Amsterdam New Year's Eve (Oud en Nieuw) 2024-2025

Amsterdam is one of the best European capitals to party your way into the New Year. The city always looks amazing during the holidays. Thanks to Amsterdam Light Festival, the illumination in the city center is amazing, especially if you take a walk along the Keizersgracht Canal.

Countdown on Museumplein

Amsterdam always rings in the New Year with a big bang, and hundreds of thousands of people gather in the center to watch the fantastic fireworks display at midnight. Amsterdam’s Museumplein becomes the center of New Year’s Eve excitement with the spectacular Electric Fireworks show, the city’s largest celebration to ring in the new year. By day, the set-up for the event is already a captivating sight, but it transforms into a breathtaking light display when night falls. Combining eco-friendly fireworks with a vivid light show, Electric Fireworks brings a dynamic, colorful spectacle to the heart of Amsterdam. The show offers a musical journey spanning multiple eras and genres, with live performances building anticipation as midnight approaches. At 11:55 p.m., the crowd gathers to countdown together, and when the clock strikes midnight, Amsterdam erupts in celebration, welcoming in 2024.

For families and early revelers, there’s a special children’s show starting at 7:00 p.m., giving kids a taste of the Electric Fireworks magic. The main event begins at 10:30 p.m., inviting people from across the city to Museumplein for an unforgettable night. This exhilarating display, climaxing at midnight, is broadcast live on TV, allowing all of the Netherlands to join in on Amsterdam’s biggest New Year’s countdown. In addition to Museumplein, one can catch a good glimpse of the fireworks and mass festivities at Dam Square, The Nieuwmarkt, or Rembrandtplein.

Parties

If the streets get too crowded, rooftop bars suit perfectly to watch the fireworks and have a few cocktails at midnight. However, they are pretty popular, so make sure to make your reservations in advance. Other good options for New Year's Eve include party cruises, hotels' black-tie gala nights, or dance parties in Amsterdam nightclubs. Top DJs and an incredible party atmosphere will surely make this night memorable!

Amsterdam’s nightclubs pull out all the stops for unforgettable NYE bashes, offering everything from international DJs to cutting-edge light shows and themed extravaganzas. Among the top spots, Ziggo Dome is famous for its massive NYE events, often hosting some of the world’s top DJs and transforming the venue into an electrifying celebration of music, lights, and dance. Nearby, Gashouder is known for its iconic Awakenings events, delivering techno and electronic music to enthusiastic crowds in a grand industrial space. Escape, one of Amsterdam’s largest and longest-running clubs, also draws partygoers with its high-energy countdown parties and exceptional sound system. Meanwhile, AIR Amsterdam and Paradiso bring more intimate yet equally dynamic atmospheres, blending themed decor and live music acts to make NYE memorable. Each of these clubs provides a distinct experience, but all capture Amsterdam’s vibrant nightlife and energetic spirit as the city celebrates the new year.

New Year's Eve Dip

In the morning, if you are brave enough, start the New Year with Nieuwjaarsduik or a plunge into chilly waters. Thousands of people are getting a swim in freezing waters in Amsterdam. Afterward, you can warm up with some traditional New Year treats: hot chocolate and Erwtensoep (pea soup). Also, New Year in Amsterdam is not complete without oliebollen, appelbeignets, and duivekater sweet pastries.