If Amsterdam had a square that could paint its own self-portrait, it would be the Rembrandtplein. By day, you’ll hear coffee cups clink, bikes whizz past, and pigeons audition for a table at your café. By night, neon lights hum, basslines shake the cobblestones, and Rembrandt himself keeps a calm eye on the chaos, as if to say: “Gezellig, isn’t it?”

From Dairy Market to Drama

Long before nightclubs and selfie sticks, this square smelled of cheese, butter, and horse carts. In the 17th century, farmers sold their dairy here at the Botermarkt. Imagine the clatter of milk churns and the buttery air — a very Dutch kind of perfume.

In 1876, the butter was replaced by Rembrandt van Rijn. His bronze statue (cast in 1852) was placed in the middle, making it the oldest surviving statue in Amsterdam. The square was renamed in his honor, and Amsterdam gained a new stage. From butter to beer, you could say the essentials never really left.

A Stage for Statues & Nightlife

Rembrandt isn’t alone anymore. These days he shares his square with The Thinker, a shiny bronze astronaut in Rodin’s famous pose, created by Dutch artist Joseph Klibansky (1984). Old masters meet new visions, all while the square itself buzzes like a café terrace on overdrive.

By day, it’s lattes and beer glasses clinking, tour groups following umbrellas, and Rembrandt posing for more photos than Beyoncé. By night, the volume goes up. Escape and Prime pound out basslines till dawn, Irish pubs pour Guinness like water, and cocktail bars make sure you don’t leave thirsty. Rembrandt may look serious, but trust us: he’s witnessed more spilled mojitos than brushstrokes.

Thorbeckeplein – From Corsets to Concerts

Just a few steps away, the vibe changes again. Thorbeckeplein, named after the politician Johan Rudolph Thorbecke, was once notorious for its erotic cabarets and nightlife joints — a slightly seedier sister to the Rembrandtplein.

Fast-forward to today and it’s a lively music square, home to spots like De Heeren van Aemstel, where live bands, DJs, and parties spill out onto the streets. Thorbecke’s bronze statue (1876) still looks sternly across the square, but the sounds of guitars and late-night laughter tell another story. From corsets to concerts, Thorbeckeplein has always had a flair for entertainment.

The Cinematic Corners

Not far from the square, the Tuschinski Theater (1921) glitters like an Art Deco dream. Voted one of the most beautiful cinemas in the world, it’s a kaleidoscope of velvet seats, stained glass, and golden chandeliers. Even the bathrooms feel like a set piece. Seeing a film here is less “going to the movies” and more “walking into a movie.”

Nearby stands the Munttoren, a 17th-century tower once used to mint coins after Amsterdam’s medieval walls were destroyed. Today, trams and flower stalls circle its base. Coins don’t get minted here anymore — unless you count the cocktail bills at Rembrandtplein.

Insider Corners & Things To Do

The Rembrandtplein is just the start. Step into the side streets and you’ll find a whole new world:

• Reguliersdwarsstraat: Amsterdam’s LGBTQ+ hub, one of the first openly gay nightlife streets in Europe. It’s lined with bars like SoHo, Taboo, and Club Nyx — rainbow flags, drag shows, and dance floors that don’t quit till sunrise. If you thought your heels were high, wait till you see the queens strutting here.
• Utrechtsestraat: boutique shops, vinyl record stores, and wine bars. Perfect if you’d like a calmer evening or a stylish detour.
• Culture nearby: art lovers can wander to the Foam Photography Museum or the Hermitage, both within walking distance.

Pro tip: come early morning for peaceful photos, or late at night when neon lights bounce off beer glasses and the square turns into pure theatre.

Why Rembrandtplein Matters

The Rembrandtplein is a square of contradictions: butter market origins, Rembrandt’s steady gaze, Thorbecke’s constitution, cabaret history, and basslines booming till dawn. For visitors, it’s a must-see square in Amsterdam. For locals, it’s equal parts cliché and comfort zone — the kind of place you roll your eyes at but still end up on after “just one drink.”

It’s where butter met beer, art met politics, and rainbow flags fly alongside neon lights. Whatever your reason for coming, you’ll leave with a story — and probably a slightly blurry photo.