The Dutch like to go out as soon as they finish work and generally head for a drink at a local bar or coffee shop. Bars are very busy in the evening and you will see Dutch people drinking small beers with a frothy head. The country has an abundance of coffee shops, where you can legally buy and smoke small amounts of cannabis. Coffee shops do not usually sell alcohol although a couple in the capital have licenses. Coffee shops are not allowed to advertise the sale of drugs, so many display the Rastafarian red, yellow and green colours to inform people that they supply cannabis. Inside there is usually a menu or a blackboard listing the types of hashish available along with the prices.

Cinema is very popular in the Netherlands and each town will have at least one. They are usually located within the town centre. The Dutch film industry is very small limiting itself mainly to documentaries so the films showing tend to be British and American box office hits which are played in English with Dutch subtitles. If you prefer live performances then head off to the theatre, there is one in every city, where you will be able to see some classic or alternative plays.

Practicing or watching sport is another fun way to spend an evening. Football is a national passion and the Dutch have a very strong national team. Many international matches are held in the country; particularly good ones to watch are the matches between the Netherlands and Germany because the rivalry between the two countries is very strong. The Dutch also enjoy ice skating in winter and there are many public rinks open all year round and some made for the winter season like the one in the Westerpark in Amsterdam, in front of the Pacific Parc restaurant. Local daily newspapers generally have a section called the Schaats Kalender, which lists all of the places you can skate and it also includes lakes and rivers safe enough for skating. Many of the ice rinks hold ice hockey matches and figure skating competitions, where you can watch professionals in action.