What Rembrandtplein actually is
Rembrandtplein is a square in central Amsterdam named after the painter Rembrandt van Rijn, whose statue stands at its center.
By day it is a fairly ordinary square ringed by cafes; by night it becomes one of the busiest nightlife clusters in the city.
The nightlife it’s known for
The square and the adjoining Thorbeckeplein hold some of Amsterdam’s best-known clubs, including Escape, Air and Club Smokey, covering house, hip-hop, R&B and Top 40 between them.
For something quieter, De Heeren van Aemstel on Thorbeckeplein runs regular live-music nights with local bands, and the side street Halvemaansteeg has several karaoke bars if you want the microphone yourself.
This is the loud, mainstream end of the city’s nightlife, closer to a stag-do crowd than a local hangout.
For a fuller sense of where else to go out, see our Amsterdam nightlife and entertainment guide.
Terraces and places to eat
In summer the square’s terraces are the main draw.
Café de Kroon and De Nachtwacht are both known for outdoor seating with a view over Rembrandtplein itself.
Café Schiller, inside the historic Hotel Schiller, keeps its original art deco interior and serves a full dinner menu.
Indonesian restaurant Indrapura sits directly on the square and is known locally for its rijsttafel.
A short walk along the Amstel brings you to Café de Jaren, which trades the square’s crowd for a terrace over the river.
Theater and culture close by
Theater Tuschinski, one of Europe’s best-preserved art deco cinemas, is a few minutes’ walk from the square and still screens both new releases and classic films.
De Kleine Komedie, one of the Netherlands’ oldest theaters, stages cabaret and spoken-word shows nearby.
Koninklijk Theater Carré, home to circus, cabaret and large-scale musicals, is a short walk further on, though it doesn’t sit directly on the square.
Museums and quieter stops
The area around Rembrandtplein also holds smaller museums worth knowing about if nightlife isn’t the draw: the Willet-Holthuysen Museum, a preserved 17th-century canal house; Museum Van Loon, another historic residence; and Foam, the city’s photography museum.
The Bloemenmarkt, Amsterdam’s floating flower market, is also within walking distance.
None of these sit on the square itself, but all are close enough to combine with a visit.
Annual events
The square is also the stage for one of the city’s biggest street parties: on King’s Day it turns into one large open-air celebration, packed from morning to night.
Outside of that, it functions as a year-round nightlife strip rather than an events venue.
Is it worth a visit
For a resident or repeat visitor, Rembrandtplein by day is mostly somewhere to pass through rather than linger -- the terraces and statue are pleasant but not a destination on their own.
By night it’s worth going if loud, mainstream clubbing is what you want; if it isn’t, the square is easy to skip in favor of the theaters and terraces nearby instead.
It’s one of four squares covered in our guide to Amsterdam’s main squares, alongside Dam, Leidseplein and Museumplein, useful if you’re deciding which ones are worth your time.
Getting there
Rembrandtplein sits in the city center, within walking distance of Dam Square and the Amstel.
Trams stop directly at the square and it isn’t a driving destination -- anyone bringing a car should check our guide to parking rates and permits in Amsterdam before heading in.
