Café Cobra | Museumplein
A wide open grassy area behind the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh museum (the Stedelijk museum of modern art also used to be on the museumplein until it moved recently). The Museumplein is a great place to go for a run out and throw a ball around to loosen up on Friday. Cobra Café, as befits its artistic location, is dedicated to the Cobra modern art movement which took it’s name from the three cities it was based in (Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam although they seem to have spent a lot of time in Paris) and includes Karel Appel and Cornielle. Well worth a visit by the more cultured visitors to Amsterdam.
Café Corso | Oudezijds Achterburgwal 26
In the red light district is one of the traditional rugby bars of Amsterdam and the walls are covered in rugby memorabilia and pictures of the teams that have represented Café Corso with pride of place going to the 2004 team that won the tournament. During the year rugby is shown on TV and rugby players and teams from around the world just pop in. Café Corso is the clubhouse for the White Hart Marauders during the Amsterdam Sevens and the celebrations start on Thursday evening and run through the whole weekend until Monday Morning where many drop in for Bloody Mary Monday before making their way to the Central Station.
Susies Saloon | Oudezijds Voorburgwal 254
Is on the edge of the Red Light District near the Dam. Another rugby mad bar, they enter a Men’s team and a Ladies team in the Amsterdam Sevens, usually with an antipodean flavour with Pacific Islands reinforcements. The bar is usually open until six in the morning for the Amsterdam Sevens (not recommended for players). They also do food and have a smoking room (also not advised for players).
Dan Murphy’s | Leidseplein 24
An Irish bar. Leidseplein is one of Amsterdam’s main nightlife destinations. Half of the square is filled with terraces where you can sit outside with a beer or six and chill out. On the other half of the square are lots of buskers making music or performing magic. It is surrounded by bars, Cinemas and music venues (Melkweg which has music, theatre, cinema and Paradiso). Dan Murphy’s is in the corner of Leidseplein and, in addition to the friendly staff boasts the best pint of Murphys stout in town. Leidseplein is also close to the location of the Friday evening reception.
O’Reilly’s | Paleisstraat 103
Is a large, sports oriented Irish bar situated just behind the palace on the Dam. The bar has several small rooms and for big matches they have a projector with a massive screen. They also do excellent food.
Café Heuvel | Prinsengracht 568
A typically Dutch bar on the corner of Prinsengracht and Spiegelstraat. Pierre, the owner used to play rugby with AAC and some of the teams who come regularly to the Amsterdam Sevens use Cafe Heuvel as their Amsterdam base for the weekend.