For a city of under a million people, Amsterdam has an extraordinary range of screens: grand old picture palaces, slick multiplexes, tiny volunteer-run film houses and summer screenings under the stars.
Almost every foreign-language film here plays in its original language with Dutch subtitles, so you rarely need a word of Dutch to enjoy a night at the movies.
This guide walks through every cinema in and around Amsterdam, what each one is best for, and the practical things worth knowing before you go.
Every cinema below links to its own page in our Amsterdam cinemas directory, where you will find the address, map, opening details and reviews.
The big multiplexes
If you want the latest Hollywood blockbuster on a huge screen, the multiplexes are your friend.
They show mainstream releases in their original language (usually English) with Dutch subtitles, and offer premium large-format and comfort seating.
- Pathé Tuschinski -- the crown jewel, a 1921 Art Deco and Amsterdam School landmark near Rembrandtplein and one of the most beautiful cinemas in the world. Worth visiting for the building alone.
- Pathé De Munt -- a big central multiplex by the Munttoren, handy for the newest releases in the heart of town.
- Pathé City -- on Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen just off Leidseplein, easy to pair with dinner and drinks.
- Pathé Arena -- a large multiplex in Zuidoost by the Johan Cruijff ArenA, with premium screens and plenty of parking.
- Pathé Amsterdam Noord -- a modern multiplex across the IJ, an easy ferry or metro ride from the centre.
- Vue Amsterdam -- a city-centre multiplex on Kalverstraat, convenient while shopping.
- Kinepolis Hoofddorp -- a large modern multiplex southwest of the city with many screens and ample parking.
Arthouse and independent cinemas
This is where Amsterdam really shines.
The city’s arthouse cinemas programme world cinema, documentaries, independent film, classics and festivals, almost always in the original language with subtitles, and most have a good cafe or bar attached.
- Eye Filmmuseum -- the national film museum, an architectural icon on the IJ waterfront in Noord, combining exhibitions with arthouse, classic and restored cinema.
- Filmhallen -- a stylish multi-screen arthouse inside the De Hallen complex in Oud-West, with a grand cafe.
- LAB111 -- an adventurous independent cinema in a former pathology lab, with a lively cafe-bar.
- Kriterion -- a legendary student-run cinema founded in 1945, staffed by volunteers, with a buzzing late-night cafe.
- The Movies -- an intimate cinema on Haarlemmerdijk showing films since 1912, with a much-loved restaurant attached.
- Rialto De Pijp -- a beloved world-cinema house in De Pijp, known for original-language programming and festivals.
- Rialto VU -- Rialto’s screen on the VU campus in Zuid, handy for students and the south of the city.
- Rialto Silo -- Rialto’s newest venue, out on Zeeburgereiland, extending the same independent and world-film programme east.
- Studio/K -- a cultural hub in Oost with two screens plus a restaurant, bar and club, popular with a young crowd.
- Het Ketelhuis -- the champion of Dutch cinema, on the Westergas terrain in Westerpark, with a relaxed cafe and terrace.
- De Uitkijk -- a single-screen cinema that has been showing films in the same Prinsengracht canal house since 1913.
- Cinecenter -- a long-running independent cinema near Leidseplein showing world and independent film.
- Filmhuis Cavia -- a small, volunteer-run cinema in West with a distinctly alternative, non-commercial programme.
- FC Hyena -- a stylish cinema and restaurant in Noord right by the IJ, perfect for a full evening out.
- Cinema The Pulse -- an independent screen on Hildegard von Bingenstraat in Buitenveldert, mixing arthouse with mainstream releases well away from the centre.
- FEST Amsterdam West -- a cinema hostel on De Clercqstraat in Oud-West, combining budget beds with a screening room, bar and social programme.
Neighbourhood and community cinemas
A couple of smaller venues bring affordable film to the outer neighbourhoods.
- Bijlmerbios -- a welcoming community film house in the Bijlmer, Zuidoost.
- Cinema De Vlugt -- a neighbourhood cinema in Nieuw-West with affordable screenings close to home.
Seasonal and open-air cinema
When the weather turns warm, Amsterdam’s open-air screens are one of the city’s great summer pleasures.
These run in summer only, so check ahead for the current programme.
- Pluk De Nacht -- a much-loved free open-air festival at Stenen Hoofd on the IJ, screening independent and international films under the stars.
- Outdoor Cinema Amsterdam -- seasonal outdoor screenings at changing sites around the city.
- Ventilator Cinema -- a small pop-up screening independent and alternative film at changing locations.
Just outside the city
A few cinemas in the surrounding municipalities are within easy reach and worth knowing about.
- Cinema Amstelveen -- mainstream and family films just south of the city in Amstelveen.
- Corendon Cinema Badhoevedorp -- a modern cinema near Schiphol with plenty of parking.
- Theater De Omval -- a theatre in Diemen that also screens films, just east of Amsterdam.
What internationals should know
The single most useful thing to understand is the language.
International films are shown in their original language with Dutch subtitles, marked as OV (originele versie), so an English-language film plays in English.
The main exception is children’s films, which are often dubbed into Dutch (nagesynchroniseerd, or “NL gesproken” in listings).
Look for an “OV” screening if you would rather hear the original.
Dutch films are the reverse case, and only some arthouses add English subtitles, so check the listing for “English subtitles” if your Dutch is still a work in progress.
If you go often, the Cineville pass is the obvious move: €24 a month, or €19 if you are under 30, for unlimited films at affiliated cinemas.
The affiliates include most of the arthouses above, among them Eye, LAB111, Kriterion, Rialto, The Movies, Studio/K, De Uitkijk and Het Ketelhuis.
Popular screenings, especially at the smaller arthouses, are worth booking online in advance.
Find a cinema and see what’s playing
To see what is on right now across the city’s screens, browse our Amsterdam cinema showtimes page, updated daily, where you can search by film or by cinema for the week ahead.
To browse every cinema on a map, with addresses and reviews, visit our Amsterdam cinemas directory.
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