How to Make Friends in Amsterdam

All travel enthusiasts (even experienced ones), sooner or later, face the question: how exactly to make new friendships in a new city?! It may be a real challenge to come up with options, especially for those who are not so naturally outgoing. It can be overwhelming, whether you are on your way to your first destination, or you’ve been changing cities frequently for the past few months. What to do when you are out of ideas and social battery? That’s why we are here, to give some useful tips and ideas for making new contacts and, hopefully, creating long-lasting friendships. In this edition, let’s have a look at How to Make Friends in Amsterdam, one of the top destinations for students and travelers.

Apps for meeting new people

Instead of going out and hoping to meet someone by chance, you can now simply download an app. Many dating apps have evolved beyond just dating; they can also help you find friends. Of course, apps aren’t for everyone, especially those who prefer a more natural setting and believe in being at the right place at the right time. Whether you’re outgoing or enjoy staying in, this could be an option worth considering. It offers benefits that might be hard to come by in everyday life. You can create a profile that reflects your personality, set preferences for the types of people or events you’re interested in, and decide if you’re ready to meet in person or attend a selected event.

Just to avoid misunderstandings, especially when using dating apps for only friendly connections, we suggest clarifying that in your profile or upcoming conversations. This could help avoid unpleasant surprises, in case you and your match have different intentions in the app. Above all, don’t forget to be safe while chatting, as well as when meeting in life. Protect your personal, financial, and other sensitive information. When meeting in real life, meet in public places and stay alert.

a) Meetup

This app is about joining and creating local groups of interest. On this platform, you can find workshops and educating seminars to apply for, explore sport activities, or join game nights with locals, expats and travelers. The app is very convenient to use because it is possible to choose such preferences as meeting time, type (online/ in-person), distance, and topic category.

b) Bumble

Originally a dating app, Bumble now offers three modes to choose from: Bumble Date, Bumble BFF, and Bumble Bizz. In case you’re wondering, Bumble Bizz is designed for business networking, connecting entrepreneurs and professionals across various fields. Although Bumble provides a mode specifically for making friends, it’s not as widely used as the dating mode. So, while you’re being open about your intentions, feel free to use the dating mode as well.

c) Tinder

The top dating app is primarily used for finding dates but also offers options for making friends. Similar to Bumble, it lets you choose people you want to match with by prioritizing your preferences. A convenient feature is the ability to add prompt questions to your profile, which serve as great conversation starters.

Sports groups

Meet like-minded people the old-fashioned way. When you share the same interests, networking comes very naturally. The range of sport activities to choose from in Amsterdam depends very much on the season. Anyway, there are options for both indoor and outdoor sports. 

a) Cycling

Where else but in Amsterdam?! The city is very cycling-friendly, offering plenty of bike paths and rental places. There are various cycling clubs to which you can sign up and combine training with having a fun time. Overall prices are affordable, but it depends on the club you choose. Click here to see one of the options or use Google help to find another one.

b) Running

If you are not really a cycling enthusiast, how about running? The best time to do so is from spring to autumn, as the weather is warmer and clearer during that time of the year. A popular place for locals to go for a run is Vondelpark. Before heading there, take a look at already planned routes. 

c) Kayaking and Canoeing

Kayaking and canoeing are intense full-body workouts and also great social activities. The difference between these two sports is in boat and paddle types, but overall they are quite similar. Whether you are interested in regular training or one-time experience, both are possible options in Amsterdam. A few options to choose from: Sloterplas Amsterdam, located in Amsterdam Nieuw West, Kanovereniging Frisia, Kano & Sup Amsterdam, and you can easily find more alternatives by searching on Google. 

Extra tip you should know when in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is famous for its coffee shops culture. So, instead of having your coffee at home, stop by a local coffee place, whichever you prefer, and have your morning, daytime or afternoon coffee there. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, and here´s a tip on how to start a conversation: ask for help. For example, ask someone to look after your things while you are in the restroom, ask for a lighter, or, as a tourist in a new city, why not ask for a local’s recommendations? Sounds pretty easy, right?

For useful information that may not even come to your mind, it is very useful to join the city’s Facebook expat groups. In these groups are locals and other foreigners who use it as a platform to ask questions, talk about common problems, share suggestions, and help each other with anything.

Europe’s Famous Hostels suggestions

Let’s take a look at our top picks for How to Make Friends in Amsterdam and explore the city all together at once!

a) Guided Tours

There are plenty of options for free or affordable guided tours through Amsterdam. Choose from joining a walking, biking, or even cruising tour. It is a great way to have a guided excursion around the city and get to know it, not only by the look. It is a perfect setting where you can naturally make new connections.

b) Pub Crawl

For a fun and cheap night out in the city where you won’t need to worry about the company, join The Legendary Pub Crawl in Amsterdam. It will take you to 4 different Amsterdam pubs and end the night at a nightclub. The attendance fee is only €25, which includes one free shot at every bar, unlimited shots for 30 minutes, special prices, free entrances, games & prizes to win! It is fun, budget-friendly, and, in addition, you will have a guided tour through the city.

c) Celebrations and festivals

Amsterdam is one of the hottest event destinations! This inclusive city offers something for every music taste, from traditional King’s Day celebrations to popular electronic music festivals, like the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE). As this is a city loved by travelers from all around the globe, especially during festivals or national events, it is very easy to make new friends on every corner!

Click here to discover other activity options and enjoy the Dutch capital as a local!

Hostel – the best option for staying

When it comes to accommodations, the best option for meeting new people and creating the funniest memories is staying at a hostel. There is a very big possibility that you won’t even need our tips for making new friends because hostels are the perfect environment for finding travel buddies and making new friendships.

One of the popular places to stay for young travelers in Amsterdam is the Flying Pig Hostel, located close to the Van Gogh Museum, the best coffee shops, restaurants, and bars. Flying Pig Hostel offers all the amenities you may need, friendly staff will give the best tips for Amsterdam’s hidden gems, and your stay there will be for reasonable price. The hostel offers a great place to meet new friends, chill out, party, and have experiences you won’t want to miss out on. From brutal bunks and former squats to sleek modern stunners, follow the lead for a perfect night on the tiles in Amsterdam. Click here to get to know Flying Pig Hostel and Amsterdam better.

Safe travels and be sure to travel smart! Like this article? Check out our Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok and Youtube for more of this!

…