Amsterdam Open 24/7 — Pharmacies, Supermarkets, ATMs, ER
You land in Amsterdam at 2am, your stomach is growling, you realize you forgot your prescription meds, and the only thing open is a glowing FEBO wall of deep-fried snacks and a row of coffeeshops that can’t help you. The standard city center sleeps from midnight to 8am — but you don’t have to starve, lose your passport in despair, or bleed out because you couldn’t find an English-speaking ER. Here’s the actual 24/7 infrastructure of Amsterdam, no fluff.
Emergency Numbers & Immediate Help
- 112 — Fire, ambulance, police emergency. English-speaking operators.
- Non-emergency police: 0900-8844 (€0.10/min). Use this for lost passports, stolen bikes, reporting non-urgent crime.
- Lost passport: Call 0900-8844 to file a report, then visit your embassy the next business day. The police report is required for an emergency passport.
- Lost phone: If left in an Uber, contact the driver via the app’s lost-and-found feature within 24 hours. For trams or metro, call GVB lost-and-found at 0900-8011 (Mon-Fri 08:00-18:00) or check their website. Lost phones almost never surface; assume it’s gone and remotely wipe it.
Pharmacy (Apotheek) — The 24‑Hour Rotation
Standard Dutch pharmacies (apotheek) close by 6pm weekdays and are completely shut on Sundays. If you need a prescription or real painkillers after hours, you need the dienstapotheek (on-call pharmacy) system. Every night and Sunday, one central Amsterdam pharmacy stays open in rotation. To find tonight’s location, check apotheek.nl or call 0900-9229 (€0.10/min). They’ll tell you the address and hours. Expect to pay €2–5 surcharge for after-hours service. Bring your prescription or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and passport. No, you cannot buy codeine over the counter — Dutch pharmacies are strict.
Medical Emergencies & Walk‑In Clinics
Hospital Emergency Rooms (English-Speaking)
Amsterdam’s main hospitals all have ERs staffed with English-fluent doctors. The four big ones are:
- OLVG — two locations: Oosterpark (Eerste Oosterparkstraat 279) and West (Jan Tooropstraat 164).
- AMC — Meibergdreef 9, south of the city.
- VU Medisch Centrum — De Boelelaan 1117, Zuid.
- BovenIJ — Statenjachtstraat 1, Noord.
Bring your EHIC if you’re from the EU/EEA — it covers emergency care at public hospitals. Non-EU travelers: your travel insurance will be billed; hospitals require upfront payment for uninsured visitors (€150–300 for a basic ER visit).
Tourist Walk‑In (Non‑Emergency)
If it’s not an ambulance situation, use Albert van Hassel Huisartsenpraktijk at Prinsengracht 687 (central) or call Centraal Doktersdienst at 088-003 06 00 (after-hours GP service). These handle minor injuries, infections, and prescriptions. The Centraal Doktersdienst is a rotating service — they’ll direct you to the nearest open GP.
Dental Emergencies
For a cracked tooth or abscess after hours, call TandartsBND 24‑hour hotline at 085-401 79 98. They have a network of on-call dentists; expect to pay €100–200 in cash upfront if uninsured.
Veterinary Emergencies
Got a sick travel companion? The Spoedkliniek Amsterdam (24‑hour animal ER) is based at the VU campus, but call 020-444 44 44 first. They handle dogs, cats, rabbits, and birds. It’s expensive — bring your wallet.
ATMs & Cash — Where Not to Get Screwed
All major bank ATMs (ABN AMRO, ING, Rabobank) have a 24‑hour lobby — insert your card to open the door. Use those. Avoid Euronet ATMs at all costs — they charge ridiculous fees (€5–8 per withdrawal) and give awful exchange rates. Inside the Centrum, you’ll find bank ATMs at Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein, and near Damrak. For locations, check your bank’s app or see our Amsterdam money guide for detailed fee breakdowns.
Supermarkets & Late‑Night Food
Albert Heijn To Go — 24/7 at Major Stations
The most reliable option: Albert Heijn To Go stores inside Amsterdam Centraal Station, Sloterdijk, and Schiphol Airport are open 24/7. You’ll find ready-made sandwiches, salads, fruit, beer, wine, and basic toiletries. Prices are higher than normal Albert Heijn (about 20–30% markup) but cheaper than a hotel minibar. The Centraal location is on the main concourse, near platform 2. For groceries after midnight, this is your best bet.
Spar City & Coop Compact
In residential neighborhoods, Spar City stores stay open until midnight, sometimes 1am on weekends. Coop Compact in the Jordaan and De Pijp closes around 11pm. Regular Albert Heijn supermarkets close at 10pm (8pm on Sundays). Plan ahead: if you need milk at 1am, head to Centraal.
FEBO — The 24‑Hour Fried Automat
Amsterdam’s iconic FEBO is a wall of coin-operated heated windows where you pull out a kroket, frikandel, or hamburger. Most FEBO branches are open 24 hours (check each one; a few close late but not overnight). The original at Leidsestraat 84? Yes, it’s a tourist trap. Better to hit the FEBO near Nieuwmarkt or the one on De Clercqstraat in the West — fewer crowds, same greasy joy. You pay in coins (€1.50–3 per snack), so keep change handy.
Other Late‑Night Eats
The Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein areas have wok shops and falafel joints open until 3–4am on weekends. Try Kamtuk for noodles or Maoz for falafel. In De Pijp, Albert Cuypmarkt area has late-night Turkish pizza (pide) until around 2am. For a sit-down meal after midnight, you’ll mostly find the tourist-trap Hard Rock Cafe vibe; stick to takeaway.
Cigarettes & Alcohol 24/7
Albert Heijn To Go at Centraal sells beer and wine around the clock. Cigarettes are only sold at supermarket counters during staffed hours (most close at 10pm). After that, petrol stations like BP on Stadhouderskade sell tobacco 24/7 but expect €1–2 markup. Note: smoking indoors is banned everywhere (including coffeeshops – you smoke what you buy inside, but only cannabis, not tobacco, in some places; check signage).
Coffeeshops & Cannabis
Coffeeshops typically open at 9am and close at 1am. A few, like The Stud near Rembrandtplein, stay open until 3am. They sell pre‑rolled joints, weed, hash, and edibles. You must be 18+ with valid ID. Buying for others or flashing cash at the counter? Don’t. A good rule: first purchase small (€5–10), then re-up. We avoid tourist trappy “famous” shops like the Bulldog on Leidseplein — try Boerejongens (Utrechtsestraat) or Kade (Oudezijds Voorburgwal) for quality and fair prices.
Getting Settled — Quick Links
If you’re just arriving, read our Amsterdam arrival setup guide for SIM cards, public transport tickets, and luggage storage. For cash strategies, see the money guide. And more general city logistics: the main Amsterdam survival page covers neighborhood safety, deal-breaker rules, and tap water (yes, it’s fine to drink).
Summary: What’s Open When
| Service | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GP walk-in (Centraal Doktersdienst) | After-hours, 24h hotline | Call 088-003 06 00 |
| Dental emergency | 24h hotline | 085-401 79 98 |
| Vet emergency | 24h | 020-444 44 44 |
| Albert Heijn To Go (Centraal) | 24/7 | Toiletries+food+booze |
| FEBO | 24h (most) | Coins only |
| Coffeeshops | 9am–1am (some 3am) | ID required |
| ATMs (bank branches) | 24h | Use ABN/ING/Rabo |
You won’t find a 24/7 anything else — no late-night supermarkets outside stations, no after-hours cannabis shops, and the city’s nightlife doesn’t revolve around retail. But if you stick to the rotation system for pharmacy and medical needs, and know where FEBO and AH To Go are, you can survive anything Amsterdam throws at you after dark. The hardest part? Finding a public toilet past midnight. Good luck.