Amsterdam is a city of extremes that is tailor-made for a stag party weekend.
In Amsterdam on a stag weekend, browse original masterpieces at a world-class museum or pop into a canal-side coffee shop for a puff on some of the best legal herbs in the world. Have dinner and drinks at an excellent restaurant. Make a stag do trip to the world’s best known red light district with world class lap dancing clubs and even more daring fare.
Amsterdam in a nutshell:
• Amsterdam is the capital and largest city in Holland with an urban population of 1.3 million.
• Amsterdam was settled in the 12th Century as a fishing village and grew to become the most important port in Europe. In 2010, Amsterdam was named the 13th best city in the world for quality of life.
• Prostitution is legal in Amsterdam. The city has an (in)famous red light district that is lined with strip clubs, brothels and sex clubs.
• Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe with nearly five million visitors annually.
• The official language is Dutch, but English is commonly spoken – a boon to your stag party in Amsterdam.
Nightlife:
Amsterdam is world famous for its nightlife. From mild to absolutely debauched, Amsterdam has something to satisfy every taste. Any stag party weekend in Amsterdam is surely going down in the annals of best times ever. Amsterdam has many pubs and the city is renowned for its beers, including Amstel. The city also has several hundred coffee shops – not to be confused with coffee houses or cafes – where the purchase and use of cannabis is tolerated by the Dutch government. There are dozens of clubs in the city and Europe’s top DJs are regularly drawn to perform. Amsterdam’s red light district features blocks of brothels where scantily clad women dance in large picture windows to entice customers inside. There are also a large number of top-quality lap dancing clubs and even more daring sex clubs.
Daytime Activities:
Amsterdam is a city of bicycles and a pedal tour of the city and its surroundings on a stag do is highly recommended. The city also has miles of canals that offer a slowed-down view of one of Europe’s most storied locales. Amsterdam is home to the Vincent Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank house for those looking to take something substantive away from their stag weekend in Amsterdam. There are also Heineken and vodka museums for an afternoon side trip. Still another option is to visit one of Amsterdam’s many street markets for everything from food to clothing and other goods.
Weather:
Amsterdam can be visited year round; however, it does get cold enough that walking or cycling in the winter is a poor decision and should be avoided on your stag weekend. Temperatures can dip below 0 degrees Celsius. The average temperature during Amsterdam’s warmest months (July and August) is 20 degrees Celsius.
Currency:
The Euro has replaced Dutch currency as the standard.
Eating and Drinking:
Amsterdam has a widely diverse restaurant scene where Asian cuisine is particularly prevalent. Herring is a large component of local cuisine and there are a number of good fish stands around the city. Amsterdam is also well-known for its delicious and varied cheeses.
Getting Around:
Bicycles are extremely prevalent in Amsterdam and pedestrians should be aware of bike paths that can resemble sidewalks. But Amsterdam is a modern city and public transportation is clean and efficient and affordable for your stag weekend.