Are you planning a movie night in Amsterdam and need English language or subtitles? Better yet, are you looking for movies in English? Don’t worry! Since many Dutch speak English, there are several good options for an English-language movie night.
Are movies in Amsterdam in English? All cinemas in Amsterdam screen movies in the original language. To be specific, all English movies in Amsterdam are in English but with Dutch subtitles. Dutch films will often include English subtitles. Children’s movies are released in both options, either with Dutch subtitles or dubbed in Dutch.
Finding an English movie shouldn’t be too difficult in Amsterdam. If there is a movie that is produced in English, chances are it will be in English with Dutch subtitles. A movie night in Amsterdam can be an extraordinary experience on its own due to the variety of theatres and quirky art houses around the city. We’ll even give you some ideas for which ones to visit!
Are Movies in Amsterdam in English?
Movies in Amsterdam are screened in their original language. For English- or American-produced movies, they will be in English with Dutch subtitles. If you want to be sure, there are a few things you need to look for before buying your tickets.
Acronyms and Hints to Look for:
| Acronym/Dutch | What it means |
| OV | Original language version |
| Nederlands ondertiteld | Dutch Subtitled |
| NV | Films dubbed in Dutch |
| Engels ondertiteld | English subtitled |
If you see an “OV” or “Nederlands ondertiteld” next to the (English-produced) movie title, you should be good to go. This abbreviation means the language it came in will be the language of the screening.
If you see “NV” next to a movie, chances are the movie will be in Dutch. You should ask the ticket attendant to see if it has English subtitles or if you see “engels ondertitled” indicated next to the movie title.
How to Make Reservations for a Movie in Amsterdam
Now that you rest assured that there is an English movie option in Amsterdam, it is time to book! But where and how? Most movie theaters, especially the bigger theaters, offer online booking or reservations by phone.
There are new lists of movies available every Thursday and can be found on a “Film Agenda,” available at every cinema in Amsterdam, or the daily newspapers’ cinema listings.
If you can’t get your hands on a daily newspaper or a film agenda, magazines and monthly newsletters offer limited listings as well. You can also check online sources like this one on the website IAmsterdam. Simply look at the website of the theater you want to visit and click on the films. Language information will be listed with other details of each film.
The great benefit of using the program list or website is that you can sit in your convenience and leaf through the titles to make sure you have an English movie before booking.
Busy Days for the Cinema in Amsterdam
If you want to avoid the crowds at the Cinema, the busiest days in the Netherlands tend to land on the weekends, official holidays and public holidays. Not much different than in the U.S.
As you might expect, there tends to be a heavier group of people at the movies on colder days, but as most of us would, the crowd thins out on very snowy or freezing cold days.
If you plan to visit the cinema and want to ensure you’ll have seats, you will most likely need to reserve tickets in advance online or by phone.
The Large Cinema Experience in the Netherlands
The big cinemas in the Netherlands are the Pathé and Kinepolis cinemas.
The Pathé cinemas originate from a French cinema group. The pathé company owns more than hundreds of cinemas throughout the Netherlands, France, and Switzerland. Currently, they provide 28 cinemas throughout the Netherlands.
The Kinepolis originated from Belgium and spread its locations throughout Western Europe. Kinepolis also has numerous cinemas in Europe but houses the largest audiences in the Netherlands with a total of seventeen cinemas.
If you are looking for a large cinema, the following list is a good reference:
| Utopolis in Almere | 2244 seats |
| Pathé Spuimarkt in The Hague | 2246 seats |
| Pathé in Ede | 2350 seats |
| Pathé Schouwburgplein in Rotterdam | 2371 seats |
| Pathé de Munt in Amsterdam | 2402 seats |
| Kinepolis in Enschede | 2750 seats |
| Pathé de Kuip in Rotterdam | 2745 seats |
| Kinepolis Jaarbeurs in Utrecht | 3167 seats |
The Cinema Experience in the Netherlands
If you’re feeling like exploring some unique cinema experiences, you’re in for a treat.
Cinemas and the event of going to the movies have been a large tradition of the Dutch culture for over 100 years. Thanks to that, they’ve developed an enriched culture around the cinema world which developed into unique cinema and art houses which provide more features than just films.
The following list is a compilation of the most popular cinemas from large to small and from the typical movie experience to the most unique. The information you will need to call them or to book online is also provided, so get ready to plan a great movie night!
1. Pathé Tuschinski
Famous for its stunning interior, Pathé Tuschinski is a well-known movie theater in the city center of Amsterdam between the Munt tower and Rembrandtplein. The interior is filled with elaborate décor of fine art-deco style dating back to the 1920s.
Reguliersbreestraat 26-34
1017 CN Amsterdam
Phone: 0900-1458
Web: www.tuschinski.nl
2. Pathé de Munt
Neighboring the Pathé Tuschinski, is its sister theater, Pathé de Munt. Pathé de Munt is a modern cinema compared to the Tuschinski and is the newest multiplex. The modern building boasts high-quality screens in two big halls.
Vijzelstraat 15,
1017 HD Amsterdam
Phone: 0900-1458
Web: www.pathe.nl/demunt
3. Cinema De Balie
Cinema De Balie is a former courthouse close to Leidseplein. It is known as a cultural center presenting debates, seminars, theater, and films focused on social and political issues. Along with the arts, the cinema offers cold beer and good coffee at its café.
Kleine-Garmanplantsoen 10
1017 RR Amsterdam
Phone: 553 35 100
Web: www.debalie.nl
4. Cinecenter
Known for the latest independent and art house films, Cinecenter is found in the heart of the city. The interior is stylish with a modern and futuristic look.
It offers four screening rooms. Amsterdam’s cinecenter often screen French and Spanish speaking art house films, so look into the program list before heading over.
Lijnbaansgracht 236
1017 PH Amsterdam
Phone: 020 623 6615
Web: www.cinecenter.nl
5. Melkweg
The Melkweg, which means “Milky Way,” is an old dairy factory that used to be a counterculture center for Amsterdam in the 60s. They hold events for theatre productions, films, and even dance events.
The cinema sits in the heart of Amsterdam and holds three halls to support live music and concerts. They have halls, a cinema, a theater, and even a café.
Lijnbaansgracht 234A,
1017 PH Amsterdam
Phone: 020 531 8181
6. LAB 111
Lab 111 is a unique theater in a former pathological anatomy laboratory. They house an eventful space with a theater and a restaurant.
They screen varieties of cinemas, documentaries, and support independent filmmakers and non-dutch art house films. A cherry on top, they show all of their unique screenings with English subtitles.
Arie Biemondstraat 111,
1054 PD Amsterdam
Phone: 020 616 9994
Web: www.lab111.nl
7. Kriterion
Kriterion is a unique cinema started as a student association that was involved in saving and hiding the Jewish from the Nazis.
Their originating student founders created this cinema to employ other students who would otherwise have had to discontinue their studies. Even to this day, the cinema is still run by young people.
The interior offers a relaxed atmosphere, still welcoming a large student crowd. They offer a bar for drinks before the movies and offer varieties of art films, debate nights, and modern classics.
Roetersstraat 170
1018 WE Amsterdam
Phone: 020 623 1708
Web: www.kriterion.nl
8. De Uitkijk
If you are looking for a small and historic theater, De Uitkijk is the perfect one! “De Uitkijk,” meaning “look-out” in Dutch, does its name justice. This cinema is the oldest art-house film theater in business.
It was founded in 1929 by a few cinephiles and reopened in 2007. Located in the heart of Amsterdam on the Prinsengracht. They offer art cinema in small indie films and historical films.
Prinsengracht 452
1017 KE Amsterdam
Phone: 020 623 7460
Web: www.uitkijk.nl