Amsterdam Hen Do

Did you know?

• Amsterdam is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands.
• All structures in the city are supported by 15 to 20m wooden poles that elevate them above the swampy peat. Around 11,000,000 poles support the city’s buildings in total with a whopping 9,000 poles support Centraal Station alone.
• Three Xs appear on Amsterdam’s coat of arms. They represent St Andrew who was martyred on an X-shaped cross.
• Amsterdam is proud to be the most multi-cultural city in the world, home to the highest number of nationalities.
• Anne Frank’s Diary is the most translated Dutch book of all time. It has been translated into 70 different languages and published in more than 60 countries.
• Dutch people are said to be, on average, the world’s tallest people. Men here are an average height of 6ft 1 inch and women are on average 5ft 6 inches tall.
• It’s been illegal to smoke tobacco in cafes and restaurants since 2008 but in coffee shops you’re still allowed to smoke a joint.
• If you’re a gin fan, you owe the Netherlands a big thank you! It was invented here in the 16th century for medicinal purposes. Any excuse to drink some during your hen do in Amsterdam, eh!
• Amsterdam boasts a pretty low crime rate, some say thanks to the legalisation of cannabis and prostitution, making it frequently rank in the world’s top 20 safest cities.
• French impressionist Money painted Zuiderkerk (South Church) 13 times during his visits to the Netherlands.
• The narrowest house in the city is just 2.02m wide and 5m deep with just one small room per floor.
• Rijksmuseum is the only museum in the world to have a cycle lane running through it.
• Condomerie on Warmoesstraat was the world’s first specialised condom shop.
• Amsterdam’s home to the world’s only floating flower market.
• It’s also home to the only floating animal sanctuary in the world. De Poezenboot is a refuge for stray and abandoned cats. You can even go and visit them during your Amsterdam hen do.

Amsterdam in numbers

• There are 165 canals in Amsterdam, adding up to around 60 miles of waterway.
• It’s estimated that approximately 25,000 bicycles end up in the canals every year.
• You can find more than 1,500 bars here, so you’re spoilt for choice if you’re after a drink on your Amsterdam hen weekend.
• Schiphol Airport is 4m below sea level.
• There’s a total of 1,281 bridges in Amsterdam with 80 in the city centre alone.
• Amsterdam has three times more bridges than Venice.
• There are 881,000 bicycles in Amsterdam. That actually means there’s more bikes than people in the city!
• 2,500 houseboats line the canals. There’s even a museum dedicated to them!
• 85% of Amsterdam’s residents are multi-lingual.
• There are more than 200 coffee shops in the city that sell a lot more than coffee including cannabis and hallucinogenic mushrooms.

This really is a dream location for foodie hens! With a massive range of cafes and restaurants, you can sink your teeth into some truly great grub on your hen do in Amsterdam.

Activities for Foodie Hen Parties in Amsterdam

To get an authentic taste of Dutch cuisine, you’ve got to visit a huiskamerrestaurant, also known as a living room restaurant. Cooks open their homes to show off their skills to diners who can enjoy a delicious home-cooked meal in a laid-back atmosphere.

If you have a sweet tooth, you can’t come to Amsterdam without trying a stroopwafel! Best enjoyed hot, these gooey treats are two thin waffles stuck together with syrup. Bitterballen are also a firm fave. These deep fried, crispy meatballs are the perfect post-drinking snack.

Cheese Tasting - Cheese is seriously big business in the Netherlands. There’s even a museum dedicated to the stuff! Why not try a Cheese and Wine Tasting? This fun session is led by a cheese expert (how do we apply for that job?) who’ll share fun facts, food and drink. You’ll get your hands on six taste bud tingling cheeses and three different wines.

Drag Queen Show with Dinner - If you fancy a bit of entertainment while you dine on your hen do in Amsterdam, our Drag Queen Dinner treats you to hilarious comedy, singing and dancing as you tuck into a delicious three-course meal.

Restaurants in Amsterdam - Are you a group of meat lovers with big appetites? Prove it with our Unlimited Rib Meal! You’ll have a two-hour reservation to eat as many tasty spare ribs as you like. If that wasn’t enough, you also get a portion of fries, green salad and a drink each. We also offer a range of meals at other restaurants so don’t forget to check out our listings.

The White Room - Dam 9, 1012 JS Amsterdam

- The White Room is an iconic restaurant in the Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky on Dam Square that offering elegant cuisine and a sophisticated dining environment. This is the oldest restaurant in the city in original condition, first opening in 1885. Renowned chef Jacob Jan Boerma has created a menu featuring five, seven and nine-course meals so bring your appetite!

Pannenkoekenhuis Upstairs - Dam 9, 1012 JS Amsterdam

- This place boasts the most authentic pancaked in Holland! Popular with locals and visitors alike, this quirky eatery is well worth a visit during your hen do in Amsterdam. It’s located inside a 16th century house on the edge of the Red Light District and serves up pancakes with a range of toppings from syrup to chicken, banana and coconut to pulled beef.

The best bars and clubs are located around Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein. Wonder round these areas and see where takes your fancy. That cheeky Red Light District gives visitors one of the biggest stretches of boozers, nightclubs and brothels in Europe and it’s a must visit! De Wallen is the biggest and oldest area in the district with a network of alleys where you can spot the ladies of the night through their red lit windows and visit a naughty show if you fancy it.

Bar Crawls - Kick off your Amsterdam hen night in epic style with a private bar crawl! A fun tour guide will take you to five bars, getting you shots in each one before you end the night on a high in one of the city’s best nightclubs. If you’re new to the ‘Dam, this is best way to experience the famous nightlife in a totally hassle-free way.

Cocktail Making - Want to get those drinks flowing and everyone involved ASAP? Amsterdam hen party cocktail making does just that as a pro mixologist teaches you how to make the most delectable drinks. Get hands on to make your own flavour combinations and race against your friends. Of course, you get to drink everything you make.

Amsterdam Ice Bar - Amstel 194, 196, 1017 AG Amsterdam

Wondering what bars to visit? We know the coolest place in town! The Ice Bar is kept at a constant -10°C and features awesome ice sculptures. You’ll get three drinks and sip them from glasses made of ice and be kept warm (ish!) with coats and gloves. From comedy clubs to karaoke, you’re never short of things to do when night falls on your hen do in Amsterdam!

Club NYX - Reguliersdwarsstraat 42, 1017 BM Amsterdam

Club NYX is the place to be if you fancy on night of dancing, drinking and laughing during your Amsterdam hen do. With four floors to party across, this is one of the biggest clubs in the city. Here, you’ll dance the night away in an easy-going, gay-friendly environment for a big night out that your whole group will love.

Whatever time of year you’re planning your hen do in Amsterdam, you’ll quickly discover there’s always something going on.

National Tulip Day

Tulips are synonymous with the Netherlands and in January they have a whole day celebrating them! Every year on the third Saturday of January, Dam Square transforms into a sea of colour with 200,000 tulips. You can even pick up a free bouquet of flowers.

King’s Day

King’s Day in April is a national holiday where more than a million people celebrate King Willem Alexander’s birthday, dressed in orange, during one of the biggest street parties in the world! You’ll discover live music, street vendors, outdoor bars and loads of fun party people to mingle with.

Open Air Theatre

Head to the gorgeous Vondelpark in the city centre between May and September to visit the open-air theatre. They host loads of shows and events here and many of them are free. It’s also a lovely place for a walk or picnic during your Amsterdam hen do.

Red Light Jazz Festival

This city has a rich tradition of jazz and the Red Light Jazz Festival takes place every July to celebrate it. Expect performances from local and international jazz musicians in up to 30 different venues. There are a bunch of free concerts in and around the Red Light District during the festival so make the most of it.

Amsterdam Pride

LGBTQ Pride returns between the end of July and beginning of August and sees several hundred thousand visitors descend on the streets to celebrate. There is an amazing Canal Parade plus street parties, exhibitions, live music and sporting events.

Amsterdam Light Festival

Between December and January, the city gets illuminated by the Amsterdam Light Festival where artists and architects install themed light artworks along two routes. It’s beautiful, especially at night! At the same time, you can also visit a range of fab Christmas Markets during your hen do in Amsterdam with stalls selling gifts, food and drink plus ice rinks and an ice sculpture festival.

Getting to Your Amsterdam Hen Do

Getting to Amsterdam from the UK is nice and easy. You can fly there from most major airports in the UK, including London, Birmingham, Manchester and Glasgow, in between one hour and one and a half hours. Alternatively, you can get the Eurostar from London to Amsterdam in around four hours. You’ll also be pleased to hear that travel to your hen party in Amsterdam is surprisingly purse friendly.

Getting Around During Your Amsterdam Hen Do

Amsterdam is easy to get around and really well connected by trains, taxis and trams. If you fancy trying a bit of pedal power, you can hire a bicycle. Any hungover hens should keep their wits about them as the streets do get very busy with traffic seemingly coming from all directions. The same goes if you’ve just visited a coffee shop!