ClubNL is closed. The house club at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 169, just behind Dam Square, shut on 1 July 2023 after almost 25 years. The building now houses Nachbar, a 325 to 350 capacity club focused on electronic music. It kept ClubNL’s long bar and much of the old interior.
What ClubNL was like
ClubNL opened around the turn of the millennium as a lounge club, with Amsterdam DJs playing funky lounge sets. It later became a nightclub known for house, tech house and progressive music. Resident DJs carried most nights, and the club also booked international names including Maceo Plex, Ricardo Villalobos, Guy J and Dave Seaman.
For years it opened six or seven nights a week. By its final period it had cut back to Thursday (22:00 to 03:00) and Friday and Saturday (22:00 to 04:00). It was small enough to feel like a hidden spot, even though it sat one street from the Royal Palace.
When I visited, the sleek interior and relaxed crowd of locals and visitors surprised me. I had expected another generic city-center club.
Nachbar: the club at No. 169 today
New operators took over the building in 2023 and opened Nachbar. The front bar keeps the old ClubNL look: dark, red-lit and part dive bar, part 1990s lounge, with a pool table. Behind it is a club room with a laser tunnel and a Danley Soundlabs sound system. Nights range from hard techno and rave to psychedelic and progressive sets.
| Detail | ClubNL (until July 2023) | Nachbar (now) |
|---|---|---|
| Address | Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 169 | Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 169 |
| Music | House, tech house, progressive | Techno, rave, psychedelic and progressive club sounds |
| Capacity | About 350 | About 325 to 350 |
| Opening nights | Thursday to Saturday in its final period | Set per event; check the listing |
Planning a night out there
Nachbar works event by event, so times, prices and line-ups change from night to night. Check the club’s own site or its Resident Advisor page before you go. During Amsterdam Dance Event in October, some weekend nights have run from 22:00 to 06:00.
Bring a valid passport, ID card or driving license. Amsterdam clubs are generally 18+ and check ID at the door. Door staff can refuse anyone without proof of age.
How to get to Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 169
- On foot from Amsterdam Centraal: walk straight down Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal for about 15 minutes. The club is just past Dam Square, behind the Royal Palace.
- By tram: take line 2, 17 or 24 from Centraal to the Dam stop on Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal.
- After the trams stop: GVB night buses run from Centraal. Plan your route home in the 9292 or GVB app before you head out.
- By bike: park only in marked racks and use two locks, because bike theft is common in the city center.
- From the Jordaan: the canal-side walk east takes about 15 to 20 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
Is ClubNL in Amsterdam still open?
No. ClubNL closed on 1 July 2023 after almost 25 years at Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 169.
What replaced ClubNL?
Nachbar, an electronic music club that opened in the same building in 2023 and kept ClubNL’s long bar and much of its interior.
Where was ClubNL?
At Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 169, 1012 RK Amsterdam, a short walk from Dam Square and the Royal Palace.
Which tram stops near the old ClubNL?
Trams 2, 17 and 24 run from Centraal Station along Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal and stop at Dam, a short walk from No. 169.
