Crazy Things to Do in Amsterdam (That Aren’t a Coffeeshop)

Ask most people what to do in Amsterdam and you’ll get the same two answers: coffeeshops and the Red Light District. But here’s the thing — the locals and the people who actually know this city will tell you the real fun is in the activities. Amsterdam is, without much competition, the craziest group-trip capital in Europe. So if you’re hunting for crazy things to do in Amsterdam — the wild, weird, unusual, slightly-unhinged stuff that makes a stag do, hen party or group weekend legendary — this is your list. And not a single coffeeshop in sight.

Below are the most insane, fun and unique things to do in Amsterdam, grouped so you can build your own bucket-list day. Most of these are ours and bookable in a couple of clicks. A couple at the end aren’t — because we’re not going to pretend we run the highest swing in Europe.

Crazy Things to Do on the Water (This Is Amsterdam, After All)

Amsterdam runs on canals, so the most unusual things to do here happen on the water. Forget a sleepy sightseeing boat — this is the city’s living room, and in summer it turns into one big floating party. Top of the list of wild canal experiences:

• The Amsterdam Strip Boat — a private canal cruise with a live striptease show on board. About as Amsterdam as it gets.
• The Naked Sushi Boat — eat sushi served on a (yes, naked) body as you drift past the canal houses. The ancient art of nyotaimori, Amsterdam-style.
• The Magic Mike Boat — male strippers on a boat, the hen-party favourite that needs no further explanation.
• The Topless Waitress Boat and the Silent Disco Boat — two more reasons your canal cruise won’t look like anyone else’s holiday photos.
• The Booze Boat and the Pizza & Drinks Canal Cruise — if you just want the classic Amsterdam canal cruise with drinks, unlimited beers and good company on the water, start here.

See the full fleet on the Amsterdam boat tours page.

Wild Things to Do on Wheels

If drinking on a boat isn’t unusual enough, try drinking while you pedal. Amsterdam’s beer bikes are one of the most famous group activities in the city — a bar on wheels that your whole crew powers together.

• The Beer Bike, Prosecco Bike and Mixbike — pedal-powered bars for beer fans, prosecco lovers, or groups who want both. (Curious whether they’re even legal these days? We wrote the full story on whether beer bikes are banned in Amsterdam.)
• Real Life Mario Karting — dress up and race like you’re in the game. One of the most fun and unusual things to do in Amsterdam for groups.
• Indoor Karting — proper high-speed racing for when the competition gets serious.
• The Party Bus — a nightclub on wheels to get your group from A to B with zero downtime.

Unusual & Slightly Unhinged Group Activities

This is where Amsterdam stops being a normal city break. Some of the most insane things to do here are about blowing off steam — loudly.

• Group Car Smash — take a sledgehammer to an actual car, beer in the other hand. The single most cathartic, unhinged thing on this list, and a stag-do legend.
• Oil Wrestling — exactly what it sounds like, and yes you can take part.
• A Fire Breathing Workshop — learn to actually breathe fire from a pro. A genuinely once-in-a-lifetime, slightly terrifying thing to tick off.
• Paintballing — settle the score with the group the old-fashioned way.

Browse them all under daytime & group activities.

Naughty Things to Do in Amsterdam (Strictly Adults Only)

Let’s be honest about why a lot of groups come here. Amsterdam does grown-up entertainment better than anywhere, and these are the cheeky, naughty, only-in-Amsterdam experiences people actually search for.

• The Dominatrix Bar Crawl — two hours of naughty fun with a dominatrix as your guide. Not your average pub crawl.
• Live shows: the Stripshow, Big Mama Stripshow and Dominatrix Show for groups who want the entertainment brought to them.
• Learn-a-skill workshops: pole dancing, twerking, burlesque and striptease — hen-party gold and a guaranteed laugh.
• Cheeky dinners: Steak and Boobs, Ribs and Tits and Pizza and a Stripper — dinner and a show, Amsterdam-style.

There’s a whole catalogue of these under shows and tours, workshops & bar crawls.

Pranks & Stunts to Pull on the Stag or Hen

Some of the most memorable, funny things to do in Amsterdam are the wind-ups. If you’ve got a groom or bride to humiliate, this is the section for you.

• The Stag Arrest — a fake “police” arrest of the groom in the middle of the street. Total chaos, unforgettable photos.
• The Playboy Tour — naughty secrets and sexy streets, the cheeky guided walk through Amsterdam’s wild side.
• The Bunny Bar Crawl — a guided crawl through the best bars with a twist, perfect for hens.

Two Crazy Amsterdam Things We Don’t Run (But You Should Still Do)

We’d rather give you the honest full picture than pretend we do everything. So here are two genuinely insane Amsterdam experiences worth your time that aren’t ours:

• The “Over The Edge” swing at A’DAM Lookout — the highest swing in Europe, dangling you 100 metres over the edge of a tower with the whole city under your feet. Terrifying, brilliant, and the ultimate Amsterdam bucket-list photo.
• The Amsterdam Dungeon — a live-actor horror experience that drags you through the city’s darkest, goriest history. Equal parts scary and hilarious, and a great daytime contrast to the nightlife.

Build Your Own Crazy Amsterdam Day

The real secret to Amsterdam isn’t picking one crazy thing — it’s stacking them. A beer bike in the afternoon, a car smash before dinner, then a strip boat or party bus into the night. That’s the kind of unforgettable, unique group day this city was built for.

Pick your poison from the group activities, boat tours and bike tours — or message us and we’ll build the whole mad itinerary for you.

Crazy Things to Do in Amsterdam: FAQ

What are the craziest things to do in Amsterdam?
The wildest group activities include the Strip Boat, a Group Car Smash, beer and prosecco bikes, Real Life Mario Karting, a fire breathing workshop and the Dominatrix Bar Crawl — plus the “Over The Edge” swing at A’DAM Lookout.

What unusual things can you do in Amsterdam besides coffeeshops?
Loads. Amsterdam is packed with unique experiences — canal party boats, naked sushi, male and female strip shows, oil wrestling, paintball, dance workshops and themed bar crawls — none of which involve a coffeeshop.

Are these activities good for a stag do or hen party?
Absolutely — most of them are built for groups, which makes Amsterdam one of the best stag do and hen party destinations in Europe.

What’s there to do in Amsterdam this weekend?
Almost everything on this list can be booked for the weekend — boats, bikes, shows and activities all run year-round, with the canal experiences especially popular in summer.