Things to book in advance for your trip to Amsterdam
Prepare for your trip to Amsterdam with our ultimate guide to all the things that need to be booked in advance. No need to feel lost, we’ve got you covered!
Book as early as possible
Hotels
Accommodation in Amsterdam is one of the things you’ll want to sort out as soon as possible. The earlier you book your hotel, the better the price will be. Planning a romantic getaway in Amsterdam? Take extra care to make arrangements in time for Valentine’s. If you’re low on inspiration, we have just the ticket with a roundup of the most romantic hotel rooms and restaurants in the city of canals to get you sorted.
Major events
Watch out for availability issues around special occasions like King’s Day on 27 April, Queer & Pride in July-August, Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) in October and New Year’s Eve. These events merit additional preparation if you’d like to book a boat, join in on a party, or find some hotel options before they get all booked out.
Concerts and festivals
Planning to come to Amsterdam for a special concert or join in on a festival? With the Dutch population planning their free time into their calendar months in advance, you’ll need to stay organised. Check out our major music venues roundup for an idea of what to search for. If you’re a festival goer, this festival guide will give you some advance notice.
One-of-a-kind restaurants
Heralded as one of the world’s top 50 pizza places, nNea is always booked full. Tables are reserved almost a year in advance, so if you’re an enormous pizza enthusiast, plan accordingly or try your luck as a walk-in. Otherwise, check out our recommendations for more outstanding pizza in Amsterdam.
Book three months in advance
Anne Frank House
One of the city’s most visited museums, the Anne Frank House only offers admittance by prior timeslot booking. Tickets open for sale on the website six weeks before the date, so you’ll have to build your plans around this one. The latest you could get a ticket for your desired date is one-and-a-half months in advance, but we recommend crossing this one off the to-do list as early as possible, as you won’t be able to move this timeslot around.
Popular restaurants
Some of Amsterdam’s more popular restaurants boast month-long waitlists that are tough to bypass at the last minute. Michelin-starred restaurants must be booked several months in advance. If word of mouth got you hungry for a dining experience in any of the following, we recommend booking your desired date early:
- The famous De Kas, known for its sustainable high dining experience inside a beautiful greenhouse, has a two-month wait for weekend dinner reservations
- If you want to partake in the Vurtoneneiland experiences (website in Dutch), tickets for their culinary events go online three months in advance
- One of the city’s renowned omakase experiences at Ken Sushi has a current wait time of 6 weeks
Parties during Amsterdam Dance Event
The Amsterdam Dance Event in October is five days of unforgettable parties with the world’s leading DJs. If you plan to partake in the October fun, watch for the big party announcements in July and August. For the smaller gigs, announcements will go out a month prior.
Book one month before
Van Gogh Museum
One of Amsterdam’s most famous museums, the Van Gogh Museum, operates on a timeslot-based admittance system. Upon buying your ticket online, you will have to choose the time of your visit, as well. Depending on the season, the tickets can be booked up to two to four weeks in advance, so make sure to book early to get your preferred date.
Book the week of your visit
Timeslots for I amsterdam City Card holders
If you plan to use the I amsterdam City Card during your visit, remember that cardholders need to book time slots for Rijksmuseum and several other museums. This requirement is only valid for City Card holders.
Club night entry tickets
Ready for some partying? Book your tickets to such venues as RadioRadio, Doka, Parallel and Garage Noord early for an early bird discount. If you’re running late, you can always get in at the door, as well, so no pressure. Check out guide to the best clubs in Amsterdam for more.
Last minute performances
For last-minute entertainment and concerts, check out gigs at smaller venues like Bitterzoet, Tolhuistuin, and others. Looking for tickets, but they’re all sold out? Don’t give up until you’ve given the old Ticketswap a try. With concerts selling out months in advance, many resell their tickets closer to the date, so you may yet snag your dream seats. For inspiration on upcoming concerts, check out our freshly updated music guide.
- If you have an I amsterdam City Card, you can also take advantage of the 25% discount for tickets bought the day of the performance for venues such as Bimhuis, Nationale Ballet & Opera, and the Muziekgebouw.
Most restaurants
Don’t count on just walking in and live queueing. It is often the case in Amsterdam that the tables will be booked up for the whole night, and you can be denied at the door if you have not made a prior arrangement for the weekend. This is especially true of. Try to book a week in advance for a weekend dinner or a couple of days in advance for a weeknight meal. Don't miss our dedicated pages for restaurants and bars in Amsterdam for all the inspiration you need.
