Two drinks in.
Front row, regret it.
Stand-up and comedy in Amsterdam, in English and Dutch. Every show at Boom Chicago, Comedy Café Amsterdam, Toomler and the open mics around town.
![[ACS] STACEJAM & MUSICAL IMPROV JAM](https://img.evbuc.com/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.evbuc.com%2Fimages%2F1186911523%2F2988893075834%2F1%2Foriginal.20260615-082421?crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&w=1024&auto=format%2Ccompress&q=75&sharp=10&fp-x=0.072&fp-y=0.528&s=542f59c6a84e60f31c4794796fe4b37d)
![[ACS] ASTIROIDS & MUSICAL IMPROV JAM](https://img.evbuc.com/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.evbuc.com%2Fimages%2F1186911833%2F2988893075834%2F1%2Foriginal.20260615-083036?crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&w=1024&auto=format%2Ccompress&q=75&sharp=10&fp-x=0.074&fp-y=0.546&s=2d92b379f1360ed347b447b5ef4048ee)
![[ACS] DREAMQUEENS & LONG-FORM IMPROV JAM](https://img.evbuc.com/https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.evbuc.com%2Fimages%2F1186912014%2F2988893075834%2F1%2Foriginal.20260615-083355?crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&w=1024&auto=format%2Ccompress&q=75&sharp=10&fp-x=0.091&fp-y=0.532&s=4341404605cf925e02a697367886c179)
Boom Chicago and most touring shows run in English. Toomler leans Dutch. Each listing says which.
Open mics are free or a few euros. Rough, unpredictable, and where every headliner started.
Email us. Stand-up, improv or open mic, English or Dutch, listing is free.
How comedy in Amsterdam actually works
The city's comedy runs on a few venues. Boom Chicago is the long-running English-language improv and sketch institution near Leidseplein; Comedy Café Amsterdam programs stand-up most nights, often in English; Toomler is the Dutch-language club by the Vondelpark that hosts touring names and try-out nights. Around them, bars run weekly open mics where new comics test five-minute sets, the cheapest and most unpredictable way to see comedy in the city.
Language is the thing to check before you book. Big touring shows and Boom Chicago run in English by default; Toomler and many Dutch comics play in Dutch. Open mics are a mix and usually say which on the flyer. Ticketed club shows run roughly €10 to €25; open mics are often free or a few euros at the door.
We list stand-up shows, comedy-club nights, improv and open mics we can verify with a venue or host. Recurring weekly mics appear once per upcoming date; one-off touring shows and try-out nights are listed as they are announced.
- Ticketed show price
- €10 – €25
- Open mic
- free – €5
- Start time
- 20:00 (20:30 on mics)
- Languages
- English & Dutch
- Main venues
- Boom Chicago, Comedy Café, Toomler
Best Amsterdam areas for comedy
Leidseplein
Boom Chicago and the theatre district, the centre of English-language comedy and improv.
Oud-Zuid (Vondelpark)
Toomler, the Dutch-language club by the park, for touring names and try-outs.
Centrum
Comedy Café Amsterdam and bar mics, the densest cluster of stand-up nights.
Nieuw-West / Oost
Neighbourhood venues and cultural centres running occasional open mics and community comedy.
Comedy glossary
- Open mic
- A night where anyone on the list gets a short slot, usually five minutes, to try new material. Cheap or free, wildly variable, and where every headliner started.
- Try-out
- A show where an established comic works up an hour before touring it. Rougher and cheaper than the finished special; you see the jokes get built.
- Improv
- Unscripted comedy built from audience suggestions. Boom Chicago is the Amsterdam home of it, in English.
- Bringer show
- A mic where you only get stage time if you bring paying guests. Common for newer comics; the flyer will say if it is a bringer.
- Compere / MC
- The host who runs the room between acts, warms up the crowd and keeps time. A good MC makes a mixed lineup feel like one show.
Frequently asked
Is comedy in Amsterdam in English or Dutch?+
Both. Boom Chicago and many touring shows run in English; Toomler and a lot of Dutch comics play in Dutch. Open mics are mixed. Each listing says which language to expect.
How much do comedy shows cost?+
Ticketed club shows run roughly €10 to €25. Open mics are often free or a few euros at the door. Big touring names cost more.
Where can I see stand-up in Amsterdam?+
Comedy Café Amsterdam for stand-up most nights, Boom Chicago for English improv and sketch, and Toomler for Dutch-language club shows. Bar open mics fill out the week.
What time do comedy shows start?+
Most ticketed shows start at 20:00. Open mics often start a little later, around 20:30, and run late as the list works through. Arrive early for a seat at the smaller rooms.
Can I do an open mic as a first-timer?+
Yes. Most open mics take newcomers, you sign up in advance or on the night. Slots are usually five minutes. Check whether it is a bringer show (you bring guests) before you commit.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?+
For touring names and weekend club shows, yes, they sell out. For open mics you can usually just show up, though popular ones fill their sign-up list early.
How do you find these shows?+
We follow the venues (Boom Chicago, Comedy Café Amsterdam, Toomler) and the hosts who run weekly mics, and list recurring nights once per upcoming date.
Related guides
New mics and shows pop up regularly. If you run a comedy night in Amsterdam, English or Dutch, email [email protected]. Listing is free.