The best group day out in Amsterdam mixes something on the water, something to eat or drink and something active, like a canal cruise, a cocktail workshop and a bike ride. Below you'll find fourteen ideas for group activities in Amsterdam, plus a sample itinerary for a full day.
What are some good ideas for a group trip in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam is compact, easy to get to and full of activities that work well for big groups too. That makes it a great choice for friends, colleagues, families and clubs.
A group outing usually works best when you mix three types of activity:
- On the water: seeing the city from the canals is simply a must.
- Food and drink: tasting, brewing or mixing together gets everyone talking and laughing.
- Active or creative: cycling, painting or a trip to a stadium. It keeps the energy up.
You'll find all the activities on our Amsterdam page too. Here's a selection, by type.
Which group activities in Amsterdam can you do on the water?
A boat is one of the easiest group activities in Amsterdam: everyone gets a seat, nobody has to organise anything and you'll see plenty of the city centre in an hour.
- Party boat with unlimited drinks (1 hour, 4.7 stars from 6,171 reviews). Music on and glasses full, with an unlimited drinks option. A great warm-up for the evening, especially for stag dos, hen dos and groups of friends.
- Sunset evening canal cruise (1 hour, 4.8 stars from 5,136 reviews). Calmer and more atmospheric: the lights along the canals come on and you can enjoy a drink on board. Suits any group, even if the ages are mixed.
- Pizza and unlimited drinks on the canals (1.5 hours, 4.5 stars from 3,077 reviews). Dinner and a cruise in one. Pizza is a safe bet for a group with different tastes.
Only want to pick one boat? Go for the party boat if your group is up for a lively time, and the evening cruise for a mixed crowd.
What can you eat and drink with a group in Amsterdam?
Food and drink is the easiest way to keep a group together. You're sitting round the table or at the bar together, and everyone joins in.
- Heineken Experience with drinks (1.5 hours, 4.6 stars from 39,941 reviews). An interactive walk through the old brewery, with pouring and tasting. Afterwards you'll share a beer, with the option of the roof terrace.
- Shake like a bartender at Bols (1.5 to 2 hours, 4.8 stars from 759 reviews). Everyone mixes their own cocktails under the guidance of a bartender. Great for stag and hen dos and team outings.
- Culinary and cultural walking tour (3.5 hours, 5.0 stars from 1,197 reviews). From herring to bitterballen, with stories about the city in between. Come with an empty stomach.
- Dutch cheese tasting with wine (45 minutes, 4.7 stars from 797 reviews). At Old Amsterdam you'll try different cheeses paired with a matching wine. Short enough to fit between two other activities.
- Stroopwafel baking workshop (45 minutes, 4.8 stars from 5,027 reviews). Who will bake the best one? Fun for families and colleagues alike, and you get to eat your own creation.
What active group activities are there in and around Amsterdam?
Locals cycle in Amsterdam too. With a guide, you also won't be navigating the whole time, which makes a big difference in a group.
- Bike tour past hidden gems (3 hours, 4.8 stars from 1,506 reviews). A local guide takes you past well-known spots and hidden courtyards and squares.
- E-bike tour past windmills and cheese farms (4 hours, 4.6 stars from 1,531 reviews). Escape the city for the countryside, with cheese tasting along the way. Thanks to the e-bike, nobody has to wear themselves out.
- Cycling through the bulb fields near Keukenhof (3 hours, 4.9 stars from 330 reviews). Only during the flower season, so in spring. Group photos among the flowers are a lovely bonus.
- Stadium tour of the Johan Cruijff ArenA (75 minutes, 4.6 stars from 10,039 reviews). Walk through the players' tunnel, sit in the dugout and see Ajax's changing room. A great choice for football fans and sporty families.
What can you do with a group when it rains in Amsterdam?
A Dutch group outing always needs a plan B. These two work well when the weather isn't on your side:
- Getting spooked at the Amsterdam Dungeon (1 hour, 4.7 stars from 3,212 reviews). Actors, special effects and a free fall in the dark. It's rainproof, and afterwards you'll have plenty to talk about.
- Painting Delft blue tiles (1.5 hours, 4.8 stars from 1,376 reviews). Settle in with a paintbrush and take your very own tile home as a souvenir. This is the relaxed alternative for groups who don't fancy anything noisy.
The Heineken Experience, the cheese tasting and the stroopwafel workshop are also good options for a wet day.
What does a sample itinerary for a group trip to Amsterdam look like?
Here are three options. The times are just a suggestion; check which start times are available when you book.
Day plan for friends or colleagues
- 10:30 Bike tour past hidden gems (3 hours).
- 13:30 Lunch on your own.
- 14:30 Heineken Experience (1.5 hours).
- 17:00 Cocktail workshop at Bols (1.5 to 2 hours).
- Evening: evening canal cruise (1 hour). Pick a time around sunset; when that is depends on the season.
Plan for families or a mixed group
- 11:00 Stroopwafel baking (45 minutes).
- 13:00 Painting Delft blue tiles (1.5 hours), after lunch.
- 15:30 Stadium tour at the Johan Cruijff ArenA (75 minutes).
- 18:00 Pizza cruise on the canals (1.5 hours).
Party plan for a stag do, hen do or weekend away with friends
- Afternoon: cheese and wine tasting (45 minutes) as a gentle start.
- Early evening: party boat with unlimited drinks (1 hour).
- After that: grab dinner and hit the town. You'll find more ideas in our blogs on a stag or hen do abroad and a weekend away with friends.
Don't over-plan. With a group of ten or more, time always slips away on toilet stops, tram stops and people looking for their scarf. Around 4 to 5 activities a day is already a lot for most groups; three is often more enjoyable.
How do you choose a group activity in Amsterdam when everyone wants something different?
That's usually the real problem. One person wants to cycle, another fancies the brewery, and a third would rather steer clear of anything involving water. In a group chat, that ends in endless debate, or in whatever the loudest person wants.
Flip 2 Trip solves that. You, as the organiser, pick Amsterdam, everyone swipes through activities on their own phone (Trip = sounds fun, Flip = no thanks, Super-trip = really want to do this), and you get a dashboard with the top 3 and a day programme. It's free, and here's how it works. Still torn between several cities? Then take a look at the page with all destinations.
Practical tips for a group trip to Amsterdam
- Book ahead. Popular activities fill up fast at weekends. When you book, check that your group size is covered.
- Keep the city centre in mind. It's small and busy, and by tram, metro or on foot you'll usually get around faster than by car. Pick activities close to each other, so you don't spend half the day travelling.
- Be smart with food and drink. Two activities with drinks back to back is fun, three is too many. Slot in a bike tour or a workshop in between.
- Think about the season. In spring you can visit the tulip fields, while in winter indoor activities and the evening canal cruise really come into their own.
- Spread the budget. Combine one bigger activity, like a canal cruise with unlimited drinks, with something smaller, like a tasting or a workshop.
Looking for ideas that are more team-focused? Then read our article with team outing ideas. Or have a look at our general tips for a group trip to Amsterdam.
Where can you find all the group activities in Amsterdam?
All the activities in this article are on the Amsterdam page, with ratings, reviews and direct links. Pick a few, let the group swipe, and within minutes you'll have a plan everyone's happy with.
