Image by Madelien Schippers

This place was formerly known as Boom Chicago, named after the American comedy club that is housed here with edgy sketches on actual themes and a lot of funny improvisation.

Since March they changed their name from BC12 to Chicago Social Club. Besides comedy you will find a lot of good house/techno parties on the agenda! I like this place because it is not a massive club, rather intimate with only one dance floor that attracts a cool, mixed crowd of people looking for a good night out.

When you enter the venue you can first have a drink at the large bar, but if you can’t wait to party, walk a little further where the deep house, techno or sometimes hip hop will welcome you. Just check out the agenda on their site to see if there is a party of your taste. On weekdays the bar is open till late, and I can recommend the nice apple martini’s they serve here.

On Friday and Saturday you have to pay for entrance, the rest of the week the bar is free of charge. More in for a night full of American humor?, check their calendar.

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Chicago Social Club | Bars, Music, Theaters | Club entrance € 12.50
Leidseplein 12 | Center
Mon – Thu 12:00 – 03:00, Fri – Sat 12:00 – 04:00

Image by Madelien Schippers

This place is one of my favourite squares in Amsterdam, due to the big green lawn and it being less busy in comparison with the Vondelpark. Nowhere in Amsterdam will you find a square of this size. Museumplein (“museum square”) is a place where youngsters, students, elderly and tourists all come together to enjoy the green, play sports or read a book on one of the many benches.

The museum square is surrounded by the three big museums, namely: the Van Gogh Museum, the Stedelijk Museum and the Rijksmuseum. And on the other side of the street you will find the beautiful Concert Building.

The lawn was recently renewed with a new grass-field. They say the grass is so strong that it will easily hold all the upcoming events on the square with thousands of people. Under the elevated shaped triangle lawn, also called the donkey ear, there is a supermarket where you can buy some refreshments.

You can also go to the Cobra café close to the Rijksmuseum, where they serve some great sandwiches and they have a big busy terrace! In the summer you will find a big pond which turns into a cool ice rink in the winter, next to this cafe.

So combine some culture and relaxation at the museum square, since they are just minutes away from each other!

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Museumplein | Art & culture, Relaxing, Theaters | Free
Museumplein | South
24 hours daily

Image by G.J. Broens

As being one of five projects of the Kriterion family, Studio/K is the biggest and the most remarkable one among them. The cultural centre opened its doors five years ago at Timorplein in the up and coming Suriname area. Fifty students work here fifteen hours a week, being responsible for every part of the management temselves, making it more then just a student job. The popularity of the place is unfortunately a bit limited to students and yuppies, but the easy atmosphere, also known at its fellow Kriterion projects ‘Skek and Bioscoop Kriterion, definitely makes up for it.

The activities of Studio/K are threefold: first of all Studio/K is a theatre. In two of the rooms they show, besides the famous blockbusters, a lot of arthouse, Dutch and classic movies. One of these rooms and another room are used for theatre performances, workshops and meetings. Besides, you can rent the different rooms for private use, group courses or other activities. Furthermore, Studio/K has a bar-restaurant where they serve breakfast/lunch from 11:00 to 16:00 and dinner from 18:00 to 22:00 (student discount on ‘weekly dishes’ on Monday till Wednesday). Lastly, Studio/K serves as a club, organizing (theme) parties with music varying from jazz to oldschool techno.

Studio/K is a great place to spend your afternoon and/or evening, as it has a bunch to offer under one roof. One warning though: once you’re in, be sure to keep track of time and money. For me, both are gone before I realize.

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Studio/K | Bars, Cinemas, Music, Theaters, Restaurants | Meals from € 12.50
Timorplein 62 | East | +31206920422
Sun – Thu 11:00 – 01:00, Fri – Sat 11:00 – 03:00/04:00

Image by Patty de Gruiter

The history of Royal Theatre Carré is closely associated with the family Carré. The family Carré is a French/German dynasty of highly skilled riders and circus artists who performed in the Netherlands for the first time in September 1863. They did an horse-act on the annual fair of Amsterdam. From that day on, Carré became a circus. On the 6th of December 1963 Carré revealed something new, called the One Man Show. In history, it had never happened that a variety show artist dared to do this.

On the 1st of January 1977 Carré became a real theatre. The city council bought the theatre and brought back the circus into Carré. The next director took on something new; the own production of the musical ‘Cats’. Carré brought de Dutch showbiz on an international level.

Although Carré is a very old building with a great historical history, behind the scenes its an ultra modern theatre. During a tour you can experience the dynamic and daily live of top entertainment. You will wander the stage, the dressing-rooms and the foyers. Nice stories, architecture, history and the performances during the last 120 years are discussed.

The guided tours take place every Saturday at 11:00. Ticket price: € 12.50. To make a reservation, call +31 20 5249 452.

Details about this spot (Show on map)
Carré | Art & culture, Theaters | Tickets from € 15.00
Amstel 115-125 | Center
Open every day when the theatre starts