The Jordaan is Amsterdam at its most charming after dark, all brown cafes, canal side bars and sing along nights. My personal guide to a Jordaan evening. See NightFind.
You cannot talk about the Jordaan without the bruine kroegen, the brown cafes that give the area its warmth. These are the wood panelled, low lit bars that have poured beers for generations, where locals and visitors end up shoulder to shoulder at the bar. I always start a Jordaan night in one of these, because there is no better way to slow down and settle into the evening. Order a beer, find a spot by the window, and let the district do the rest.
The magic of the Jordaan is that the bars sit right on the water. On a warm evening the move is simple, a drink on a terrace with a canal in front of you and the light going gold over the bridges. Tucked into the side streets you also find cocktail bars that take real care with what they pour, like the classic spots where a well made drink is treated as the point of the night rather than the fuel for it. These quiet corners are my favourite discovery every time.
The Jordaan has a folk heart too. This is the home of the Amsterdam sing along, the levenslied, where a piano or an accordion gets a whole cafe singing old Dutch songs late into the night. It is joyful and a little chaotic and completely unlike anywhere else in the city. There is live jazz and acoustic music scattered around the district as well, so if you want your night with a soundtrack rather than a DJ, you will find it here.
Take it slow, because that is the entire point. This is a walking district, so wander the canals between bars instead of rushing to a plan. Weeknights are wonderfully quiet and perfect for a long conversation, while weekends bring a livelier hum without ever tipping into a club crowd. And when you do want to dance, the clubs of the centre are a short stroll away, so the Jordaan makes an ideal, characterful start to a bigger night.
The Jordaan is my answer to anyone who thinks a great night has to be a loud one. It is intimate, it is beautiful, and it holds on to the version of Amsterdam that the guidebooks promise. Browse every bar in the Jordaan on NightFind, pick a canal to sit beside, and let the evening unfold at its own gentle pace.
