Amsterdam’s nightlife doesn’t start at 10 p.m. - it starts when the tram stops running and the last coffee shop closes. If you’ve ever walked past the old market hall on Oudezijds Achterburgwal and heard the bass thumping through the brick walls, you already know what’s waiting inside: De Marktkantine. This isn’t just another club. It’s the heartbeat of Amsterdam’s underground scene, where locals, expats, and curious travelers all end up dancing like no one’s watching - because no one is.
What Makes De Marktkantine Different?
Most Amsterdam clubs are either too polished or too niche. De Marktkantine is neither. It’s housed in a 19th-century market building that once sold fish, vegetables, and dairy to the city’s working class. Today, the exposed brick, rusted steel beams, and high ceilings echo with techno, house, and experimental beats. There’s no velvet rope. No dress code. No bouncer judging your sneakers. You show up, buy a drink at the bar made from reclaimed wood, and find your spot on the floor - whether that’s near the speakers or tucked into a corner with friends.
The sound system? Built by local engineers who tweak it every week. The DJs? Mostly underground artists from Utrecht, Rotterdam, and even Berlin who play here because they know Amsterdam’s crowd won’t settle for predictable remixes. You’ll hear a 3 a.m. set that blends field recordings from the Amstel River with Dutch gabber drums. Or a live set from a producer who samples wind chimes from the Jordaan and layers them over a 128 BPM groove.
When to Go - And When to Avoid
De Marktkantine doesn’t open every night. It’s not a tourist trap. It opens Thursday through Saturday, usually around 11 p.m., and doesn’t clear out until 5 a.m. - sometimes later. The best nights are Friday and Saturday, when the crowd is thick but still real. Don’t come on Sunday. It’s closed. Don’t come on Monday. The staff is cleaning up the last of the spilled beer and broken glass.
Arrive between 11:30 p.m. and midnight. If you come at 10 p.m., you’ll be the only one. If you come at 1 a.m., you’ll be fighting for space near the bar. The line rarely stretches beyond the courtyard, but on big nights - like when a local legend like Jochem de Jong or De Stijl is playing - it can get tight. No need to pre-book. Just show up. The cover is usually €10-€15, paid in cash or via contactless. No one takes credit cards at the door.
How to Get There - No Uber Needed
De Marktkantine sits right in the heart of the Jordaan, between the canals and the old city walls. The closest tram stop is Weteringschans (lines 13 and 17). Walk five minutes south, past the De Hallen food hall, and you’ll see the big red doors. If you’re coming from the Central Station, take tram 13 and get off at Amstelstation, then walk 10 minutes through the quiet streets of the Nine Streets. Or rent a bike - Amsterdam’s best way to get around after dark. There’s a bike rack out front, always full.
Don’t bother with Uber. The app shows you a 15-minute wait and a €25 fare. You’ll get there faster on two wheels, and you won’t have to explain to a driver why you’re going to a club that doesn’t have a website.
What to Drink - And What to Skip
The bar at De Marktkantine doesn’t serve Red Bull and vodka. It serves local craft beer, Dutch gin, and simple cocktails made with ingredients you can find at the Albert Heijn down the street. Try the Witte Gember - a gin from Amsterdam’s De Drie Graafjes distillery, mixed with fresh ginger and a splash of tonic. Or grab a pint of De Prael’s Stout, brewed just down the canal in Oud-West.
Don’t order a mojito. Don’t ask for a Cosmopolitan. The bartenders will smile politely and make it, but you’ll feel the side-eye. This isn’t a place for sweet drinks. It’s for bold flavors, bitter hops, and spirits that taste like the Dutch coast - salty, sharp, and real.
Who You’ll Meet
At De Marktkantine, you’ll dance next to a 68-year-old retired teacher who still goes out every weekend. You’ll bump into a graphic designer from Eindhoven who moved here for the music scene. You’ll share a smoke with a student from Jakarta studying at the UvA. You’ll hear conversations in Dutch, English, Spanish, and Turkish - all blending into the same rhythm.
There’s no VIP section. No influencers posing for Instagram. No one checking their phone. People here come to feel something - not to post about it. If you’re looking for a place to be seen, go to The Loft. If you’re looking for a place to disappear into the music, this is it.
Why It Matters - More Than Just a Club
De Marktkantine isn’t just a venue. It’s a holdout. While other Amsterdam clubs have turned into corporate events spaces or luxury lounges, this one stayed true. It’s run by a collective of artists, sound engineers, and former musicians who believe music should be raw, loud, and unfiltered. The profits? Reinvested into local talent. They host free workshops for young producers. They let student bands play before the main act. They’ve kept the door open to people who can’t afford a €50 club ticket.
In a city where Airbnb has turned canal houses into short-term rentals and gentrification has pushed out generations of locals, De Marktkantine remains a space where culture isn’t packaged - it’s lived.
What to Do After the Music Ends
When the last track fades and the lights come up at 5 a.m., you won’t want to go home. Walk three minutes to De Koffiebrug, the tiny coffee shop that opens at 4 a.m. on weekends. Order a stokbrood met kaas - a crusty bread with aged Gouda - and a strong black coffee. Sit outside under the streetlamp. Watch the sunrise over the canal. The city’s quiet now. The only sound is the water lapping against the boats and the distant clink of a bike bell.
That’s Amsterdam after dark. Not the postcards. Not the tours. Not the red lights. Just the real thing.
Is De Marktkantine open every night?
No. De Marktkantine is only open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, usually from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. It’s closed Sunday through Wednesday. Always check their Instagram (@demarktkantine) for last-minute changes or special events.
Do I need to buy tickets in advance?
No. Tickets are sold at the door. Cash or contactless payment only. Pre-sale tickets are rare and usually only for special guest DJs. Don’t waste time searching online - just show up.
Is De Marktkantine suitable for tourists?
Yes - but not as a checklist item. If you’re looking for a club with neon signs and bottle service, this isn’t it. If you want to experience Amsterdam’s real underground scene - where locals go after the tourist crowds leave - then yes. It’s one of the few places in the city where you’ll feel like you’re part of something authentic.
Can I bring a friend who doesn’t speak Dutch?
Absolutely. English is spoken at the bar and by most staff. The music speaks louder than words anyway. People from over 40 countries have danced here. Language isn’t a barrier - rhythm is.
Is there a dress code?
No. Wear what you’re comfortable in. Sneakers, boots, dresses, hoodies - all welcome. The only rule: no sportswear with big logos. No jerseys. No flashy brands. This isn’t a fashion show. It’s a dance floor.
What’s the best time to arrive?
Between 11:30 p.m. and midnight. The energy builds slowly. Arrive too early, and you’ll be alone. Arrive too late, and you’ll be stuck in the crowd. The sweet spot is when the first real set starts - usually around 1 a.m.
Are there food options inside?
No food is sold inside, but there’s a small snack stand that sells chips and candy. For real food, walk to De Koffiebrug at 4 a.m. for stokbrood and coffee, or grab a kebab from De Drie Koningen on the corner of Prinsengracht - open until 4 a.m. every night.
Final Thought: Don’t Just Go - Be There
Amsterdam has plenty of places to drink. Plenty of places to dance. But few where the music feels like it’s breathing with you. De Marktkantine isn’t a club you visit. It’s a place you enter - and leave changed. The kind of place you remember not because of the name on the flyer, but because of the way the bass shook your ribs at 3 a.m., and how, for one night, you didn’t need to be anywhere else.
