Amsterdam is a beautiful city, the city centre is increasingly becoming over touristed! It can be difficult to explore the more realistic side of the city. So, to help you out, here are some of my favourite, non-touristy things to do in Amsterdam.
1. Storytelling at the Mezrab
The Mezrab is one of my absolute favourite places in Amsterdam. It is a small room, walking distance from the central station, that is set up to feel like a living room. Almost every evening of the week they host different events, from storytelling to comedy to music events. Somehow, thanks to the intimate venue and the lovely volunteers, they manage to put you under this communal, friendly spell, and magic happens.
2. Lounge About in One of the Many Parks
One of the things I love about Amsterdam is that the second it gets warm everybody rushes outside to hang about in the parks. While all the tourist guides send you to Vondelpark, this is not my favourite park.
I love Flevopark in the east of Amsterdam because it really brings the vibes. You will always find large groups of friends chilling out, barbecues, football games and sometimes even slacklines. People in Flevopark are often very friendly, so it can be a great place to meet people, and beyond that, it is a lovely place to sit and chill out.
Alternatively, for a quieter, much bigger park, the Amsterdamse Bos is lovely. This is a huge area of land with lakes, trees, open fields and ponds. There is even a hill or two, which for an expat used to hills, is really magical! This is such a lovely park to wander around all day and explore.
3. Watch a Comedy Show
The Amsterdam comedy scene is booming with both comedy shows in English and Dutch. To get a real taste of Dutch culture check out one of the many open mics or comedy shows. You will learn everything you need to know about the Dutch, from the point of view of an expat. Check Eventbrite, or the events app BASH to discover which comedy shows are available.
4. Party at De Gieter
I’ll be honest, I left this particular activity behind after my first year of living in the Netherlands. But De Gieter is a cheap bar, found in Leidseplein but surprisingly free from tourists. It is the place to find Dutch frat boys and girls who are searching for cheap drinks. Get drunk to a mixture of pop music, sprinkled with some Dutch classics. Be aware that there is nothing fancy about this place – but it does show you a side of Dutch culture that you don’t always get to see as a tourist.
5. Check Out a VOKU
For a slightly nicer side to Dutch culture, check out one of the many VOKUs in the city. Dotted throughout the city in different social centres, legalised squats and squats, are VOKUs, otherwise known as Volkskeukens. These are places run entirely by volunteers who will cook a delicious (often vegan) three-course meal for incredibly cheap. All the proceeds of these events go to supporting political or social projects.
VOKUs to check out include:
- Taste before your waste (Plantage Doklaan)
- The Binnenpret
- The Vrankrijk
- De Peper (OT301)
Amsterdam is a beautiful city with plenty of non-touristy things to do. My top tip for visiting Amsterdam is not to get stuck walking around the same central canal, look around in other neighbourhoods and you’ll be surprised by the things you can see and do.
