Where to Watch American Sports in Amsterdam: Your Full Guide

The first Sunday after we moved to Amsterdam, we woke up excited to watch NFL football. Then we realized: it's 7pm in Amsterdam when games start at 1pm EST. And we had no idea where to watch.

We spent that first season figuring out the sports situation—which bars actually show American sports, which streaming services work, how to deal with the time zone difference, and where to find other fans who care about the Eagles (or whatever team you follow).

Here's everything we learned about watching American sports in the Netherlands.

In this guide, you'll learn:

• Best sports bars for NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL
• Streaming service options (legal and... creative)
• How time zones affect each sport
• Where to find other American sports fans
• What sports culture is like here

---

The Time Zone Reality

Let's start with the hard truth: time zones make watching American sports challenging.

Amsterdam is 6 hours ahead of US East Coast, 9 hours ahead of West Coast.

What this means for each sport:

NFL (September - February)

Sunday games:

• 1:00 PM ET = 7:00 PM Amsterdam (primetime here—perfect)
• 4:05/4:25 PM ET = 10:05/10:25 PM Amsterdam (late but doable)
• Sunday Night Football (8:20 PM ET) = 2:20 AM Monday Amsterdam (brutal)

Monday Night Football: 8:15 PM ET = 2:15 AM Tuesday Amsterdam (only for diehards)

Thursday Night Football: 8:15 PM ET = 2:15 AM Friday Amsterdam (rough)

Our take: Sunday afternoon games are perfect. Evening games require commitment or watching replays the next day.

NBA (October - June)

Typical game times:

• 7:00 PM ET = 1:00 AM Amsterdam
• 10:00 PM ET = 4:00 AM Amsterdam

Reality: You're watching replays or highlights unless you're a night owl. West Coast games are completely unwatchable live.

Exception: Weekend afternoon games occasionally happen and are watchable.

MLB (April - October)

Day games: 1:00 PM ET = 7:00 PM Amsterdam (perfect)

Night games: 7:00 PM ET = 1:00 AM Amsterdam (too late for most)

Our take: Baseball is actually one of the easier sports because day games are common, especially on weekends.

NHL (October - June)

Similar to NBA: Most games are 7-10 PM ET, which is 1-4 AM Amsterdam.

Reality: Highlights and replays are your friend.

College Football (September - January)

Saturday games:

• Noon ET = 6:00 PM Amsterdam (great)
• 3:30 PM ET = 9:30 PM Amsterdam (perfect)
• 7:00 PM ET = 1:00 AM Amsterdam (late but possible)

Our take: College football is actually very watchable here. Saturday afternoon/evening games align well with Amsterdam time.

---

Sports Bars That Actually Show American Sports

Not all bars in Amsterdam show American sports. Here are the ones that do:

Coco's Outback

Location: Leidseplein 12

What they show: NFL (every Sunday), NBA, MLB playoffs, college football

Vibe: Loud, crowded, very American

Our experience: This is THE spot for NFL. They open at 6:30 PM on Sundays, show all the afternoon games on multiple screens, and it's packed with Americans. It's a great place to connect with other Americans abroad.

Pros:

• Guaranteed to show NFL games
• Lots of other Americans
• Multiple screens
• Good energy

Cons:

• Crowded (get there early for a table)
• Can be loud (hard to hear your own game)
• Touristy area
• Service can be slow when busy

Food/Drinks: American bar food (burgers, wings, nachos), decent beer selection

Cost: €6-€8 for beer, €12-€18 for food

Best for: NFL Sundays, big games, meeting other American sports fans

Pro Tip: If you want a table for Sunday NFL, arrive by 6:30 PM. By 7:00 PM it's standing room only.

The Bulldog (Multiple Locations)

Locations: Leidseplein, Oudezijds Voorburgwal, Marnixstraat

What they show: NFL, NBA, MLB, varies by location

Vibe: More relaxed than Coco's, mix of tourists and locals

Our experience: The Leidseplein location shows NFL regularly. Less crowded than Coco's but also less guaranteed to show your specific game.

Pros:

• Multiple locations
• Less crowded than Coco's
• More chill atmosphere
• Easier to get a table

Cons:

• Not guaranteed to show all games
• Fewer Americans (less community feel)
• Inconsistent between locations

Best for: Watching games in a more relaxed setting

Cafe Kale

Location: Bilderdijkstraat 165

What they show: NFL, NBA, college football (by request)

Vibe: Neighborhood bar, friendly, smaller

Our experience: This is our regular spot. The owner is Dutch but loves American sports. It's smaller and more personal than Coco's.

Pros:

• Friendly, welcoming
• Will put on specific games if you ask
• Good food
• Neighborhood feel (not touristy)

Cons:

• Only 2-3 screens (can't show all games)
• Smaller space (limited seating)
• Less well-known (might be empty for some games)

Best for: Watching your specific team's game in a chill environment

Cafe Gollem

Location: Raamsteeg 4 (and other locations)

What they show: NFL occasionally, other sports by request

Vibe: Beer-focused, quieter

Our experience: Not primarily a sports bar, but they'll put games on if you ask. Better for day games when it's not too crowded.

Best for: Watching a game while enjoying good beer

O'Donnell's Irish Pub

Location: Ferdinand Bolstraat 5

What they show: NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL

Vibe: Irish pub (obviously), sports-friendly

Our experience: Reliable for showing American sports, but the Irish pub vibe means lots of soccer too.

Best for: When you want a pub atmosphere and don't mind sharing screens with soccer

---

Streaming Services: Your Options

If you don't want to go to bars (or can't for late games), you need streaming.

NFL Game Pass International

What it is: Official NFL streaming service for international markets

What you get:

• Every NFL game (live and on-demand)
• Condensed games (45 minutes, no commercials)
• Coaches film
• NFL Network

Cost: €180-€200 per season (or monthly during season)

Our take: This is what we use. It's expensive but worth it if you're a serious NFL fan. The condensed games are perfect for watching the next day.

Pros:

• Every game, every team
• Legal and reliable
• Great quality
• Condensed games save time

Cons:

• Expensive
• Only NFL (no other sports)
• Some games are blacked out live (available after)

Worth it? If you watch NFL regularly, yes.

ESPN Player

What it is: ESPN's international streaming service

What you get:

• Some NFL games
• NBA games
• MLB games
• College sports
• ESPN original content

Cost: €10-€15 per month

Our take: Good value if you want multiple sports, but coverage isn't complete.

Pros:

• Multiple sports
• Reasonable price
• Legal

Cons:

• Not all games
• Quality varies
• Interface isn't great

Worth it? If you want multiple sports and don't need every game.

NBA League Pass International

What it is: Official NBA streaming

What you get:

• Every NBA game (live and on-demand)
• Multiple viewing options
• Classic games

Cost: €200-€250 per season

Our take: Great if you're a basketball fan, but the time zones make it hard to watch live.

Worth it? If you're a serious NBA fan who doesn't mind watching replays.

MLB.TV International

What it is: Official MLB streaming

What you get:

• Every out-of-market game
• Home and away broadcasts
• Condensed games

Cost: €120-€140 per season

Our take: Baseball is actually watchable here because of day games. Good value for baseball fans.

Worth it? If you follow baseball, yes.

VPN + US Streaming Services

What it is: Use a VPN to access US streaming services

Options:

• YouTube TV (with VPN)
• Hulu + Live TV (with VPN)
• FuboTV (with VPN)
• Paramount+ (with VPN)

How it works:

1. Subscribe to VPN service (ExpressVPN, NordVPN, etc.)
2. Connect to US server
3. Access US streaming service
4. Watch as if you're in the US

Cost: VPN ($8-$12/month) + streaming service ($50-$80/month)

Our take: This is what we actually do. More expensive than international options, but you get everything—NFL, NBA, MLB, college sports, plus US TV shows.

Legal? Gray area. Not technically illegal, but violates streaming services' terms of service.

Pros:

• Access to everything
• US commercials and commentary
• Can watch other US content too

Cons:

• More expensive
• Requires VPN (can be glitchy)
• Violates terms of service
• Need US payment method (or gift cards)

Worth it? If you want complete sports coverage and don't mind the gray area, yes.

Reality Check: A lot of American expats use VPNs for streaming. We're not going to tell you what to do, but we're also not going to pretend we don't do it.

---

Finding Other Fans

Watching sports alone is fine, but watching with other fans is better.

Facebook Groups

"Americans in Amsterdam" - People organize watch parties for big games

"American Sports Fans in Amsterdam" - Specifically for sports

Team-specific groups - Search for your team (e.g., "Eagles Fans Amsterdam")

For more on American expat groups, see American Expat Groups in Amsterdam Worth Joining.

Organized Watch Parties

Super Bowl: Multiple bars host parties (Coco's, The Bulldog, others). Book in advance.

March Madness: Some bars show games, but less common than NFL.

World Series/NBA Finals: Occasionally at sports bars.

College football playoffs: Growing interest, check Facebook groups.

Making Your Own Watch Party

We've hosted watch parties at our apartment for big games. Invite people from Facebook groups, provide snacks, everyone brings beer.

Tips:

• Make sure your streaming setup works beforehand
• Have backup plan if stream fails
• Keep it small (5-8 people max)
• Start a WhatsApp group for future games

---

What's Different About Sports Culture Here

Dutch Sports Dominate

Soccer (football) is king here. Bars will always prioritize Ajax or Dutch national team over American sports.

What this means:

• If there's an Ajax game and an NFL game, Ajax wins the big screen
• Dutch people won't understand your sports obsessions
• You'll have to explain American football rules constantly

Less Sports Bars Overall

The US has sports bars everywhere. Amsterdam has a handful. You can't just assume any bar will show your game.

Different Fan Culture

Dutch sports fans are passionate but different. Less trash talk, less intense rivalry culture, more casual.

American sports fans in Amsterdam tend to be more subdued too—we're all just happy to find other people who care.

Gambling Is Different

Sports betting is legal and common in Netherlands, but the culture around it is different. Less fantasy sports, more straightforward betting.

---

Sport-by-Sport Breakdown

NFL: Most Watchable

Why: Sunday afternoon games are primetime in Amsterdam

Best option: NFL Game Pass or sports bars on Sundays

Community: Strong—lots of Americans watch NFL

Our rating: 8/10 for watchability

College Football: Surprisingly Good

Why: Saturday afternoon games work well with time zones

Best option: VPN + US streaming (not many international options)

Community: Smaller but passionate

Our rating: 7/10 for watchability

MLB: Hit or Miss

Why: Day games are great, night games are impossible

Best option: MLB.TV for day games and replays

Community: Small but dedicated

Our rating: 6/10 for watchability

NBA: Tough

Why: Games are 1-4 AM Amsterdam time

Best option: NBA League Pass for replays

Community: Exists but small

Our rating: 4/10 for watchability (live), 7/10 (replays)

NHL: Very Tough

Why: Same time zone issues as NBA

Best option: ESPN Player or VPN

Community: Very small

Our rating: 3/10 for watchability

College Basketball: Possible

Why: Some day games, March Madness is watchable

Best option: VPN + US streaming

Community: Small

Our rating: 5/10 for watchability

---

Our Actual Setup

Here's what we actually do:

For NFL:

• NFL Game Pass subscription
• Watch Sunday afternoon games live
• Watch condensed versions of evening games next day
• Go to Coco's for big games (playoffs, rivalry games)

For college football:

• VPN + YouTube TV
• Watch Saturday games live
• Skip weeknight games

For other sports:

• Highlights on YouTube
• Occasionally watch replays if it's a big game
• Accept that we miss most games

Cost: ~€80/month (NFL Game Pass + VPN + YouTube TV)

Is it worth it? For us, yes. Sports are important to us and this setup works.

---

Adjusting Your Expectations

Here's the honest truth: you won't watch as much American sports as you did in the US.

Why:

• Time zones make it hard
• It's expensive to stream everything
• Your life here will get busy with other things
• You'll start caring about some European sports (maybe)

What we've learned:

• Pick your favorite sport and prioritize that
• Accept that you'll miss games
• Highlights and condensed games are your friend
• It's okay to care less about sports than you used to

We watch way less sports than we did in the US. At first that bothered us. Now we're okay with it. We catch the games we can, follow highlights for the rest, and have more time for other things.

For other American traditions you might miss (and how to handle them), see American Things We Miss Most (And Substitutes We Found).

---

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I watch sports on regular Dutch TV?

A: Very rarely. NFL occasionally shows up on ESPN Netherlands, but don't count on it. You need streaming or sports bars.

Q: Will my US streaming subscriptions work here?

A: Not without a VPN. They're geo-blocked outside the US.

Q: Is it worth getting NFL Game Pass if I only follow one team?

A: Probably yes. Even for one team, it's cheaper than going to bars every week, and you get every game plus replays.

Q: Do Dutch people care about American sports?

A: Some do (especially NFL), but it's niche. Most Dutch people don't understand American football and think basketball is boring compared to soccer.

Q: What if I can't find other fans of my team?

A: Start a Facebook group or post in "Americans in Amsterdam" to find them. There are probably other fans—they're just scattered.

---

The Bottom Line

Watching American sports in Amsterdam requires more effort and money than it did in the US. Time zones are challenging, streaming is expensive, and you can't just turn on the TV and find a game.

But it's doable. Sports bars exist, streaming services work (with some creativity), and there's a community of American sports fans here.

You'll probably watch less sports than you used to. That's okay. You're living in Europe—there are other things to do on Sunday afternoons.

But when you really want to watch your team, you can. And when you find other fans to watch with, it feels even better than it did back home.

Ready to start your DAFT journey? Our complete guide covers everything from requirements to application timeline. Get the Complete DAFT Guide →

---

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