A’DAM Tower: Tickets, Swing & What to know before visiting

Amsterdam is a beautiful city full of Canals, tulips and bridges, but you rarely hear about look-outs in Amsterdam. Well, we found the best-kept secret lookout in Amsterdam called A’DAM Tower and in this guide we’ll tell you everything about it.

Although we’re visiting Amsterdam at least twice a year, but I’ve never heard about A’DAM lookout tower till last October and we almost found it by chance. So if you’re visiting Amsterdam, don’t forget to put this on your list of activities to do in Amsterdam.

A’DAM Tower History

The A’DAM Tower is located in Amsterdam-Noord, which is a short ferry ride from Amsterdam central station. This beautiful tower was designed by Arthur Staal in 1971 and was originally the headquarter of Royal Dutch Shell.

The Tower is 22 floors and after Shell left in 2009, it was renovated and reopened in 2016 as A’DAM Toren. Also a Rooftop observatory, bars and restaurants were added to the tower. The most famous activity in the tower is the A’DAM Swing over-the-edge. We’ll go through all the details below. So let’s dive in!

Is the A’DAM Lookout worth it?

Yes! A’DAM Tower is definitely worth visiting and it’s a must-visit in Amsterdam. We suggest to visit during the golden hour for the best views and if you’re into thrilling swing above the city, you’re going to have a lot of fun there.

Also A’DAM lookout bar and the restaurant are fantastic options for a romantic getaway in Amsterdam. You can sit outside enjoy the cocktails and watch the sunset, with a great lounge music. That’s a dream!

Note: You don’t have to drink something, you can also just visit the Lookout rooftop, taking photos and walk around it.

How to get to A’DAM Tower

Actually it’s so easy to get to A’DAM Lookout and here is how you can do it. Walk to the back of Amsterdam Centraal Station (main train station). Walk to the water side of the station.

Take the F3 Ferry to Buiksloterwag, which runs every 5 minutes, 24/7. You can also take your bike onboard. The ride takes about 5 minutes and you’ll depart right in front of the A’DAM tower (just a 2 min. walk).

How much is the ferry to A’DAM Lookout: the ferry to A’DAM Lookout is completely free for both ways, and you don’t need a ticket.

A’DAM Lookout Opening Hours

A’DAM Tower is open from Monday to Tuesday from 11AM to 7PM, and Friday to Sunday till 9PM. Last entry is always 1 hour before closing. Here is the official Website of A’DAM Lookout and we suggest to check the opening hours, before visiting.

How to Get the A’DAM Tower Tickets

It’s actually quite easy to get the A’DAM lookout tickets for the . You can either get the tickets directly at the tower or online. If you’re visiting during high-season in summer or on weekends, I highly recommend to book your tickets in advance.

Standard A’DAM Tower Ticket Price

The standard tickets for only entering the tower with access to the roof top and Look-out cost €18.50 per person. But there are several packages to choose. For a more Thrilling experience, which is also amazing, you can book the package with the Swing over-the-edge option for 24.50.

Visiting A’DAM Lookout for Free

If you’re staying in Amsterdam to visit the historical museums and buildings, then I would definitely recommend to get the I Amsterdam city card. With I Amsterdam City Card, you can visit up to 70 top museums and attractions in Amsterdam with a free 1-hour Canal Curise and 24-hour bike rental.

Also visiting A’DAM lookout is free with an I Amsterdam card as well as the public transport within Amsterdam city. Note that some museums like Anne Frank House are not included in the Card. Get your I amsterdam Card here.

There are also packages for look-out plus Burger or only with drinks. You can get the A’DAM Lookout tickets online on their official website, but the tickets are non-refundable. That means if you have to cancel, you can only change the date.

Pro Tip: If you’re a traveler like us and your plans might change, we recommend to get the tickets at GetYourGuide. That’s what we do, because at GetYourGuide, you can cancel any time till 24 hours before the event. It’s even a bit cheaper, if you also get the package with $10 Meal voucher. You can Book the tickets here.

A’DAM Tower Swing

The A’DAM Tower Swing which is also called Over-The-Edge, really swings over the edge, as you can see above. And it’s one of the highest swings in Europe‘s, because you’re basically 100 meters (328 feet) above the ground.

Is A’DAM Tower Swing worth it? Yes definitely, but if you’re not afraid of the Hight. You’ll be secured in a harness and swing outward over the edge of the building. Although at the beginning, might be a bit of a strange feeling, but I would definitely do it again.

How to Get the A’DAM Lookout Swing Tickets

If you are not sure, if that’s something you would like, then you can do it like us. You can take a look at the Swing first and then decide, if you want to go for it. You can always add the ticket for the swing for an extra 7.50 Euros. There are also combo tickets available, if you already know you want to go for it.

Best Hotel in Amsterdam Rai

If you want a hotel with nice panoramic view over Amsterdam and away from the Amsterdam City noise, stay in Amsterdam Rai.

You’ll reach Amsterdam Centraal in 10 minutes with metro. We stayed this time at Hotel Nhow Rai and we quite enjoyed it.

Check the Availability and prices here!

Best Time to Visit A’DAM Lookout Tower

We went there once at Sunset and another time during the day. But I must say Sunset is the time to go and it’s breathtaking. I would say arrive 45 minutes before the sunset, to watch the sun going down with the sky changing colors.

When is the best season to visit A’DAM Tower

Well, I must say I’ve never been there in winter, but I can imagine if the city is covered in snow, that view should also be beautiful. But We experienced the view both in Autumn and in Summer and we loved them both.

Even in October, although the weather was a bit cold, but you could still enjoy staying outside and watching the sunset. However during summer time, the ferries are quite packed and tickets can get sold out faster. So we recommend to book the tickets online and early enough.

How long to stay at the A’DAM Lookout

That depends on what you really want to do at A’DAM Lookout tower. If you only want to see the observation deck, then you don’t need more than an hour. But if you also want to try the A’DAM lookout Swing or dine at Madam Restaurant, then you definitely need around 2 hours.

Practical Tips for visiting A’DAM Tower

Visiting the A’DAM lookout is a great experience and we highly recommend it. But we suggest the following Tips for a more relaxed visit:

• There are tow restaurants within the A’DAM Lookout and we tried them both. Our honest review about the restaurant MADAM, was that we actually didn’t like the quality, although the view is fantastic, if you want to sit inside.
• We definitely suggest the revolving Restaurant Moon on the 19th floor for lunch or dinner. We loved the food and you can book your entry ticket with the dining option at this Restaurant. Check the availability and book here.

• Best Outfit for Amsterdam: Amsterdam’s weather is changing constantly, and although it can be sunny and warm, within a minute can be rainy. Also at the rooftop, it can often get a bit chilly after sunset. So to have a more relaxed an comfortable evening, we suggest to bring a jacket with you.

Does weather play a Role in visiting A’DAM Tower

I would say yes definitely. If it’s too rainy, you might not be able to take good photos or sit outside to watch the sunset. That’s why we recommend to check the weather, and book your tickets in a way that you can cancel or at least change the date.