The board
10 sessions
The rooms
Bimhuis (Oosterdok, Piet Heinkade 3)
The architectural anchor of the scene. Tuesday Jam is the closest thing Amsterdam has to a New York-style sit-in night. Free entry, room for 200, fed by the Conservatorium next door.
Café Alto (Korte Leidsedwarsstraat)
A 40-seat brown café running live jazz every night since 1953. The early Monday jam (18:00 to 20:00) is the friendliest entry point in the city. Hans Dulfer holds Wednesdays.
Bourbon Street (Leidsekruisstraat)
Doors at 22:00, never closes before 04:00. Monday open jam with house band Mosquito, Sunday and Tuesday lean blues. €5 cover Tue to Sat.
Maloe Melo (Lijnbaansgracht, Jordaan)
Oldest blues bar in town. Wed and Thu jams at 22:00 with Franklin & Friends. Free, beer-soaked floor. Drummers and harp players welcome.
Casablanca Music (Zeedijk)
Jazz on Zeedijk since 1945. Live big-band-leaning jazz Sun to Thu, no cover, tiny stage, you stand.
Café de Engelbewaarder (Kloveniersburgwal)
Sunday afternoon 16:30 to 19:00. The longest-running jazz session in the Netherlands. House trio plus a different guest each week.
Zaal 100 (De Wittenstraat, Staatsliedenbuurt)
Tuesday neighborhood jazz café in a community arts building. Two tight sets, living-room vibe, free.
Brasserie Nel (Amstelveld)
Monday jam founded 2009. Higher musical bar than most; sit-ins are vetted by the leader. Polite to ask first.
Questions, plainly answered
Do I need a reservation?+
For the cafés (Alto, Engelbewaarder, Casablanca, Bourbon Street, Maloe Melo), no. Walk in and squeeze. For Bimhuis main-stage shows yes, but Tuesday Jam is free, no booking, just arrive by 21:00.
Can I bring my own horn?+
Yes, at every jam in this guide. Bring your own cables too if you play guitar or keys. Drummers don't bring kits; you'll play the house drums.
When does the jam actually start?+
The host band plays a set first. Sit-ins typically start 30 to 60 minutes after the listed time. So a 21:30 jam means your first realistic chance to play is around 22:30.
Who plays first?+
The session leader runs the list. Some venues use a paper sign-up, most work on a raised hand and 'who's next'. Tell the leader your name, your instrument, and what you want to call.
Can I tip the band?+
Yes, and you should. A €5 note to the host band at the end is normal and very appreciated, especially at the free jams (Bimhuis, Engelbewaarder, Maloe Melo).
Is it expensive?+
No. Most jams are free, the most you'll pay for entry is €5 at Bourbon Street. Drinks run €5 for a Heineken, €8 to €10 for cocktails. €20 covers a whole night in.
What is a good first jam to attend?+
If you're a player, the early Monday jam at Café Alto (18:00) or Sunday at De Engelbewaarder (16:30). Both are forgiving rooms with a clear leader. Bimhuis Tuesday is the deep end; go listen first.
What jazz styles will I hear?+
Mostly post-bop and standards, with blues at Maloe Melo and Bourbon Street, modern and free-leaning at Bimhuis and Zaal 100, and the occasional Latin or fusion at Casablanca. Bring tunes from the Real Book and you will be fine.
Do they speak English?+
Yes, everywhere. Almost every session leader works in English by default since half the room is Conservatorium internationals.
Can I just listen quietly?+
Yes. Jams need an audience. Sit at the back, nurse a beer, clap after solos (not after the head). Nobody will hassle you.
Is it OK to come alone?+
Especially at jams, yes. Solo listeners are normal, and if you're a player it's the standard way to get in. Stand near the bandstand, look interested, the leader will eventually ask.
What is the etiquette for sitting in?+
Don't be a solo hog (two or three choruses, then pass). Don't call a tune you can't play. If two horns are already up, wait the next one out. Shake the leader's hand on the way off the stand.
Related guides
Amsterdam doesn't tell you where the jams are. The jams just happen, four nights a week, in rooms older than most of the players. This is the calendar the city has always kept in its head, written down.