Dozens of Amsterdam bars to stay open late for World Cup matches

At least 75 Amsterdam hospitality venues have notified the municipality that they want to extend opening hours during the World Cup, while Utrecht has received requests for 14 terraces planning to show matches on large screens, officials said.

In Amsterdam, the total number of requests has reached 340, according to city officials. Mayor Femke Halsema previously said cafés in the capital would be allowed to remain open later during the tournament as an exception, but only if they notify the municipality at least three days in advance.

Amsterdam businesses are still allowed to register requests, as long as they do so at least 72 hours in advance. A municipal spokesperson said some cafés have submitted multiple notifications for different matches, indicating they intend to stay open later on several occasions during the tournament.

After regular closing hours, typically between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m., no new visitors may be admitted to venues that remain open later under the exception rules.

Most of the notifications in Amsterdam come from establishments in the city center, though requests have also been filed from other parts of Amsterdam and from Weesp.

The World Cup, hosted in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, begins Thursday. Due to the time difference, many matches will take place late in the evening, overnight, or in the early morning hours in the Netherlands. The Netherlands national team plays its first match on Sunday. Games featuring Curaçao, Cape Verde, Turkey, and Morocco are also expected to draw significant audiences in the country.