Amsterdam report finds nightlife is not in decline · News ⟋ RA

Published

Fri, Feb 27, 2026, 09:30

A report into Amsterdam’s nightlife needs was conducted by research agency VibeLab and Pennpraxis—the research arm of the Weitzman School of Design.

It found that there’s a strong demand for a vibrant late-night culture in the city. Of the participants surveyed, 41.7 percent said they prefer late-night or open-ended closing times, and over 90 percent participate in Amsterdam’s late-night culture. Most go out several times a month.

Findings also showed that 39.7 percent want more diverse and inclusive nightlife options, particularly across programming, and 38.8 percent called for improvements to night time transport. Another key area of improvement was affordability, with recommendations including social ticket discounts, dual use of venues to share operational costs, and municipal real estate to be used within the nightlife sector.

VibeLab cofounder and former Amsterdam night czar Mirik Milan said: “This report shows it’s time to abandon the negative narrative that nightlife is dying. Instead, we are witnessing a cultural shift from alcohol-driven nightlife towards curated night culture that is community-based, safe and diverse. The demand for night culture is growing, particularly among younger audiences.”

Download the full report, and browse Instagram for more information.