The Bulldog Energy

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The arched entrance signage for The Bulldog Energy coffeeshop
Coffeeshop
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The Bulldog Energy

CoffeeshopRed Light District · Amsterdam

Open nowOpen until 01:00

About

A darker, high-tempo Bulldog branch in the Red Light District, built around a cave-like 1990s interior, music and canal-side terrace.

Energy is the Bulldog branch for people who want the brand at its most theatrical. Opened in 1992, it trades the familiar leather-and-brick Bulldog look for a cave-like interior of timber, coloured lighting, troll figures and a soundtrack rooted in house and techno.

The atmosphere is deliberately more energetic than The First. It is tucked beside The Bulldog Hotel on Oudezijds Voorburgwal, but the setting changes again when the weather is good: the outside terrace sits directly on the canal and turns the venue into a much easier place to linger.

Choose Energy for the interior and the soundtrack rather than for Bulldog history alone. The First is the heritage stop; Energy is the more playful 1990s offshoot.

The Bulldog The First beside an Amsterdam canal with the Zuiderkerk tower above

Part of The Bulldog

The Bulldog

One of the defining names in Amsterdam coffeeshop history, founded by Henk de Vries in 1975 and now spanning five distinct coffeeshops across the city.

5 Amsterdam venuesExplore The Bulldog

Good to know

  • The terrace changes it completely

    From March to November, the canal-side terrace gives Energy a much calmer daytime side than the cave-like interior suggests.

  • Food can come from next door

    Guests on the Energy patio can order food from The Bulldog Hotel next door, making this one of the easier Bulldog stops to settle into.

Opening hours

Local time in Amsterdam

  • Monday08:00 – 01:00 (next day)
  • Tuesday08:00 – 01:00 (next day)
  • Wednesday08:00 – 01:00 (next day)
  • Thursday08:00 – 01:00 (next day)
  • Friday08:00 – 01:00 (next day)
  • Saturday08:00 – 01:00 (next day)
  • Sunday08:00 – 01:00 (next day)

Location

Oudezijds Voorburgwal 218, 1012 GJ, Amsterdam

Details last checked 22 Sept 2026