Amsterdam has always felt like a city built for people who carry notebooks in their bags. It could be the quiet canals, or the way conversations drift out of cafés and onto the street, but there’s something here that makes stories want to surface. As someone who lives and writes in this city, I’ve found that Amsterdam has a special way of nudging you toward creativity.
If you’re a storyteller or a poet, and you want to find your tribe, you’ll find plenty of places where words are welcome: small stages where people share pieces of themselves, workshops that help you shape a story, cosy bar corners where you can sit and listen. This is a small guide to the spaces that make Amsterdam feel like a home for anyone who loves stories.
Places for storytelling, poetry and spoken word in Amsterdam
Mezrab is probably the most well-known place for storytelling in Amsterdam. It’s a storytelling & performance cultural center, hosting storytelling nights, open mic, dance, comedy and concerts. They recently open Mezrab Storytelling School, with a great selection of courses, in person and online. Language: English.
De Nieuwe Anita offers an intimate, offbeat stage where artists of all kinds can experiment, perform, and connect. It’s a small, intimate stage that regularly hosts emerging musicians, try-outs, stand-up comedy, film screenings, literary evenings, and the occasional lecture. Language: English, Dutch.
Labyrinth Poetry & Cocktail Bar combines cocktails, soul food, and poetry nights in a cosy setting. Over the years, it has become a favourite gathering place for poets, spoken-word artists, and musicians. The atmosphere is intimate and creative, inviting people to share their creations without fear of judgement. Every Monday there is an open mic, and every last Sunday of the month is poetry night. The cocktails and food are amazing as well. Language: English.
Labyrinth event. Photo Evelina Kvartūnaitė
Zoku Amsterdam is a stylish hybrid between a home and a hotel, designed for people who want a comfortable place to live, work, and meet others. Its warm, community-focused spaces make it popular with creatives, freelancers, and travellers who stay longer than a weekend. Zoku also hosts occasional storytelling nights, bringing people together to share personal stories in an intimate, relaxed setting.
Podium Mozaïek brings together theatre, music and spoken word from many different cultures, in Amsterdam-West. With its regular spoken-word nights and community-focused programming, Podium Mozaïek offers storytellers both inspiration and a stage where diverse stories are heard. Every year at the beginning of November it hosts the Amsterdam Storytelling Festival.
Ruigoord, the well-known artists’ community and cultural centre where artists come together to work and celebrate. They organise Fiery Tongues, an event where poetry and music come together.
Ruigoord. Photo by Jan Willem Groen
Checkpoint Charlie mixes bar culture with small performances. It’s located in Amsterdam West, close to Westerpark. They have DJs, small live performances, comedy, spoken word, improvisational theatre, and pub quizzes. Language: English, except for the quizzes.
We The People is an Amsterdam-based creative platform and community for poetry, spoken word, and (performance) art since 2018. The platform serves as a home where migrant, PoC, and queer voices are centered as the norm. They host their events in parks, bars, community spaces, national music venues and even online.
Word Up Amsterdam — a community and platform promoting social inclusion and diversity through spoken word poetry and creativity. It was founded in 2015 by Evelina Kvartunaite. They host spoken word events and participate in international partnerships (trainings, seminars, showcases, etc.) with likeminded organisations and communities. Word Up also has a podcast and prints a publication: Word Up Pages. Language: English.
Photo by Word Up
Amsterdam Storytelling Festival brings together storytellers, musicians, clowns, and theatre makers from all around the world. It’s held at Podium Mozaïek and turns the space into a welcoming salon for stories, performances, and connection. Over several days, it offers shows, talks, and workshops.
These are the regulars, but there are other locations that organise storytelling events in Amsterdam occasionally. Check out Pakhuis de Zwijger, American Book Centre, Studio/K and the museums as well.
Amsterdam is one of the pioneering cities for storytelling, not only in Europe but across the world. When coming to the city, a visit to Mezrab is essential. They have storytelling evenings across the week, and if you’re keen to first-hand try storytelling yourself, Mezrab has weekend workshops that teach the craft of writing a story, and telling it on stage. There is another event called Voices Unleashed that happens monthly in Amsterdam, where storytellers get to perform alongside musicians, poets, spoken word artists and more! Every year in November is the annual Amsterdam Storytelling Festival hosted at Podium Mozaiek, where master storytellers from across the world descend upon Amsterdam to showcase and inspire with their incredible talent. As a storyteller myself, I feel fortunate and thrilled at the chance to live and work in this incredible city, and move forward storytelling as an art form.
Storytelling courses in Amsterdam
Poetry Circle is a platform for spoken word enthusiasts. You can join the circle if you are between 15 and 35 with a passion for spoken word, spoken word artistry, storytelling, poetry, or writing. Language: Dutch.
The Storytelling Centre Amsterdam is a well-known national and international training centre that uses storytelling to support personal growth, social impact, and language development. They work in settings ranging from conflict areas abroad to neighbourhood centres in Dutch cities, using their methods to ease local tensions, encourage intercultural dialogue, improve language skills, and help young people broaden their opportunities. The centre grew out of the International Storytelling Festival Amsterdam, founded in 2008, and became an independent NGO in 2012. Language: Dutch.
Mezrab Storytelling School is part of Mezrab and offers courses for anyone looking to develop their storytelling skills, from beginners to aspiring professionals. Programs include weekend introduction courses, workshops on personal storytelling, multi-month professional training, and masterclasses on crafting and performing stories. The school emphasises shaping personal memories into compelling narratives and fosters a supportive community, helping storytellers gain both confidence and stage experience.
TellersPlayground is a storytelling community that also organises workshops.
Amsterdam has countless corners where stories are welcomed, shaped, and shared. The city offers spaces that make creativity feel at home, whether you’re looking for a stage, a workshop, or simply a room where people listen. These venues and communities show how many opportunities there are for anyone who wants to speak, write, or simply be part of a circle where words matter.
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Founder and creative force behind Amsterdamian.
Documenting life and people any way I can. I love seeing cities waking up, but I'm the happiest on the sea shore.
Amsterdamian is a digital magazine exploring life in Amsterdam and the Netherlands and everything that makes this place unique. From everyday moments to cultural deep-dives, hidden corners to personal stories, it’s an invitation to discover not just the country, but the people who give it soul.
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