Noorderlicht Café

Noord, Amsterdam –

Easily recognizable by its airplane hangar shape and transparent, greenhouse-like architecture, Noorderlicht (Northern Lights) is a boisterous café where artists and creative types come for indoor and outdoor drinking, dining, and dancing – not to mention an extraordinary view of the city center from the other side of the Ij River.

The unique design of the building enhances the surroundings as it’s located in the NDSM yard – a former shipyard turned cultural hotspot featuring visual arts, design, theater, film, media, and architecture.

Inside, the warm colors of the wall hangings and curtains complement light wooden floors, tables detailed with polished driftwood, and even a disco ball dropping from the ceiling.

Outside, the grassy lawn is dotted with wicker chairs, cushioned couches, and picnic tables where patrons gather for lunch under the sun during the day, or for dinner and music under twinkling lights in the evening.

Noorderlicht also has a steady roster of events ranging from campfires and poetry readings to live music and DJ nights that usually inspire some high-energy dancing amongst the young, eclectic crowd. On those nights, the “greenhouse” is set spectacularly ablaze with sound and colorful lights that make it visible clear across the river – hence the café’s name.

Given its inviting location in the center of a vibrant cultural area, Noorderlicht is a dynamic locale that attracts an equally dynamic and easygoing crowd both day and night.