of course, are sleeping soundly. While enjoying a coffee and a pastry, you can learn more about their background and personality as well as get plenty of petting and most importantly, headbutts!
10. Rum Barrel
I know a lot of nice bars in Amsterdam by now. But one of my favorite bars is the Rum Barrel in West where you can drink top class cocktails all made with rum of course! The decor and atmosphere is very cozy and you really feel like you are in the Caribbean. There are seats inside around the bar as well as outside on the terrace. The bartenders and the owner (who is also a bartender) are super friendly and above all very experienced. Delicious cocktails and a great evening guaranteed!
Want to travel Amsterdam like a local? Here you”ll find useful tips for non touristic activities in Amsterdam.
