Amsterdam Hen Do on a Budget: Free & Cheap Ideas

Editor's Note (December 2025): This guide has been updated with the latest free and budget-friendly tips for 2026.

Amsterdam is a hugely popular hen do destination due to its lively nightlife and friendly inhabitants. However, it is also known to be pricey! Accommodation and drinks can add up quickly.

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to enjoy the city without breaking the bank. Here are the best free and cheap things to do on your Amsterdam hen weekend.

1. Take the Free NDSM Ferry

A private canal cruise can be expensive, but there is a budget option! Jump on one of the blue and white GVB Ferries behind Central Station. They are completely free and offer great views of the harbour. We recommend the trip to NDSM Wharf, a former shipyard turned cultural hub filled with street art and cool bars.

2. Smell the Flowers at Bloemenmarkt

Amsterdam is famous for tulips. Visit the Bloemenmarkt, the world’s only floating flower market on the Singel Canal. It’s a fragrant, colourful, and free activity perfect for a morning stroll. You can pick up tulip bulbs as souvenirs for a fraction of the airport price.

3. Explore the Albert Cuyp Market

For a taste of real Amsterdam, head to Albert Cuypmarkt in the trendy De Pijp neighbourhood. It’s the largest street market in the Netherlands. You can haggle for clothes or try Dutch delicacies like *Stroopwafels* (caramel waffles) and herring for just a few Euros. It’s much cheaper than a sit-down lunch!

4. Find Sanctuary at Begijnhof

If the hustle of the city gets too much, slip through a small door off the busy Spui square into the Begijnhof. This hidden medieval courtyard was once a sanctuary for religious women. It is an oasis of peace with beautiful historic houses and a private garden. It’s free to enter and feels like stepping back in time.

5. Visit the Civic Guard Gallery (Free Art!)

You don’t need to pay €20 for the Rijksmuseum to see Golden Age art. Head to the Civic Guard Gallery (Schuttersgalerij). It’s a covered public street next to the Amsterdam Museum that displays huge 17th-century portraits of the city’s civic guards. It’s impressive, historic, and completely free.

6. Free Walking Tours

If you want to learn about the city, join a Free Walking Tour. These usually depart from Dam Square and cover the Red Light District, the history of the canals, and Anne Frank’s story. While technically free, the guides work for tips, so if you enjoy it (and you will!), chipping in €5-€10 is a nice gesture.

7. Picnic in Vondelpark

If the sun is shining, do as the locals do and head to Vondelpark. It’s the city’s largest park, covering 120 acres. Grab some cheese, wine, and bread from a supermarket and have a picnic on the grass. In the summer, there are often free concerts at the open-air theatre or just people watch! A great way to chill out after the night before celebrations

8. Gassan Diamond Factory Tour

Diamonds are a girl’s best friend! Amsterdam has been a diamond centre for 400 years. You can take a Free Tour at the Gassan Diamond Factory to see polishers at work and learn about the "4 Cs" (Carat, Colour, Clarity, Cut). You don’t have to buy anything, but looking is free!

9. Visit the City Archives (Stadsarchief)

Located in a stunning building called *De Bazel*, the City Archives often have free exhibitions in the basement "Treasure Room". You can see quirky items like a police report on the theft of Anne Frank’s bike or photos of John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s bed-in.

The Verdict

You don't need a massive budget to have an amazing time in Amsterdam. By mixing these free activities with one or two big paid events (like a prosecco bike), you can create the perfect itinerary.

Ready to book? Check out our Amsterdam Hen Packages Guide which start from surprisingly low prices.