Bourbon Street Amsterdam is a small live-music club at Leidsekruisstraat 6-8, just off Leidseplein, with bands playing seven nights a week from 22:00 and cover charges between free and €8.50. It has run since 1990 and leans blues, rock, soul and funk rather than the New Orleans party-street image its name suggests.
What Bourbon Street Amsterdam actually is
Despite the name, this is not a recreation of New Orleans’ Bourbon Street. It is a narrow, low-ceilinged club in the Leidseplein nightlife district that opened in 1990 to meet demand for regular live music in the city centre, and it has kept the same formula ever since: a band on stage every night, drinks at the bar, and no table service theatrics.
The programming spans blues, rock, soul, funk, reggae, folk and covers-oriented pop, so the room you walk into on a Tuesday can feel very different from a Saturday. Sunday nights are the soul and funk end of the spectrum, while the club’s long-running jam sessions give local players an open stage.
You will not miss the entrance: the Blues Brothers figures mounted on the roof are the landmark most visitors use to find the door. Full programming is published by the venue itself, so check bourbonstreet.nl or the club’s Facebook page before you plan a night around a specific act.
Practical details at a glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | Leidsekruisstraat 6-8, 1017 RH Amsterdam |
| Neighbourhood | Leidseplein / Centrum |
| Opened | 1990 |
| Live music | Seven nights a week |
| Sunday to Thursday | 22:00 – 04:00 |
| Friday and Saturday | 22:00 – 05:00 |
| Cover charge | Monday free; Sunday and Tuesday to Thursday €5.50; Friday and Saturday €8.50 |
| Tickets | Sold at the door only, no reservations |
| Phone | 020 623 3440 |
| [email protected] |
Key features
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>Live music every night. Bands play seven nights a week, with the last hour of the night typically given over to DJ or recorded music rather than a set.
>Genuinely small room. The stage sits close to the floor and the standing area is tight, so sightlines are good almost anywhere, and the room feels full well before it is at capacity.
>Mixed local and touring bill. Dutch bands make up much of the calendar, with visiting acts and guest musicians filling out weekends and special nights.
>Jam sessions. Sunday and Tuesday have traditionally been open jam nights, where musicians in the room can get on stage rather than only watching.
>Low or no cover. Monday is free entry, Sunday through Thursday is €5.50, and weekends are €8.50, which is modest for a live venue in central Amsterdam.
>Bar-first, not concert-hall. Expect beer, spirits and simple mixed drinks in a pub setting rather than a cocktail programme; the music is the draw.
>Late finish. Doors stay open until 04:00 on weeknights and 05:00 on Friday and Saturday, making it a viable last stop after dinner or another bar.
Best time to visit
The single most important timing fact is that nothing happens before 22:00. Arriving at 20:00 for a drink and a set is not an option, so build Bourbon Street into the back half of an evening rather than the start.
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>For a quiet, close-up night: Monday to Thursday. Cover is €5.50 or free on Monday, the room is less crowded, and you can stand near the stage without arriving early.
>For maximum atmosphere: Friday and Saturday, when the club is busiest and runs until 05:00. Expect to arrive by around 23:00 if you want space near the front.
>For participation: Sunday and Tuesday jam nights, which suit both players and listeners who prefer loose, unrehearsed sets.
>Seasonally: Leidseplein is busiest from June to August and around Christmas and New Year. Shoulder months such as September to early November and late January to March bring smaller crowds without changing the programme.
How to get there
The club is on Leidsekruisstraat, a side street running off Leidseplein in the Centrum district, which makes it one of the easier venues in Amsterdam to reach without a car.
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>On foot: Roughly 20 minutes from Dam Square and about 10 minutes from the Rijksmuseum, both along well-lit central routes.
>By tram: Leidseplein is served by tram lines 1, 2, 5, 7, 12, 19 and 24, with the club a two-minute walk from the stop. Trams stop running shortly after midnight, so plan a different way home.
>By night bus: Because the club closes at 04:00 or 05:00, night buses and taxis are usually the realistic return options rather than trams.
>By bike: Practical and very Amsterdam, but Leidseplein bike parking fills up on weekends, and cycling over the alcohol limit is an offence in the Netherlands.
>By car: Not recommended. Central Amsterdam parking is among the most expensive in Europe; use a P+R facility on the edge of the city and continue by tram or metro.
Frequently asked questions
What time does Bourbon Street Amsterdam open?
Doors open at 22:00 every night. It closes at 04:00 from Sunday to Thursday and at 05:00 on Friday and Saturday.
Is there a cover charge at Bourbon Street Amsterdam?
Yes. Monday is free entry, Sunday and Tuesday to Thursday cost €5.50, and Friday and Saturday cost €8.50. Tickets are sold at the door only and the club does not take reservations.
What kind of music does Bourbon Street Amsterdam play?
The programme covers blues, rock, soul, funk, reggae, folk and quality pop, with live bands seven nights a week rather than a single fixed genre.
Where is Bourbon Street Amsterdam located?
At Leidsekruisstraat 6-8, 1017 RH Amsterdam, a short walk from Leidseplein in the city centre. The Blues Brothers figures on the roof mark the entrance.
Does Bourbon Street Amsterdam host jam sessions?
Yes. Sunday and Tuesday nights have traditionally been open blues jam nights where musicians in the audience can join the stage.
