SidecarCity guide · Amsterdam · 5 min read
How to make friends in Amsterdam as a newcomer or visitor
Amsterdam is compact and direct. People cycle everywhere and say what they mean — which makes planning meetups refreshingly simple.
Top 3 things to do — and how to turn them into plans
- 1
Vondelpark picnic
The city's backyard — bring snacks and join the lawn crowd. On Sidecar, you can post exactly this as a plan — or join someone else's.
- 2
Free ferry to NDSM
A free boat ride to the city's creative shipyard district. On Sidecar, you can post exactly this as a plan — or join someone else's.
- 3
Brown café evening
The cosy, candle-lit pubs are built for long conversations. On Sidecar, you can post exactly this as a plan — or join someone else's.
Sidecar is for locals meeting locals, travellers meeting locals, and fellow travellers meeting each other. Friends only.
Cafés and brown bars
The bruin cafés are built for conversation. A small group at a corner table with a few beers is a classic Amsterdam evening.
Use the parks and water
Vondelpark picnics, a walk along the canals or a ferry trip to NDSM are free, easy plans.
Follow your interests
Markets, record shops, climbing gyms and the huge number of community events mean shared interests are easy to find.
Find your people on Sidecar
Sidecar shows small, platonic plans in Amsterdam in time order, each with a host introduction and a public meeting place. Join one, or post your own.