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theatre on Leidseplein. You can get advice on anything remotely cultural here, as well as tickets and copies of listings magazines. Of the listings magazines, the AUB’s own monthly Uitkrant is comprehensive and free, but in Dutch; or you could settle for the VVV’s bland, English-language Day By Day (also free). Alternatively, the free NL20 magazine (in Dutch) is the most up-to-date and complete reference source and can be found in many supermarkets, cafés and shops. In addition, the Wednesday entertainment supplement of the newspaper Het Parool also gives a good overview of most cultural activities and Amsterdam Weekly is a free cultural newspaper in English, which comes out every Wednesday and has information on film, music and the arts. Any cinema can provide the fold-out Film Agenda, which gives details of all films showing in the city that week (Thurs–Wed). Bars and restaurants often stock similar fortnightly or monthly listings leaflets.

Entertainment and nightlife |

Tickets

Tickets for most concerts and events can be bought from the Uitburo and VVV offices, or reserved by phone through the AUB Uitlijn (020/795 9950, 9am–8pm); in all cases a booking fee applies, usually 1–2 percent. You can also buy tickets for any live music event in the country at the GWK bureau de change offices at the Leidseplein and at Centraal Station, for a fee of around €3–4. If you’re under 30 and plan to take in a few events, you might want to buy a Cultureel Jongeren Passport (CJP), which costs €15 and gets you reductions on entry to theatres, concerts and filmhuizen, and is available from the AUB. Aside from CJP cardholders, the only people generally eligible for discounts at cultural events and venues are students and over-65s (though most places will only accept Dutch ID).

Entertainment and nightlife |

Clubbing

After a long lull, clubbing in Amsterdam has been re-invigorated by a good range of decent venues that bear comparison with clubs in any other European city, plus plenty of bars hosting regular DJs – most playing variations on house, trance, garage and techno. The best place to find out what’s on is the free weekly listings magazine NL20 or pick up the printed “flyer-newspaper” guestlist.nu (www.guestlist.nu), which has information on upcoming events. Also check for flyers at Midtown Records, Nieuwendijk 104 (Old Centre), which runs a ticket service for most dance events.

Most clubs charge for entry, with ticket prices hovering between €10 and €15 at weekends and dropping to around €7 during the week. A singular feature of Amsterdam clubbing, however, is that you’re expected to tip the bouncer if you want to get back into the same place next week; €1 or €2 in the palm of his hand will do very nicely. Drinks prices are just slightly more expensive than in cafés at around €3–4, though you’ll usually pay more for spirits, but not excessively so. Dress up if you want to get into some of the smaller, hipper clubs where space is limited and door staff have carte blanche about who they let in. Smoking is not allowed inside, but most clubs have purpose-built smoking lounges. As far as drugs go, smoking joints in the designated area is generally fine. Should you need reminding, ecstasy, acid, speed and cocaine are all illegal, and you can expect less than favourable treatment from the bouncers (and the law) if you’re caught consuming.

Although all the places listed below open at either 10pm or 11pm, there’s not much point turning up anywhere before midnight; unless stated otherwise, everywhere stays open until 5am on Friday and Saturday nights, 4am on other nights.

For gay and lesbian clubs see "Gay and lesbian Amsterdam".

Entertainment and nightlife | Clubbing |

Clubs

Arena’s Gravensandestraat 51 (The Old Jewish Quarter and Eastern Docklands) 020/850 2410, www.hotelarena.nl. Part of a large, trendy hotel , this club, situated in a former chapel, opens Friday and Saturday only. Occasionally hosts popular international acts, such as Hed Kandi.

Bitterzoet Spuistraat 2 (Old Centre) 020/521 3001, www.bitterzoet.com. Spacious but