Amsterdam. Say the word, and a bevy of images immediately assault your brain – it’s the living, breathing, pulsating party capital of the world; a bottomless well of no-holds-barred blowouts and all-night techno raves.
And that’s just on any old Monday night.
Of course, New Year’s Eve is hardly an arbitrary day of the year. In fact, for those who have booked a hostel in Amsterdam, we suggest you brace yourself for one hell of a party. Seriously. Under the motto of ‘live and let live’, this blowout could easily be the most memorable celebration of your life – “that party in Amsterdam” against which all future NYE celebrations will be forever made to measure.
To ensure the hype doesn’t disappoint, we’ve put together an overview of all the coolest and craziest parties for December 31 2010. The only thing you need to do is pick the rave that’s right for you…
(Oh, and practice your pronunciation of ‘gelukkig niewuwjaar!’ (‘prosperous New Year’) of course!)
The competition is on: what will be the biggest New Year’s Eve party in Amsterdam for 2010?
Well we can tell you one thing – it won’t be at Paradiso, nor at Escape, Jimmy Woo ain’t number one, and Studio 80 hasn’t quite made the cut. That’s not to say there won’t be parties at these renowned clubbing destinations. There will be. And they’ll be darn crazy ones at that.
But there’s a bigger celebration afoot this year; one that’s set to be a sure-fire crowd pleaser, with no bookings required and zero cover charge to boot…
The location? City streets.
The time? All night long.
That’s right backpackers, while we may have advised you to steer clear of the crowds for New Year’s Eve in Paris, Amsterdam is a different story all together. Venture forth to those packed city squares for some truly amazing midnight spectacles.
The first thing you’ll find: in sharp contrast to the French, the Dutch can’t get enough of their fireworks. Crackers, sparklers, rockets, bangers, pinwheels, Roman candles – they’re everywhere.
For all you pyrotechnics fans out there, make sure you head to the area between Prinsengracht and Bloemgracht for the best views on offer. While locations of organised displays vary from year to year, you can typically predict that the shows at Dam Square, Rembrandtplein and Nieuwmarkt (Amsterdam’s renowned Chinatown district) will go off with a bang…so to speak. For a more local feel, you could also check out the trendy Jordaan neighbourhood, the Western Canal Ring, or one of the many bridges over the Amstel River.
Want your Amsterdam NYE celebrations to be slightly more organised? Or just don’t think you can handle those street party crowds? Why not head to one of the endless bar and club parties taking place throughout the city. Check out a few of our favourites…
All is One at Hotel Arena
On December 31st 2010, All is One presents ‘Amsterdam Glory’ – a party defined by the slogan that ‘anything is possible…even the impossible’. Head to this multi-purpose venue for a midnight array of music, visuals, performance, trance, art and dance to the tunes of ISIS aka 100% ISIS, Egbert Jan Weeber, Ajuna Schika, VJ Dusi and Aroma Jockey ODO7.
When? From 10pm. Where? Gravesandestraat 51. Cost? From €25.
Supernova at P60
Fancy something a little more unique for your New Year’s celebration? Head direct to the P60 in Amsterdam. Supernova promises to be a party of epic proportions, combining a circus-like atmosphere, with a classic champagne bar and musical hits from the 70s, 80s and 90s.
When? From 12:30am. Where? Stadsplein 100a. Cost? €17.50
Amsterdam United at Westergasfabriek
We hear rumours that, come midnight, Westergasfabriek will play home to one of the most exciting indoor fireworks displays you’ve ever seen. Wow. Now that’s something we wouldn’t want to miss! Aside from this highlight, expect headline performances from Joris Voorn and 2000andOne, in addition to Quazar, Kabale und Liebe, Specker, Juan Sanchez and Daniel Sanchez to name a few.
When? 9pm-7am. Where? Haarlemmerweg 8-10. Cost? €50.
Melkweg NYE at Melkweg
Former milk factory ‘Melkweg’ (otherwise known as ‘Milky Way’) is set to offer up a galaxy of stellar acts for its massive New Year’s Eve celebration. Line-up for 2010/11 will be centred on the best of Amsterdam’s electronic music in all three main rooms of this popular club. Wicked Jazz Sounds will be taking control of The Max, while Dekmantel rocks the Oude Zaal and Non Records hosts NYE action in the Theatre.
When? 10pm-6am. Where? Lijnbaansgracht 234/A. Cost? €40.
Escape 10/11 at Escape
With a capacity of 2000, Escape epitomises the height of hard-pumping clubbing in central Amsterdam. Head here for a New Year’s Eve of epic performances, with a musical line-up that includes Raymundo, Bingo Players, Frederik Abas, Daniel Bovie & Roy Rox, Costar on Sax, Mc Roga and Mo Mc.
When? 10pm-5am. Where? Rembrandtplein 11. Cost? €60.
A word of advice: if you are looking for accommodation in Amsterdam over New Year’s Eve, we suggest you book immediately. With tourists flocking here from all over Europe (indeed, from all across the globe), rooms are going to disappear well before the clock strikes twelve. You’ll find that a number of places have a minimum stay over the festive season, so ideally plan to stick around for at least four days.
For a great budget option, check out the Heart of Amsterdam hostel, located just minutes walk from Dam Square. If travelling in a group, you can book a private ensuite room of 3, 4 or 8 beds for prices from €62 per person per night (depending on how many people per room).
Another great idea is to rent an apartment with a group of friends. Check out the highly rated Nemo Apartments, offering accommodations for four-people complete with TV area, kitchen and dining from only €65 per night.
Thanks to Ezzz, Gia Vasilevska, katielips
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