Best Coworking Spaces in Amsterdam for Americans for Expats

After two months of working from our tiny Amsterdam apartment, I was going stir-crazy.

The walls were closing in. I hadn't had a real conversation in days. My productivity was tanking. I needed to get out.

As a Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT) visa holder, you're running a business as a sole proprietor. That means no office, no coworkers, no water cooler chat. Just you and your laptop. Coworking spaces solve several problems at once: getting out of your apartment, meeting other entrepreneurs, having a dedicated workspace, networking with other business owners, and separating work life from home life.

We tried five different coworking spaces before finding the right fit. Here's what we learned.

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Spaces (Multiple Locations)

Our top pick for most people.

What It's Like

The vibe:

• Professional but friendly
• Mix of freelancers and small teams
• International community
• Well-designed spaces

Locations:

• Vijzelstraat (city center)
• Herengracht (canals)
• Oosterdok (near Central Station)
• Plus 5+ other Amsterdam locations

Facilities:

• Dedicated desks and hot desks
• Meeting rooms
• Phone booths
• Kitchen with free coffee/tea
• Fast WiFi
• Printing

Community:

• Regular events
• Networking opportunities
• Mix of nationalities
• Easy to meet people

Costs

Option	Price	Best For
Day pass	€30-40	Trying it out
Part-time (3 days/week)	€250/month	Hybrid workers
Full-time hot desk	€300-350/month	Flexible seating
Dedicated desk	€400-450/month	Your own space

Pros

• Multiple locations (switch things up)
• Professional environment
• Good community
• Reliable WiFi
• Clean and modern

Cons

• Can be busy
• Not the cheapest
• Some locations better than others

Our take: This is where we work. The Vijzelstraat location has a great expat community, and we've made several friends here.

For tips on building your social circle, see Making Friends in Amsterdam as an American.

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B.Amsterdam

For creatives and startups.

What It's Like

The vibe:

• Creative and entrepreneurial
• Younger crowd
• Startup energy
• Less corporate

Location:

• Overhoeks (Noord Amsterdam)
• Across IJ river from Central Station
• Free ferry access
• Modern building

Facilities:

• Open workspace
• Private offices
• Event space
• Restaurant/bar
• Rooftop terrace
• Gym

Community:

• Startup focused
• Lots of events
• Networking heavy
• International

Costs

• Hot desk: €200-295/month
• Dedicated desk: €395/month
• Private office: €500+/month

Pros

• Amazing building
• Great for networking
• Startup community
• Lots of amenities

Cons

• Noord location (less central)
• Can be loud
• Very social (not always good for focus)

Our take: Great if you're building a startup and want to network. Less ideal if you need quiet focus time.

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TQ (The Quaker)

For tech entrepreneurs.

A large, modern coworking space in the city center focused on tech and startups. Great community events, strong wifi, good coffee. The mix of startups and freelancers creates an energetic atmosphere. Meeting rooms are well-equipped for client calls.

Costs

• Hot desk: €250/month
• Dedicated desk: €350/month
• Day passes available

Best for: Tech entrepreneurs, digital businesses, people who want a buzzy environment.

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The Thinking Hut

Cozy and community-focused.

What It's Like

The vibe:

• Intimate and friendly
• Like working in someone's living room
• Small community
• Personal

Location:

• Spuistraat (city center)
• Easy to reach
• Central location

Facilities:

• Limited desks (small space)
• Meeting room
• Kitchen
• Good WiFi
• Cozy atmosphere

Community:

• Very tight-knit
• Regular lunches together
• Feels like family
• Mostly freelancers

Costs

• Full-time: €275/month
• Part-time: €175/month

Pros

• Affordable
• Close community
• Central location
• Personal atmosphere

Cons

• Small (limited availability)
• Can feel cramped
• Less professional vibe

Our take: Perfect if you want a small, friendly community. Not ideal if you need space or professional environment.

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WeWork

Corporate and professional.

What It's Like

The vibe:

• Corporate
• Professional
• Less personal
• Global brand

Locations:

• Strawinskylaan (Zuid)
• Several Amsterdam locations

Facilities:

• Very professional
• Modern design
• All amenities
• Meeting rooms
• Phone booths

Costs

• Hot desk: €290-400/month
• Dedicated desk: €450-550/month
• Private office: €600+/month

Pros

• Very professional
• Reliable and consistent
• Good facilities
• Global network (use WeWork spaces when traveling)

Cons

• Expensive
• Less community
• Corporate feel
• Less character

Our take: Good if you want professional environment and don't care about community. The global membership is a real perk if you travel frequently.

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Rockstart

For tech startups.

Located at De Ruijterkade (near Central Station). Strong network of founders and investors. Mentorship programs available.

Costs

• Varies (often tied to accelerator program)
• Hot desk: €300+/month

Best for: Tech startup founders. Not ideal for freelancers or consultants.

For information on running your DAFT business, see KVK Registration for DAFT: Everything You Need to Know.

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Seats2meet

Free/pay-what-you-want option.

Available across the Netherlands, including multiple Amsterdam locations and the OBA (public library). The "pay with knowledge" model means you can sometimes get free workspace in exchange for sharing your expertise and network.

Costs

• Free or pay-what-you-want
• Paid memberships from about €100/month

Pros

• Free/cheap
• Multiple locations
• Low commitment
• Try before buying

Cons

• Inconsistent
• Can be crowded
• Less professional
• Not always quiet

Our take: Good for occasional use or trying coworking. Not ideal for regular work.

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Zoku

For digital nomads.

A hotel + coworking hybrid at Weesperstraat (East Amsterdam). Social atmosphere with restaurant/bar and gym.

Costs

• Day pass: €25
• Monthly: €300+
• Can combine with accommodation

Our take: Perfect if you're a digital nomad staying short-term. Less ideal for long-term residents.

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Beyond Amsterdam

You don't have to be in Amsterdam. Here are standout coworking spaces in other Dutch cities.

Rotterdam

• 42workspace - Strong tech community, central location. Hot desk from about €180/month. Great value compared to Amsterdam.
• Spaces Rotterdam - Same quality as the Amsterdam brand. Good for people who split time between cities.
• WORM - Cultural center with coworking in a creative, alternative space. Very affordable.

The Hague

• The Hague Tech - Large tech hub with strong connections to the international community. Good for businesses intersecting with government or international organizations. Hot desk from about €175/month.
• HNK (Het Nieuwe Kantoor) - Reliable, professional, no-fuss workspace. Flexible desk from about €200/month.

Utrecht

• Tribes Utrecht - Beautiful space steps from Utrecht Centraal station. Hot desk from about €225/month.
• Impact Hub Utrecht - Part of the global Impact Hub network, focused on social enterprise. Hot desk from about €175/month.

Eindhoven

• High Tech Campus Eindhoven - The "smartest square kilometer in Europe." Ideal if your DAFT business is in tech.
• Seats2Meet Eindhoven - Free to low-cost options with a collaborative knowledge-sharing model.

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Choosing the Right Space

Consider These Factors

Location: Can you bike there easily? Is it near a train station? You will go more often if it's convenient.

Community: Do the other members do similar work? Will you naturally connect? Visit during a trial day and observe.

Noise level: Some spaces are buzzy and social. Others are library-quiet. Know your work style.

Meeting rooms: If you have client calls, you need a bookable room. Check availability and cost.

Internet speed: Test it during your trial. Slow wifi is a dealbreaker for most digital businesses.

Price vs. value: The cheapest space is not always the best value. Factor in coffee, printing, events, and community when comparing.

Using a Coworking Space as Your Business Address

When you registered your business with the KVK (Chamber of Commerce) for your DAFT visa, you needed a business address. Some coworking spaces offer virtual address services or business registration options. Check with your chosen space about whether they can serve as your registered business address. This is useful if you don't want to use your home address.

Our Recommendations

Best overall: Spaces -- Good balance of everything, multiple locations, strong community.

Best for startups: B.Amsterdam or Rockstart -- Networking opportunities, startup community.

Best for budget: The Thinking Hut or Seats2meet -- Affordable, community-driven.

Best for tech: TQ or Rockstart -- Innovation-focused, strong networks.

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Day Pass Strategy

Before committing to a membership, try 3-5 spaces. Buy day passes, work full days, meet people, feel the vibe. We tried 5 spaces over 2 weeks, worked full days at each, talked to members, and chose Spaces Vijzelstraat.

Pro Tip: Most coworking spaces offer a free trial day. Use this. Visit 3-4 spaces before committing. The vibe, noise level, and community vary dramatically between locations.

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Coworking on a Budget

Not every DAFT entrepreneur can afford €300/month for a desk. Budget options exist.

Libraries: Many Dutch libraries have free workspace with wifi. The OBA (Amsterdam public library) is popular with freelancers.

Cafes: The Dutch coffee culture supports laptop workers. Many cafes welcome freelancers during non-peak hours. Budget €5-10 for coffee and a pastry.

Part-time memberships: Many spaces offer 5 or 10 day-per-month packages at half the cost of full membership.

Co-splitting: Some entrepreneurs share a dedicated desk, alternating days. Check if your space allows this.

What We Wish We Knew: Many coworking spaces in the Netherlands offer monthly plans with no long-term commitment. Start with a month-to-month plan and switch if the space doesn't fit. We locked into a three-month plan at our first space and regretted it.

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Making the Most of Coworking

Show up regularly. Same days each week. You'll see the same people, make friends, and network naturally.

Attend events. Most spaces host networking events, workshops, social hours, and lunch-and-learns. Go to these. You'll meet people and learn things.

Be social, but not too social. Chat at lunch, take coffee breaks together, join after-work drinks. But respect work time.

We currently use a hot desk three days per week and work from home two days. The social interaction, the routine, and the separation of work from home have been worth every euro. Our productivity went up, our mood improved, and we made friends who understand the DAFT entrepreneur life.

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FAQ

Q: Is coworking worth the cost?

A: For us, yes. The social interaction, professional environment, and separation from home are worth €200-350/month. But it depends on your situation and budget.

Q: Can I just work from cafes?

A: You can, but it gets expensive (€5+ per day for coffee), WiFi isn't always reliable, and it's not professional for video calls. Cafes are fine occasionally but not sustainable daily.

Q: Do I need a full-time membership?

A: Not necessarily. Many people do part-time (2-3 days/week) and work from home other days. This is what we do and it works well.

Q: Which space has the most Americans?

A: Spaces Vijzelstraat and B.Amsterdam have strong international communities with many Americans. The Thinking Hut also has several American members.

Q: Can I try before committing?

A: Yes, all spaces offer day passes or free trial days. We recommend trying 3-5 spaces before deciding.

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We're not immigration lawyers -- just Americans who did this. Requirements change, so verify with official sources.