The Best Sports Bars in Amsterdam

A Jordaan brown cafe with a loyal Ajax following and screens that go up for every match worth watching. The crowd is local and vocal — this is not a tourist bar that happens to show football. De Ooievaar is where Amsterdammers who care about Ajax gather on Champions League nights. Cheap Heineken, no frills, reliable atmosphere.

Order: Heineken on draught — this is the correct choice here

One of the better Leidseplein options that manages to serve both tourists and locals without becoming entirely one or the other. Multiple screens, a solid beer list, and a kitchen that stays open late. The atmosphere on Eredivisie matchdays is properly Dutch — direct opinions, loud reactions, and genuine investment in the result. Premier League and Champions League are both shown.

Order: Amstel on tap — the Amsterdam default, cold and reliable

The taproom attached to Amsterdam's best-known craft brewery puts screens up for major fixtures without compromising its identity as a beer destination. The combination of excellent Dutch craft beer and proper football atmosphere is rarer than it should be. The windmill brewery setting is genuinely distinctive. Book a table ahead for Champions League nights.

Order: IJ Zatte — the tripel blonde, 8%, exceptional with football

A large, rowdy bar on Leidseplein that has been showing sport and hosting live bands since the 1990s. The sports coverage is comprehensive — Premier League, Six Nations, NFL, and Formula 1 are all on the schedule. The sound can be overwhelming during busy periods, but the energy is genuine and the bar staff keep service moving even when it is packed three-deep.

Order: Grolsch on tap — underrated Dutch lager, better than it gets credit for

The most consistent Irish sports bar in Amsterdam, showing GAA, Six Nations, Premier League, and rugby union across multiple screens. Opens early for morning kick-offs and stays late for American sports. The kitchen does solid Irish bar food. O'Donnell's attracts a genuinely international crowd that has found a reliable place to watch sport in a city that can make that harder than it should be.

Order: Kilkenny — the house recommendation and they keep it well

A De Pijp fixture that earns its name — screens on three walls, a good standing area for big matches, and a crowd that arrives early and stays late. The neighbourhood mix of Dutch locals and international residents creates a better atmosphere than the purely tourist Leidseplein options. Reservations are worth making for Champions League quarter-finals and beyond.

Order: Hertog Jan on tap — a quality Dutch pilsner worth ordering

A classic Jordaan brown cafe that shows Eredivisie fixtures without pretending to be anything else. The wooden interior, the regulars at the bar, and the absence of background music create a setting where watching football feels like the natural thing to do. It fills up quickly for Ajax home and away games alike. Cash only — go prepared.

Order: Heineken pilsner with a Jenever chaser — the Dutch way

A well-equipped venue in Oud-West with eight screens including two large projectors. The coverage is comprehensive: Dutch football, Premier League, NBA, NFL, Formula 1, and tennis majors are all reliably shown. The beer list includes Dutch and Belgian options. Worth knowing about for the Grand Prix calendar and for major US sports events when other bars have given up on the schedule.

Order: La Chouffe on tap — Belgian golden ale, strong, appropriate for long evenings

A Westerpark neighbourhood bar that shows football for the locals rather than visitors. The crowd is Amsterdam-born, the beer is cheap, and the atmosphere for a midweek Champions League fixture is better than anything you will find at twice the price near Leidseplein. Takes some finding, which is part of why it remains as good as it is.

Order: Brouwerij 't IJ Plzen on tap when available — local and excellent

The most convenient option for visitors arriving at or departing from Centraal Station with a match to catch. Screens on every wall, efficient service, and full sports coverage across all major leagues and competitions. Not the most atmospheric entry on this list, but reliable and well-run. The kitchen delivers food quickly enough to fit around kick-off times.

Order: Heineken draught — practical and cold, the right call here