Dine

An army marches on its stomach, so if you want the party to last all weekend then you’ve got to keep your gaggle of gals from becoming hungry hens.

But that’s not to say any old grub will do. Just because you’re on a hen do doesn’t mean you can’t dine in style.

Book a table in the North Sea Bistro and enjoy dishes created by chefs who’ve really pushed the culinary boat out. With an award-winning menu made using ingredients that are both local and seasonal to their two ports, the DFDS team promise to deliver an à la carte meal in style.

Fancy more relaxed fare? The Explorer’s Kitchen should be your port of call. Serving an international speciality buffet including everything from burgers to BBQ and Mediterranean to Asian, this foodie fairground is perfect for every palette. (They serve an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet in the mornings, too).

If you’re more in the mood for a light bite, you can get your caffeine hit and a slice of something nice at Coffee Crew. Serving all your favourite (freshly brewed) Starbucks drinks alongside some sumptuous sweet treats, you’ll be able to consider you and your girls suitably fuelled for a weekend’s worth of shenanigans in Amsterdam.

Drink

Stags love a trip to the Heineken Experience when in Amsterdam, but if the world’s most famous beer isn’t quite your tipple of choice, House of Bols offers a cocktail and jenever experience that lovers of a good G&T need in their lives.

After you and your hens have finished your tour, enjoy a world-beating cocktail in their revolutionary Mirror Bar or, even better, mark the occasion in style and create your own signature serve in their Do It Yourself Bar.

Dance

If you’re anything like us, by the end of a night out you want to have cast all your inhibitions aside and be throwing shapes to the cheesiest of tunes with your girl gang. And Club NYX is the perfect place to do it.

Amsterdam has a proud history of supporting its LGBTQ+ communities and Club NYX is arguably top of the city’s rainbow-coloured totem pole. Open to anyone who just wants to have fun, NYX is spread over three floors and hosts special club nights which cater to all (and we mean all) musical tastes.

HLN Hint – Need a route of bars to visit before you get there? We’d head to Rembrandt Square – the city’s nightlife nucleus – and let fate take it from there.

Shop

Still need some wedding bouquet inspo? A visit to Amsterdam’s horticultural heaven, Hortus Botanicus, should be top of your list.

Or, if a little retail therapy is more your vibe, IJ-hallen needs to be on your radar. This cavernous industrial building at NDSM Wharf hosts one the biggest (and best) flea markets in Europe once a month and is a must-visit for anyone who loves their vintage shopping.

Experience

While renting a bike is a great (and very local) way to see the city, cycling may not be the wisest if you’re planning on a particularly lairy hen party.

Instead, why not see the city from a new angle by exploring by boat? Drift along the network of gorgeous canals Amsterdam is famous for, soaking up the city’s inimitable architecture, urban buzz and top tourist attractions while beating the hustle and bustle – and with a glass of something chilled in your hand.

Our best advice? Go for a canal cruise that doubles up as a party boat, with unlimited drinks included in your 1.5 hour journey. Trust us, you’ll make all your hens’ day-drinking dreams come true.