Best bars in Amsterdam that locals frequent

Amsterdam is renowned for its vibrant nightlife and unique bar scene, but finding those hidden gems that locals love can be a challenge. There are lots of tourist traps in the city center. Luckily, we’ve done the legwork for you! In this guide, we’ll introduce you to some of the best bars in Amsterdam that locals frequent, including spots like Tolhuistuin, Brouwerij ‘t IJ, Proeflokaal de Molen, Filmtheater Kriterion, In ‘t Aepjen, Waterkant, and Noorderlicht Café. Whether you’re looking for a cozy spot with a historical twist or a lively venue with stunning views, these bars offer something special for everyone. Plus, with the KurioCity web app, you can uncover fascinating facts about these places and over 5000 more during your visit to Amsterdam. Get ready to explore the city’s best-kept secrets!

• Tolhuistuin
• Brouwerij ‘t IJ Proeflokaal de Molen
• Filmtheater Kriterion
• In ‘t Aepjen
• Waterkant
• About KurioCity

Tolhuistuin

The Tolhuistuin is a cultural center located on the banks of the IJ in Amsterdam-Noord that also has a beer garden open in the warm months. It is housed in the former company restaurant of the Royal Shell Laboratory Amsterdam. The building is part of a collection of new cultural destinations in the Overhoeks district, including the EYE Filmmuseum and the A’DAM Tower.

The history of the Tolhuistuin dates back to the late 19th century when it was a popular garden for the upper classes of Amsterdam, hosting regular music performances. The Tolhuistuin became part of the Bataafse Petroleum Maatschappij (later Shell) in 1938. In the 1960s, there were plans to expand the IJ, which would have included the Tolhuistuin, but that never happened. Instead, the southern part of the Tolhuistuin became the company restaurant of the Shell laboratory. From 2007 to 2014 the building hosted temporary programming under the name “Zomer in de Tolhuistuin”.

Today the Tolhuistuin hosts plenty of events, small and large. It is a great place to relax with a cold beer looking at the ships traversing the IJ canal. You can check out their current programming on their website: https://tolhuistuin.nl/.

Brouwerij ‘t IJ Proeflokaal de Molen

The next spot is the tasting room of the Amsterdam local brewery Brouwerij ‘t IJ, which also hosts a huge beer garden in the warm months. Most of the brews of the Brouwerij ‘t IJ are available there on tap. The location of the bar is truly unique – a former bathhouse right next to de Gooyer, which is the only historic windmill.

Built in 1814, De Gooyer with its unique wooden design is a type of windmill that stands on a platform. De Gooyer was originally used as a corn mill, grinding grain for the local community. It was one of many windmills that dotted the Singelgracht in the 17th and 19th centuries. Today, it is the last remaining windmill in this area, making it a significant piece of Amsterdam’s history. Unfortunately cannot be visited from the inside. However, its impressive presence can still be admired from the outside. Contrary to popular belief, the windmill and the former bathhouse are not architecturally or historically connected. They simply share the same location.

You can check the opening times on the brewery’s website. You can also learn about de Gooyer in the KurioCity web app!

Filmtheater Kriterion

Filmtheater Kriterion is a student-run cinema located on Roetersstraat in Amsterdam. It has a rich history that dates back to the student resistance during World War II. Importantly for us, it also has a bar, which is full of students on most days.

During the war, the Amsterdam Student Group collaborated with other resistance groups to save approximately one thousand Jewish children from deportation. After the war, its leader came up with the idea of creating a film theater where students could work and earn money to continue their studies independently. On June 1, 1945, the Stichting Onderlinge Studenten Steun Kriterion (S.O.S.S. Kriterion) was established with the goal of helping students at the Amsterdam universities support themselves financially. Apart from the film theater, the foundation also launched several other projects to provide employment opportunities for students. These included the Oppascentrale Kriterion, a babysitting service established in 1949, and the StudentenPomp Kriterion, a petrol station opened on Zeeburgereiland in 1960.

Today, in collaboration with organizations like Amnesty International, Kriterion organizes monthly programs that combine film screenings with discussions on social and cultural topics. It is a great place to visit, even if just for a beer. You can also learn more about it in the web app and check their programming on their website.

In ‘t Aepjen

‘In ‘t Aepjen’ is a charming bar in one of the oldest surviving wooden houses in Amsterdam. Located at Zeedijk 1, this building was constructed between 1546 and 1550. The building’s wooden frame showcases Renaissance-style architectural elements and interestingly, the name ‘Aepgen’ can be found on the Amsterdam city map created by Cornelis Anthonisz in 1544.

Source: Paul2 on Wikipedia.

The Dutch have an idiom “In de aap gelogeerd zijn”, which literally translates to “to be lodged in the monkey” and means to be in a difficult situation. It is an urban legend that this phrase originated from a former inn located here at ‘t Aepjen, where guests allegedly suffered from itchy flea bites after sailors settled their bills by paying with monkeys. Due to this legend, you can find plenty of monkey-related decorations in the bar, which is otherwise styled for the 16th century.

Waterkant

Waterkant, named after the waterfront area in Paramaribo, Suriname has been open since 2014. It is a very popular bar with the locals, full on most evenings. It also has great canal views.

But while the beer is great, Waterkant’s location is also beyond interesting. It is located under the brutalist car parking, designed by the renowned Dutch architect Piet Zanstra in the sixties. The unique spiral-shaped ramps have earned the garage the nickname “the buttocks of Zanstra”. The spot is also quite popular with skaters.

Check their events at their website and learn more about the parking building in the KurioCity web app.

About KurioCity