The Netherlands (also widely known as Holland) is probably more famous for its tulip fields, windmills and canals, than for its rooftop bars. That said, there are some great rooftops available if you look a little closer.
This guide to the most exciting rooftop bars in Netherlands include elevated venues in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht and Tilburg. Enjoy your sips with a view!
Easy to spot from a distance, the 185 meter high Euromast includes several venues and attractions where you can enjoy Rotterdam from above: take the Euroscope panoramic lift all the way up to the top, go abseiling from 100 meters high, or sleep with a view in one of the suites. But best of all, there is both a rooftop restaurant and a pop-up rooftop bar.
The Euromast Brasserie restaurant is open daily and year-round, serving culinary surprises and fine drinks as brunch, lunch, high tea, high wine or dinner. The ever-changing menu includes meat, fish, and vegetarian dishes, so there’s something for everyone.
From early July until early September, one of the terraces also turns into the Euromast Rooftop Bar, by far the highest open-air rooftop in Rotterdam. Here you can enjoy the amazing views over Rotterdam (and even catch glimpses of nearby towns), a drink and bites in a comfortable Laui Lounge beanbag.
EUROMAST
Branded 'The Bar Above Amsterdam', LuminAir is a high vibe elevated sky bar and terrace, taking over the top floor of DoubleTree by Hilton from Sky Lounge.
Designed to mirror the mood of the sky above, LuminAir’s modern interiors are a spectacular, ever-changing canvas of art and light, thanks to cloud-shaped installations and luminous projections.
Through the panoramic windows, or out on the alfresco terrace, you get some fantastic views over the Amsterdam skyline.
The rooftop menu features signature cocktails which are inspired by gradients and intensity of visible light and warmth, as well as crowd-pleasing small plates and party platters, perfect for sharing daytime, nighttime, anytime.
You can also elevate your weekend with there Afternoon Tea in the Clouds, from Thursday to Sunday. More info Afternoon Tea in the Clouds - LuminAir Amsterdam.
LUMINAIR
Covering the top floors of Rotterdam's Zalmhaven, the tallest tower in the Benelux, Celest invites to a world of refinement, taste and spectacular views.
Soaring 190 metres above ground, the impressive rooftop is playful yet highly elegant, and the sparkling decor is almost as striking as the breathtaking 360° views over Rotterdam.
Featuring both a cocktail bar & lounge, as well as a restaurant, Celest is open from day to night, offering a wide range of experiences.
At the 57th floor bar & lounge, you can come early for pastry and coffee or a light lunch, or later on to sip signature cocktails and share some refined bites with a view.
One floor above, the Celest restaurant is the place to go for a complete and culinary lunch and dinner experience. Here, surprising and seasonal dishes, filled with local ingredients, are complemented with a special selection of wines and champagnes.
CELEST
Found in the heart of Tilburg, Doloris is a highly creative complex, offering two unique and impressive experiences.
Here the adventurous can get lost in the Doloris Meta Maze, a surreal art maze that is the largest in the world of its kind.
20 meters above, the Doloris Rooftop offers a more airy setting, where works of art are replaced with amazing and panoramic 360° views over Tilburg.
The spacious and modern rooftop is one of the largest in the Benelux, and comes with both a futuristic and sleek interior bar and restaurant, as well as a charming outdoor terrace.
The Doloris Rooftop menu includes gastronomic flavours from all over the world, served as both lunch and dinner, complemented with crafted signature cocktails, Gin Tonics, and a nice selection of brews and wines.
Fun-filled and vibrantly relaxing, this rooftop is a great spot to gather with friends for anything from a sunny lunch or sunset cocktails, to a casual dinner or happening weekend nights with DJ sessions.
DOLORIS ROOFTOP
Creative, modern, and innovative, the Bleyenberg is a relatively new concept in The Hague, aimed towards giving a unique space to the local community, but equally welcoming to tourists.
While the Bleyenberg is located only on a third floor, its strategic location in the city center does grant it some unique views, as you'll be able to enjoy front-row seats of the Main Market Square and the nearby buildings, from the comfort of a chic terrace.
Though not afraid to embrace The Hague's history, Bleyenberg looks to the future, and this reflects on the bar's atmosphere, furnishings, and menu.
Creative signature cocktails, craft beers, and world spirits make up the drink menu, but there's also a sizeable and tasty food menu in case you're feeling hungry.
While the outdoor terrace is the Bleyenberg's crown jewel, you'll also be able to find indoor seatings and even a basement club, making it a great choice both for warm and cold months.
BLEYENBERG
Located on a well-known historic building in Utrecht, Restaurant De Watertoren is known for its versatility and fine food.
Split into different levels; the WT has a Spanish-inspired café on the first level (Cafe Brutal), where you can enjoy Spanish wines, beers, delicacies, and coffee. But for better views, you head up to the top floor of the old water tower.
Open daily for dinner and during weekends also for lunch, here you can enjoy modern and organic dishes made with local products, complemented with a robust wine list.
Offering something for everyone, this unique piece of architectural heritage is the perfect place to open or close any visit to Utrecht, as well as a fantastic choice for when you want to stay put in the same venue for hours.
RESTAURANT DE WATERTOREN
Floor 17 is perched on top of the Leonardo Hotel Amsterdam and overlooks the famous Rembrandt Park, as well as pretty much all of the Amsterdam skyline.
Open year-round, this rooftop bar, sky bar and restaurant is the perfect spot to enjoy sunny cocktails, have fun with your friends and even play a few rounds of curling during the winter.
Surrounded with panoramic views, Floor17 comes with a modern, lush and urban lounge-style decor, where large and plush sofas are complemented with dining tables and high-top bar spots.
Though the open-air terrace is what makes this venue shine, it does have an indoor section as well, perfect for the cold days and for whenever the weather isn't playing nice.
Aside from its seasonal activities, Floor17 is known for serving "new Dutch cuisine" for lunch and dinner, as well as creative, seasonally-based cocktails, sourced from local products.
From relaxing lunches and sunset drinks, to stylish dinners and fun-filled nights, Floor17 is pretty much always available for an elevated Amsterdam experience.
FLOOR 17
Located right on the Wilhelmina Pier, and offering stunning views of the waterscape, the Erasmus Bridge and the city skyline, the nhow is a fantastic choice for those looking for a romantic place to dine or an elegant place to enjoy drinks with friends.
Offering flavors from around the world, with a distinct Rotterdam twist, Gastrobar ELVY rooftop restaurant bar comes with indoor and outdoor areas, elegant furnishings, and top-notch service.
The drink menu covers all the classics, with beer, wine, champagne, and spirits featuring prominently in the list, as well as all kinds of creative cocktails.
For food, you'll be able to find a wide range of small dishes made perfect to share, from Poké Bowls and Vongole on Toast to many vegetarian options like the Carrot Hot Dog.
Though it's slick in looks and exclusive in atmosphere, the nHow also aims to attract a more casual clientele, at least during the weekends, where live DJs take the stage and populate the bar with a livelier audience.
Though the nHow is open year-round, that's only the case for the indoor area. The terrace tends to be open only during summer and spring, as well as days where the weather is particularly kind.
Reservations are encouraged if you're looking to dine, but you can do without them if all you want is to visit the terrace bar.
GASTROBAR ELVY
If you like to rent a property for your stay in Netherlands, Rentola is a superb website for that. More than 4000 rentals all over the country.
Hans has visited over 500 rooftop bars, 200 rooftop pools and 300 rooftop restaurants since 2015. This vast experience has made Hans a true rooftop expert, and one of the most knowledgeable in the field. Today, numerous of travel magazines, bloggers and media websites contact Hans to get his expertise on rooftops.
Browse all the cities & articles at The Rooftop Guide
Follow The Rooftop Guide