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Live Music Venue

The Waterhole With live nightly music at little or no cost, The Waterhole is an unkempt, dark, and dingy rockers paradise. There's nothing particularly unique about this spacious bar, with its cozy booths and three busy pool tables, but... Amsterdam Holland 52.3646903 4.8826747

4.04 9

The Waterhole - Club | Dive Bar | Live Music Venue in Amsterdam.

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5 User Reviews

User Reviews (5)

Ratings:

Lucas

Adriana

Jonah

Emma

Party Earth Review With live nightly music at little or no cost, The Waterhole is an unkempt, dark, and dingy rockers paradise. There’s nothing particularly unique about this spacious bar, with its cozy booths and three busy pool tables... ... read full review

Neighborhood:

Leidseplein
Address:

Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 49
1017 Amsterdam

Get Directions

Phone:

020 6208904
Links:
Official Website

Hours:

M–Th, Su 4pm–3am, F–Sa 4pm–4am
Recommended as:
- Night Spot

First to review Stéphanie T.

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Party Earth The Waterhole Review

The Scene

With live nightly music at little or no cost, The Waterhole is an unkempt, dark, and dingy rockers paradise. There's nothing particularly unique about this spacious bar, with its cozy booths and three busy pool tables, but...

Leidseplein, Amsterdam –

With live nightly music at little or no cost, The Waterhole is an unkempt, dark, and dingy rockers paradise.

There’s nothing particularly unique about this spacious bar, with its cozy booths and three busy pool tables, but the crowd is normally an eclectic mix of sociable music lovers and the vibe is as casual as it comes.

The room clearly hasn’t been renovated in decades and the décor looks like someone took a truckload of rock posters, liquor bottles, and old musical instruments and hurled them against the walls, while the worn furnishings could have been pulled straight from a cowboy’s saloon.

The bar makes it easy to stay for “just one more song,” and most of the amiable patrons stay all night to sing along with fellow rockers belting out classic covers.

Though it may be a bit of a dive – actually it’s definitely a lot of a dive – The Waterhole is an ideal spot to spend a carefree evening among spirited folks who can’t get enough of Queen, The Stones, and Hendrix.

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Tip from Lucas:

There aren’t many places where you can find live music without paying a big cover charge, and this is a good one. Pool tables in the back, lots of people to talk to, and a long bar with decently-priced beer – with the right band and the right crowd, The Waterhole can be a really great time.

Crowd

Diverse range of classic rock-loving locals and travelers, 20s to mid-30s.
Entertainment / Music

Live music every night. Pool tables in the back are free 4–6pm.
Food / Miscellaneous

Happy Hour daily 6–9pm.

Prices

Beer €3+, mixed drinks €6+.
What to Wear / Dress Code

Casual.
Hot Nights / When to Go

Fridays and Saturdays are packed, and Ladies’ Night on Sundays can bring in quite a crowd, too.

Tags:: 20s30sBudget-friendlyCasualClassic RockCover BandsHappy HourLive BandLive MusicMusic LoversPool (Billiards)RockersSmoking AreaTourists

The Waterhole User Reviews

Bryna Kennedy Apr 11, 2013 4.0 stars dive into the hole head first oh wait that's how you climb out of it. Jager and Beer oh my! I think there is something in the water at said bar the beer and Jager shots have a special kind of elixir that goes straight to the dome. Two beers and a round of Jager shots and you are worse off than 5 tequila shots and a round a beer at any other bar in all of Amsterdam. The waterhole is situated in Leidsaplein and don't let the dodgy domineer and strange setting surrounding this wonderful holy grail of a pub stop you from entering. It's located right next to an Indian restaurant and right there most might think twice before entering a bar that shares the same wall as a poorly placed Indian restaurant. Fear not dear patrons of liquor The Waterhole is a diamond in the rough. Only 1 Euro to get in it is truly an affordable place to party and believe me after one night partying in Amsterdam your wallet will feel the breathing room of the Waterhole. Ten Jager shots for Ten Euro split it with friends and don't be fooled thinking you are being a responsible drinker for the night only having a couple, after about three rounds the bartenders start adding more shots to the cup so what was once ten for ten is now fourteen or fifteen shots so you basically have done ten on your own anyways. The atmosphere is really lively which only fuels the already pending intoxication level. Live music every night and don't worry folks most bands do covers so you will still be screaming to your friends, "That's my song!" And they will do a beautiful rendition. The bar is always packed with locals and loads of back packers sprinkle some old timers in the mix and you've got yourself a kick-ass extremely friendly bar. Don't be timid if you get approached my multitudes of people, it is a bar setting and people are very friendly looking for a conversation but mostly they probably are looking for someone to verse in pool as the bar is equipped with 3 billiards tables, after playing a round of pool and buying another round of shot because "why not?" grab a beer roadie and head on over to the dance floor. Don't be shy to do the robot or dance in circles with your gal pals it's a free whatever blows your hair back dance floor and everyone is there to just let loose and enjoy the music. Over all between free coat check, which is open till 4 am, very cheap cover and extremely cheap drinks, kick back and enjoy the people and all the paraphernalia on the walls you could even strike up a conversation with one of the bartenders they are always friendly and willing to chat. The Waterhole is definitely the pub of choice in Amsterdam a local flare with a hostel vibe and you will have to come back for round two only since I doubt you will remember the first time.

Lalarumpelpumpel Schlüssel Dec 13, 2012 4.0 stars Great time with friends! Oh man! Yes Waterhole is great for when you have friends in town that want to party! I came here last time with my sister and her three friends. All three are very pretty blonde german girls who love to party, so I laughed so hard at all the guy's pickup attempts on the dance floor. They would come up behind them and just wiggle their legs a little trying like crazy to get their attention. The girls would just ignore or reject them, and the guys would just take a few steps and back away. I could have watched it all night. But I end up here a lot with my flat mates, guy friends, whoever is in town. If it's a weekend and you're there, you just have to send a text and find out who else is partying at Leidse that night and they'll probably come right over. It' sonly one euro, basically free!

Audrey Sykes Dec 12, 2012 3.0 stars What would I do without Waterhole? I love the Waterhole, I really do. I'd never admit it to some of my local friends, but as ALL know that if there's a safe bet in Leidseplein that's cheap and fun every flippin night it's this place. No matter who you're with it, everyone seems to love it here. I love it because the cover bands play all my favorite rock songs, and I can act like an idiot and no one there will ever see me again because they're mostly all travelers. The only spot I know of where girls sells Jager shooters and the most popular bar drink is a pint of the crappiest lager Holland makes, Bavaria.

Jody Pollara Dec 3, 2012 4.0 stars Why isn't more of Amsterdam like this? I love live music venues, especially when you feel like you are in some dude's sticky basement. So the Waterhole is slightly better than a sticky basement, but it still has that vibe. Your shoes kind of stick to the floor as you walk and there is a lingering smell that you can't quite put your finger on, but the crowd is a bunch of young people looking to drink some beers and listen to some rock and roll. It is dark and crowded in a good way - you can get yourself to the bar if you need a drink and easily back to your friends. I actually thought when I first came to Amsterdam that a lot more bars would be like this, but it seems to be pretty unique to the city. Definitely worth checking out!

Stéphanie Toi Dec 3, 2012 2.0 stars Cool place for live music Live rock music is not so easy to find in Amsterdam so Waterhole is a good place to check. Whether you will have fun or will enjoy the music depends greatly on the band performing that night and the crowd’s excitement. I have been there several times and I have seen bands of various quality but overall, I have always had a good time. Diverse and international patrons make it a fun place to meet people. Though served in frozen pints, beer is too expensive and you sometimes have to pay to use the bathroom. The smoking room is mostly use by non-smokers who can’t stand the toxic fog in the main room.

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The Waterhole Club / Dive Bar / Live Music Venue

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Recommended as:

Party Earth The Waterhole Review

The Scene

Tip from Lucas:

Crowd

Entertainment / Music

Food / Miscellaneous

Prices

What to Wear / Dress Code

Hot Nights / When to Go

The Waterhole User Reviews

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