Fun Things to do in Amsterdam for Halloween
While Halloween isn’t necessarily a Dutch tradition, the spooky day is still celebrated all over Amsterdam by locals, students and expats. Halloween in Amsterdam means that the streets will come alive with trick or treaters, clubs will be hosting freaky Halloween parties and pumpkins will be left outside houses with candles burning through the night. This year, Halloween falls on a Thursday but there will be ‘killer’ events taking place on the weekend too. If you’ll be in Amsterdam in October, we’ve rounded up the best things to do in the city so you have an awesome Halloween…
Need a centrally-located hostel in Amsterdam? Check out the Flying Pig
Epic Halloween Parties
If you’re looking to party hard for Halloween then you’ve picked the right city. Loads of young people will be hitting the clubs and bars in Amsterdam dressed in their freakiest fancy dress. There are several different Halloween events to choose from this year but our favourite Halloween parties in Amsterdam will be at Belushi’s (Thursday 31st, Friday 1st and Saturday 2nd). This rock n’ roll bar near the Red Light District serves up the whole package for Halloween including live music, Halloween-inspired drinks, face painters, decorations and Amsterdam's longest Happy Hour running until midnight. Come dressed to scare!
Freaky Films in old cinemas
Watching scary movies is a quintessential part of Halloween culture. If you love a good scare, get into the Halloween spirit and head to the medieval Pathe Tuschinski Theater (pictured), an old cinema that will be showing four horrifying films for one day only (27th October) for the ‘Mr Horrors Halloween Horror Show’. This involves an all-night movie marathon full of blood, zombies, and serial killers. The films will be showing late into the night past 12pm. Book your tickets online!
You can also watch the Rocky Horror Picture Show on Halloween at the Q-Factory with live actors in the audience. A ticket is just €10.
Eat sweet treats at Polaberry
Amsterdam excels when it comes to sweet treats and cakes and for Halloween. You can expect some seriously Instagrammable chocolate to hit the local cafes and shops. We recommend stopping by Polaberry for their beautifully decorated Halloween treats (that also taste as amazing as they look). Specialising in fresh fruit covered in chocolate and traditional belgian chocolate, stop by and see what’s on offer to satisfy your sweet tooth this Halloween.
Ghost Walking Tour
Like many cities in Europe, Amsterdam has its fair share of ghost stories. Learn more about the haunted past of the Dutch capital on the Amsterdam Ghost Walk which will take you through the darker side of the city. An experienced guide will take you through some spooky sights in the evening and tell the stories of ghosts and witches who are said to have roamed the streets. It’s a real chilling experience and the perfect Halloween activity. Tickets are €15 per person and the tour lasts 90 minutes. You can book tickets online.
Amsterdam Dungeons
Prepare to get the scare of your life. Every Halloween, the Amsterdam Dungeons celebrates the spooky season for the whole of October with more scares and more thrills than ever before. Head underground and go on a journey through 500 years of Dutch history with a few unpleasant surprises along the way. This one’s not for the fainthearted. The Amsterdam Dungeon is located in Rokin, not far from Madame Tussauds.
Fright Night Skate
Do something a little different this Halloween and get into a pair of roller skates. Every week a Friday Night Skate takes place in Amsterdam but on 31st October there will be something a little more spookier occuring. A frightening Halloween skate through the city returns to Amsterdam and you’re invited to take part. Come dressed in your scariest costumes and roll around the city injecting Halloween spirit into the streets (and scaring passers-by on the way). For more information check the website.
Need a centrally-located hostel in Amsterdam? Check out the Flying Pig
Article by Shereen Sagoo
