Leidse Square ('Leidseplein' in Dutch)
Leidse Square is one of the main venues in Amsterdam for going out with cafes, bars, clubs, restaurants and casino.
location
Leidseplein is about 3km from Central Station.
To Rembrandt Square, another nightlife area in Amsterdam, is about 20 minutes walking. The Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Heineken Experience, flower market and Vondelpark are all within 5-15 minutes walking. The Holland Casino is around the corner of Leidse Square, just 300 meters away. To Dam Square / Red Light District it takes 8 minutes by tram. A stop for canal boats is behind the American Hotel at 300 meters.
Compared with other European cities as London, Paris and Rome, Amsterdam is a small city with less than 1 million people. The attractions are relative close to each other.
transportation
The tram is the most convenient way to travel around through Amsterdam Center. Tram lines 1,2 and 5 have a stop at Leidse Square. It takes 5 minutes to Rembrandtplein and 12 minutes to Central Station. In the weekend, the latest tram to Central Station leaves at 0.36 from Leidse Square. The main ticket office for tram/bus/metro tickets is at the GBV office at Central Station Square (just outside the railway station).
tourist information
There is a basic tourist information kiosk opposite Hotel American at Stadhouderskade 1 (300 meters from Leidse Square). Three larger tourist information offices are in Central Station - platform 2b -, at Central Station Square and at Amsterdam Airport.
hotels at Leidseplein:
- Leidsesquare Luxury Suites (Leidseplein 13-17)
hotels closeby Leidseplein:
- Eden American Hotel (Leidsekade 97, 100 meters)
- Boutique Hotel View (Leidsekade 77, 200 meters)
- King Hotel (Leidsekade 85-86, 200 meters)
- Marriott Hotel (Stadhouderskade 12, 200 meters)
- Acostar Hotel (Kerkstraat 45-49, 300 meters)
- Best Western Leidse Square Hotel (Tesselschadestraat 23, 400 meters)
- Eden Leidse Square Hotel (Nassaukade 387-390, 400 meters)
restaurants
There are numerous international restaurants in the area of Leidse Square. To name a few:
- Hard Rock Cafe (American): Max Euweplein 59/61
- Teppan Yaki Hosokawa (Japanese): Max Euweplein 22
- Bagel & Beans (American): Keizersgracht 504
- Thai Corner: Kerkstraat 66
- Trattoria Pastini (Italian): Leidsegracht 29
- Bombay Inn (Indian): Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 46
- Dim Sum Palace (Chinese): Leidsestraat 95
- Gauchos (Argentin): Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 69
- Rendez Vous (French): Weteringschans 75
- Granada (Spanish): Leidsekruisstraat 13
bars - cafes - clubs
A small selection of bars and clubs in the Leidse Square area:
- Boom Bar (American): Leidseplein 12
- Jimmy Woo (nightclub): Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 18
- Paradiso (live music and club nights): Weteringschans 6-8
- Melkweg (music, theater, cinema, gallery, cafe): Lijnbaansgracht 234-A
- Bamboo Bar (Latin): Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 64
- Brasil Music Bar: Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 70
- Alto (jazz): Korte Leidsedwarsstraat 115
- Sugar Factory: (night theater) Lijnbaansgracht 238
Leidse Square in summer 2009
Leidse Square
Leidse Square with the tramway tracks