Nijmegen Nightlife

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This is a proper Dutch "Brown Bar" type place with no frills just decent beer, friendly locals, knowledgeable barman, good simple bar food and the regular Tuesday night quiz.

I only had two evenings here in Nijmegen but on both occasions de Nieuwe Maan seemed be the place where it was all happening. From the beer side they usually have about 6 beers on tap at any one time with a mix of Dutch and Belgian which the barman is perfectly happy to answer any queries about. On my second visit I got involved in sampling the local Bock Beer, whose name now escapes me, but i do remember soaking them up with a pretty damn good plate of meatballs - these being the homemade variety and only a couple of Euros for a pretty substantial portion.

Tuesday nights are quiz nights and pretty competitive it is too but being in Dutch I could answer even less questions than my normal pathetic attempts at pub quizzes back home (but only marginally less - i.e zero instead of once in a new moon).

In addition to the weekly events the bar sponsors a local football team - FC BIERCELONA (2nd website) and takes great pride in being the birthplace of "The biggest, smallest, festival of the Netherlands" - the "Moonstock" which features local bands and as has expanded from the Nieuwe Maan to become a national event.

This really is a cracking little bar and had I been around for a while would have been my home from home.

Dress Code: Proper pub! So scantily-clad females always welcome ;p

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This is a pleasant little bar tucked away in a corner behind St Stevens church with a decent selection of beers. It claims to be the oldest bar in town and I can quite believe that although I personally found it a bit characterless. But then maybe a rainy October midweek night wasn't the best time to catch the place.

It's called The Blue Hand because its main trade in mediaeval times used to from the cloth factory workers at the Lakenhal on the adjacent Grote Markt whose hands would usually be stained from dyes used.

It is a nice little bar though and does stock the local brewery's products - which I didn't realise at the time. It was only when I came to writing up this page that I found out that Nijmegen has its own brewery: HA! I really do have to go back now just to visit the brewery!

Dress Code: This is a pub and so usual dress codes apply (see above).

OK it's a casino but here in the Netherlands the government-licenced casinos, whilst designed to take as much money from you as possible, also double up as a general place for that late drink or meal.

The casino has the usual gaming tables including roulette, blackjack, poker as well as slot machines but also has a pleasant bar with wide screen television (usually for sporting events) as well as a reasonably-priced formal restaurant. The bar is open until 3 am and the restaurant until 1.30.

Dress Code: There is no no strict dress code but smart casual is the usual order of the day. You should note that entry will require photo ID.

This is one of the hangout for university students in this town, You can also have your meals here too.

We just had a couple of drinks and they have a menu of Bier like Blond, Brunette menu ( a selections of 4-5 beer)

Dress Code: No dress code here, so come as you are.

When you love 80's and 90's hits and would like to dance, Boogie Wonderland is the place to be. I went there with 6 friends and we had lots of fun!

Dress Code: Wear anything you like, it really doesn't matter much.

El Corte is probably the most famous place in Europe for Argentinian Tango, dating from late 80's. It organises regular lessons, practicas and balls and some specific events. It has an international renown and organises every year an international week of stages and balls where many countries are represented, ensuring diversity.

The owner of the place and world wide teacher Eric has always been very imaginative to add original touches to tango events he organises. As every year on April 30th for the Queen's day, dancers were invited to wear as much orange as possible.

If you plan to go, consult El Corte to register and possibly sleep there. The place is so popular that registration has often become a prerequisite to go and dance, limiting participants to around 275 people, most of the time.

Play different kind of games like roulette American or French, Blackjack, Slot and so on.
Or take a nice meal in the restaurant and watch the many interesting gambling people.

Openingtimes: from 13.30 till 03.00 hrs.
Openingtimes restaurant: from 13.30 till 01.30 hrs.

Dress Code: Just don't dress to occasionally! But there is no strict dresscode!

Student's dancing club, one of the few places still open after four in the morning.
Has a reputation as something of a pick-up bar (though it is not really sleazy or anything), which is probably why you might have a chance encountering Nijmegen's local celebrities here.