Stories from the chair.

If you've just stepped off a train at Amsterdam Centraal and typed "best barber near Amsterdam Central Station" into your phone, here's the short answer: Prime Barbershop Amsterdam, Nieuwendijk 85, is a flat five-minute walk from the station exit, and it's open daily from 10:00 to 21:00 — including Sundays.

That matters more than people think. Amsterdam Centraal sees a huge mix of commuters, tourists and business travellers every day, and a lot of them end up searching for a barber the moment they realise their hair or beard needs attention before a meeting, a date, or simply because they're finally in front of a mirror after a long trip. You don't want to wander fifteen minutes in the wrong direction with a suitcase. You want somewhere close, reliable, and good.

Why the walk from the station is easy

Leave Centraal through the main entrance, head straight down Damrak towards Dam Square, and take a right onto Nieuwendijk. It's a straight, well-lit, pedestrian-heavy route the entire way — about 400 metres, five minutes at a normal walking pace. No trams to catch, no detours. Nieuwendijk itself is one of the busiest shopping streets in the city centre, so you'll pass shops, cafés and landmarks the whole way, which makes the walk feel shorter than it is.

What you'll find at Nieuwendijk 85

Prime Barbershop is a proper barbershop, not a quick clipper-only setup. Three barbers — Mo, Zafri and Elvira — work the chairs, covering skin fades, scissor cuts, beard sculpting and classic clipper work. Between them they speak English, Arabic, Spanish, French and Dutch, which is genuinely useful this close to a major international transport hub — you won't struggle to explain what you want.

Prices are flat and posted upfront, starting from €40 for a Men's Haircut or Fade Haircut, up to €60 for a Haircut & Beard Trim with a wash included. A standalone Beard Trim is €25. There are no hidden tiers or surprise add-ons — what you book is what you pay.

Walk-ins welcome, no need to plan ahead

You don't need to book days in advance. Walk-ins are welcome throughout the day, though if you know your train times in advance, booking online through Fresha guarantees you a slot and instant confirmation. Either way, being open daily 10:00–21:00 means there's rarely a bad time to swing by — early morning before a meeting, midday between appointments, or evening before dinner.

Good for travellers, good for locals

A lot of our clients near the station are one-off visitors — tourists staying nearby, business travellers with a few hours before a flight, people in transit through Centraal on their way elsewhere in the Netherlands. But just as many are Amsterdam residents who work in or near the centre and prefer a barber they can reach on foot rather than adding a tram ride to their week. Either way, the same standard applies: a real consultation, a precise cut, and a finish that's checked before you leave the chair.

What to ask for

If you're short on time and just need something dependable, a Men's Haircut (40 minutes, €40) covers a full consultation, tailored cut and clean finish. If you want a defined line between hair and skin, ask for a Skin Fade — Mo and Zafri handle these daily and it's one of the shop's signature cuts. Need a beard cleaned up before a meeting? The standalone Beard Trim takes about 30 minutes and costs €25, or combine it with a haircut for €49.99.

Nearby if you're exploring the centre

Once you're done, Dam Square is a further four-minute walk, and De Wallen (the Red Light District) is about three minutes in the other direction — so a haircut at Prime slots neatly into an afternoon of walking the centre rather than being a separate errand. Read our guides to [Dam Square](/dam-square) and the [Red Light District](/red-light-district) if you're planning a longer visit, or check [Amsterdam Centraal](/amsterdam-centraal) for more on the area right outside the station.

Booking

See the full [services](/services) menu and prices, or get in touch via our [contact](/contact) page for directions, opening hours or to ask a barber a question before you arrive. Walk-ins are always welcome at Nieuwendijk 85 — just come in.

Dam Square is where most people's mental map of Amsterdam starts — the Royal Palace, the National Monument, street performers, trams crossing in every direction. It's also, conveniently, four minutes' walk from a proper barbershop: Prime Barbershop Amsterdam at Nieuwendijk 85.

If you're standing in Dam Square right now wondering where to get a decent haircut without wandering into the first tourist-trap chair you see, here's the honest route.

The walk from Dam Square

From the square, head north onto Nieuwendijk — it runs parallel to Damrak, one street over, and is easy to spot because it's pedestrianised and lined with shops. Nieuwendijk 85 is a short, flat walk of around four minutes. You'll pass cafés, clothing shops and a steady flow of people the whole way, so it never feels like a detour off the beaten path.

Why "near Dam Square" doesn't mean "tourist-priced and rushed"

A lot of barbershops that lean on their Dam Square proximity treat it purely as foot traffic — fast in, fast out, whatever the visitor wants to hear. Prime works differently. Every haircut starts with an actual consultation: what you want, what your hair does, what will hold its shape. Barbers Mo, Zafri and Elvira each have their own specialities — Mo for skin fades and beard sculpting, Zafri for fades and modern styling, Elvira for classic clipper cuts and wash-and-style — so whatever you're after, someone here does it well.

What it costs

Prices are transparent and start from €40:

- Men's Haircut or Fade Haircut — €40 (40 min) - Scissor Cut — €45 (40 min) - Haircut + Wash — €45 (45 min) - Haircut & Beard Trim — €49.99 (50 min) - Head Shave & Beard Trim — €50 (45 min) - Haircut & Beard Trim + Wash — €60 (60 min) - Beard Trim only — €25 (30 min)

No experience-tier upsells, no confusion at the till — the price you see is the price you pay.

Open every day, including when you're sightseeing on a Sunday

Prime is open daily from 10:00 to 21:00, seven days a week. That includes Sundays, which matters a lot around Dam Square — most visitors are there on days off, and plenty of local barbershops close on Sundays or Mondays. Here, there's no bad day to stop in.

Walk-in or book ahead

Walk-ins are genuinely welcome — you don't need an appointment to get seen. That said, if you're planning your day around Dam Square and want a guaranteed slot (say, before dinner or a museum visit), you can book online through Fresha and get instant confirmation.

What to ask for near Dam Square

If it's your first visit, the Men's Haircut is the simplest, most reliable option — a full consultation and a clean finish in 40 minutes. If you've got a beard that's grown out during your trip, the Haircut & Beard Trim combo at €49.99 tidies up both at once without eating your whole afternoon.

Making a day of the centre

A haircut near Dam Square pairs naturally with the rest of the neighbourhood. Amsterdam Centraal is a further four minutes past Nieuwendijk 85, and De Wallen sits just a few minutes the other way — see our guides to [Amsterdam Centraal](/amsterdam-centraal) and the [Red Light District](/red-light-district) for more on both. For everything Nieuwendijk itself has to offer, read our [Nieuwendijk guide](/nieuwendijk).

Book it

Check the full [services](/services) list for every cut and price, or reach us through [contact](/contact) for directions from anywhere in the centre. Nieuwendijk 85, four minutes off Dam Square — walk-ins welcome, daily 10:00–21:00.

A skin fade is one of the most requested cuts at Prime Barbershop Amsterdam, and also one of the most miscommunicated. Clients come in saying "just fade it" and walk out with something quite different from what they had in mind — not because the barber got it wrong, but because "fade" describes a technique, not a specific look. Here's how to ask for exactly what you want.

Start with the fade height, not the word "fade"

There are three fade heights, and naming one is the single most useful thing you can do before the clippers start:

Low fade — the fade starts just above the ear and tapers down close to the neckline. It's the most subtle option, good for office environments or anyone who wants a clean edge without a dramatic contrast.

Mid fade — starts around temple height. This is the most requested option at Prime because it balances visibility with versatility — sharp enough to notice, low-maintenance enough to grow out without looking messy after two weeks.

High fade — starts well above the ear, closer to the crown. This gives the most contrast between the shaved sides and the length on top, and it's the choice if you want the cut itself to be the statement.

Then specify the finish: skin, or blended

"Skin fade" specifically means the sides are taken down to bare skin at the bottom of the fade, using a razor or the lowest clipper guard, before blending upward. If you say "fade" without saying "skin," a barber will usually leave a very short guard number at the bottom rather than bare skin — which is a different, slightly softer look. If you want the true skin-fade contrast, say the word "skin" specifically.

Bring a reference, but describe it too

Photos help enormously, but photos of other people's hair don't always translate directly — hair texture, growth pattern and head shape all change how a fade sits. At Prime, Mo and Zafri will look at your photo, then check it against your actual hair before starting, adjusting the guard numbers to get the same effect on your head rather than a literal copy.

Length on top matters as much as the fade

A skin fade is only half the haircut. Tell your barber what you want on top too — textured and messy, slicked back, a defined side part, or short all over with just a fringe of length. The fade is the frame; the top is the picture.

How long it takes and what it costs

A Fade Haircut (Low / Mid / High / Skin) at Prime is 40 minutes and costs €40, flat — no upcharge for going all the way to skin. If you want your beard shaped to match the fade line, add a Haircut & Beard Trim combo for €49.99 (50 minutes), which keeps the fade and beard edges consistent with each other.

Upkeep

Skin fades grow out faster than any other cut because the contrast line is so sharp — most clients rebook every 2–3 weeks to keep the line clean. If you're visiting Amsterdam short-term and won't be back in three weeks, ask your barber to leave slightly more length at the fade line so it grows out more gracefully rather than looking patchy after ten days.

Where to get one in Amsterdam Centrum

Prime Barbershop is at Nieuwendijk 85, a five-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal and four from Dam Square, open daily 10:00–21:00. Walk-ins are welcome, or book ahead via Fresha for a guaranteed slot with Mo or Zafri specifically. See our full [services](/services) page for every option, or reach out via [contact](/contact) with questions before you come in.

Not everyone plans a haircut three days in advance. Plans change, hair gets long faster than expected, or you're only in Amsterdam for the day and need something sorted this afternoon. That's exactly what walk-in service is for, and at Prime Barbershop Amsterdam, Nieuwendijk 85, it's the default way most people come in.

Yes, you can just walk in

Prime doesn't require a booking. You can arrive at any point during opening hours — daily, 10:00 to 21:00 — and get seen by one of our three barbers: Mo, Zafri or Elvira. There's no minimum notice, no online form to fill out first. Come in, tell us what you're after, and we'll get you into a chair.

When walk-ins are quickest

Mid-morning (10:00–12:00) and mid-afternoon on weekdays (14:00–16:30) tend to have the shortest waits, since most bookings cluster around lunch and early evening. If you're flexible on timing and want to avoid any wait at all, those windows are your best bet.

When it can get busier

Saturday afternoons and weekday evenings after 17:00 are our busiest periods — a lot of people finish work or start their weekend with a haircut, which is completely understandable, but it does mean a short wait is more likely. If you're walking in during these windows, expect anywhere from a few minutes to 20–30 minutes depending on how many chairs are occupied.

How to skip the wait entirely

If you'd rather guarantee a specific time, you can book ahead through Fresha with instant confirmation — it takes less than a minute and lets you pick your preferred barber. This is worth doing if you have a tight schedule (a flight, a dinner reservation, a meeting) and can't afford to wait even ten minutes. Otherwise, walking in is simple and works fine for most people.

What to expect once you're in the chair

Regardless of whether you booked or walked in, the process is the same: a short consultation about what you want, the cut itself, and a check in the mirror before you leave. A standard Men's Haircut takes about 40 minutes and costs €40. If you want a beard trim added, that's another 10 minutes and brings the combo to €49.99.

Pricing at a glance

- Men's Haircut / Fade Haircut — €40 (40 min) - Scissor Cut — €45 (40 min) - Haircut + Wash — €45 (45 min) - Haircut & Beard Trim — €49.99 (50 min) - Head Shave & Beard Trim — €50 (45 min) - Haircut & Beard Trim + Wash — €60 (60 min) - Beard Trim — €25 (30 min)

Where we are

Nieuwendijk 85, right in Amsterdam Centrum — a five-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal, four minutes from Dam Square, and three minutes from De Wallen (the Red Light District). Wherever you're coming from in the city centre, it's a short, flat walk. Read more about the immediate area in our [Nieuwendijk guide](/nieuwendijk) or check [Amsterdam Centraal](/amsterdam-centraal) if you're arriving by train.

Why walk-ins work well here

Being open every single day, including Sundays, means there's rarely a day where walking in isn't an option. Combined with three barbers working the floor and flat, transparent pricing, it means you can genuinely decide on the day that you want a haircut and have it sorted within the hour.

See our full [services](/services) menu, or get in touch via [contact](/contact) if you'd like to check current wait times before heading over.

Getting a haircut while travelling is always a small gamble. You don't know the barbers, you can't always read the local reviews, and you're often working around a tight schedule. If you're in Amsterdam and want to get this right the first time, here's a practical guide built from years of cutting hair for visitors at Prime Barbershop Amsterdam, Nieuwendijk 85, in the heart of Amsterdam Centrum.

Pick a barbershop in the centre, not near your hotel by default

It's tempting to just search "barber near me" from your hotel, but hotel-adjacent barbershops in residential pockets of the city are often geared toward regulars rather than walk-in visitors, with less flexible scheduling. Amsterdam Centrum — the area around Dam Square, Nieuwendijk, Damrak and Amsterdam Centraal — has a much higher concentration of shops used to walk-ins, tourists and people who don't speak Dutch. Prime is in exactly this pocket: five minutes from Centraal station, four from Dam Square, three from De Wallen.

Look for flat, published pricing

A common frustration for visitors is not knowing the price until the end of the service. At Prime, every price is fixed and published: a Men's Haircut or Fade is €40, a Haircut & Beard Trim is €49.99, a standalone Beard Trim is €25, and the most involved combo — Haircut & Beard Trim + Wash — is €60. Nothing is negotiated at the chair, and there are no "VIP" upsells layered on top.

Bring a photo, but be ready to describe it in words too

If you don't speak Dutch, don't worry — English, Arabic, Spanish and French are all spoken across our three barbers (Mo, Zafri and Elvira), so language isn't a barrier. Still, bring a reference photo if you have one; it saves time and avoids miscommunication, especially for a specific fade height or beard shape.

Check the opening hours match your itinerary

A lot of visitors only realise their itinerary and the local barbershop's hours don't line up after they've already planned everything else. Prime is open every day, 10:00–21:00, including Sundays — which covers almost any travel schedule, whether you're squeezing in a haircut before an early flight or fitting one in after a full day of sightseeing.

Walk-in vs. booking ahead

If your schedule is loose, walking in works fine — mid-morning and mid-afternoon slots are usually quickest. If you have a narrow window (say, two hours before a train), book ahead via Fresha for a guaranteed, instantly confirmed slot.

What to actually ask for

For most visitors wanting a clean, photogenic result without overcomplicating it: a Men's Haircut (€40, 40 min) with a Beard Trim added (bringing it to €49.99, 50 min total) covers almost everyone's needs. If you want more definition, ask specifically for a skin fade — see our dedicated guide on [skin fades in Amsterdam Centrum](/skin-fades-amsterdam-centrum-what-to-ask-for) for the exact wording to use.

Make it part of your day in the centre

Since Prime sits between Amsterdam Centraal, Dam Square and De Wallen, a haircut here fits naturally into a day of walking the centre rather than requiring a special trip. Read our guides to [Dam Square](/dam-square), the [Red Light District](/red-light-district) and [Amsterdam Centraal](/amsterdam-centraal) to plan the rest of your visit.

Book or walk in

See our full [services](/services) menu for every cut, combo and price, or reach us via [contact](/contact) with any questions before you arrive. Nieuwendijk 85, Amsterdam Centrum — open daily 10:00–21:00.

A beard trim sounds simple, but the difference between a rushed five-minute clean-up and a proper shaping session shows up immediately in the mirror. At Prime Barbershop Amsterdam, Nieuwendijk 85, beard work is treated with the same care as a haircut — because a mismatched beard and haircut looks unfinished no matter how good either one is on its own.

What's actually included in a beard trim

A standalone Beard Trim at Prime takes about 30 minutes and costs €25. That covers:

- A consultation on the shape you want — full, tapered, boxed, or a specific length throughout - Clipper work to bring the overall length down evenly - Detailing along the cheek line, neckline and moustache with a razor or trimmer for sharp edges - A check in the mirror from multiple angles before you leave

It's not just "run the clippers over it" — the edges are what make a beard look intentional rather than just short.

Beard trim vs. haircut & beard combo

If you're due for a haircut anyway, the Haircut & Beard Trim combo (50 minutes, €49.99) makes more sense than booking both separately — the same barber does both in one sitting, which keeps the fade line and the beard's cheek line consistent with each other. Adding a wash brings the combo to €60 for a full 60-minute session.

Common beard shapes we're asked for

Full and natural — length kept fairly even throughout, edges cleaned up but not overly sharp. Low maintenance, works with most face shapes.

Tapered — shorter near the ears, gradually longer toward the chin, which elongates a rounder face shape.

Boxed — a sharp, defined outline along the cheek and neck lines with the length kept uniform. This needs more frequent upkeep (every 2–3 weeks) to stay crisp.

Stubble maintenance — for shorter beards, this is more about keeping a consistent length with a guard number than reshaping, and takes less time than a full trim.

How often to come back

Most clients rebook a beard trim every 3–4 weeks. Beards grow more slowly than head hair, so it holds its shape longer than a fresh haircut — but the edges (particularly the neckline) get soft faster than people expect, so if you want it to look sharp continuously rather than sharp-then-fading, book slightly more often than feels necessary.

Where to get it done

Prime Barbershop is on Nieuwendijk 85 in Amsterdam Centrum — five minutes from Amsterdam Centraal, four from Dam Square. Open daily 10:00–21:00, with walk-ins welcome for beard trims same as haircuts. Mo in particular specialises in beard sculpting, but all three barbers — Mo, Zafri and Elvira — do beard work daily.

Check the full [services](/services) page for every combination and price, or head to [contact](/contact) for directions and to check availability before you come in. If you're new to the area, our [Nieuwendijk guide](/nieuwendijk) covers what else is nearby.

De Wallen — Amsterdam's historic Red Light District — is one of the busiest and most walked parts of the city centre, day and night. What a lot of people don't realise is that a properly run, professional barbershop is only a three-minute walk away: Prime Barbershop Amsterdam, Nieuwendijk 85.

Getting there from De Wallen

From most points inside De Wallen, walk west toward Damrak and Nieuwendijk — it's a short, flat, three-minute walk through some of the busiest pedestrian streets in the centre. You don't need to cross any major roads or navigate anything complicated; just head toward Nieuwendijk and you'll see the shop.

Why this matters for people staying nearby

A significant number of hotels, hostels and short-term rentals sit in and around De Wallen because it's so central. If you're staying in the area — whether for a weekend or a longer trip — you don't need to trek across the city for a decent haircut. Prime is close enough to be a five-minute round trip from most accommodation in the neighbourhood.

What kind of barbershop it is

This isn't a rushed, tourist-throughput operation. Three barbers — Mo, Zafri and Elvira — each bring a different specialty: skin fades and beard sculpting, modern styling and fades, and classic clipper cuts respectively. Between the team, five languages are spoken (English, Arabic, Spanish, French, Dutch), which covers the vast majority of visitors passing through this part of the city.

Pricing, clearly stated

- Men's Haircut / Fade Haircut — €40 (40 min) - Scissor Cut — €45 (40 min) - Haircut + Wash — €45 (45 min) - Haircut & Beard Trim — €49.99 (50 min) - Head Shave & Beard Trim — €50 (45 min) - Haircut & Beard Trim + Wash — €60 (60 min) - Beard Trim — €25 (30 min)

Every price is fixed and shown upfront — there's no negotiation or surprise add-ons at the till, which matters in an area where prices for other things can vary wildly.

Hours that match a De Wallen schedule

Prime is open daily from 10:00 to 21:00, including Sundays. Whether you're up early exploring the canals before the crowds, or looking for something to do mid-afternoon, there's a wide window to get a haircut without it clashing with the rest of your day.

Walk-ins are the norm here

You don't need to book ahead — walk in any time during opening hours and you'll be seen. If you want a guaranteed slot at a specific time, Fresha booking with instant confirmation is available too, but most people passing through De Wallen simply walk in.

What to book

If you're short on time, the Men's Haircut (€40, 40 minutes) is the simplest option. If your beard's grown out during your trip, add the trim for a Haircut & Beard Trim combo at €49.99. Either way, you'll be back out walking the canals within the hour.

Explore more of the centre

Prime sits at the crossing point of several of Amsterdam's most walked streets — De Wallen three minutes one way, Dam Square four minutes the other, Amsterdam Centraal five minutes further still. Read our guides to the [Red Light District](/red-light-district), [Dam Square](/dam-square) and [Amsterdam Centraal](/amsterdam-centraal) for more on the surrounding area.

See the full [services](/services) list, or reach out via [contact](/contact) for directions from anywhere in De Wallen.

"How much does a haircut cost in Amsterdam?" is one of the most common questions we get from both new residents and visitors, and the honest answer is: it depends heavily on the type of shop, but at a proper barbershop in Amsterdam Centrum you should expect to pay somewhere between €40 and €60 for a full, professional service.

Why the range, and where Prime sits in it

Budget, high-turnover spots in the outer districts can undercut this significantly, but you're usually trading consultation time, product quality and finishing detail for the lower price. At Prime Barbershop Amsterdam, Nieuwendijk 85, pricing is flat and fully published — no tiers, no "ask for a quote," no upsell at the till. Here's exactly what everything costs:

- Men's Haircut — €40 (40 min): full consultation, tailored cut, neckline clean-up and styling - Fade Haircut (Low / Mid / High / Skin) — €40 (40 min): our most requested cut, blended clean and finished - Scissor Cut — €45 (40 min): scissor-only cutting for texture and natural movement - Haircut + Wash — €45 (45 min): haircut plus a wash to prep hair for better styling - Haircut & Beard Trim — €49.99 (50 min): precision cut and beard grooming in one sitting - Head Shave & Beard Trim — €50 (45 min): a clean head shave with a shaped beard - Haircut & Beard Trim + Wash — €60 (60 min): the fullest single-visit service - Beard Trim — €25 (30 min): shaping and styling on its own

What actually drives the price of a haircut in this city

Location and rent. Amsterdam Centrum, particularly around Nieuwendijk, Dam Square and Amsterdam Centraal, carries some of the highest commercial rents in the Netherlands. That's reflected in service pricing across the neighbourhood — but it also means the shops here are used to a constant flow of both regulars and visitors, which keeps standards high.

Barber training. A qualified Dutch barber typically completes formal training and then years of supervised apprenticeship before working independently. Mo, Zafri and Elvira each bring years of hands-on experience across fades, scissor work, classic cuts and beard sculpting — the price reflects that skill, not just the 40 minutes in the chair.

What's included in the time. A €40 cut here isn't a rushed ten-minute clipper job — it's a genuine 40-minute appointment with consultation, cutting, and a finish check. Shorter, cheaper services elsewhere often compress or skip the consultation entirely.

Is a more expensive haircut always better?

Not necessarily — but transparency matters more than the number itself. A shop that publishes flat pricing with no hidden tiers, like Prime, means you know exactly what you're paying before you sit down. That's not always true elsewhere, where "premium" pricing sometimes just means an unclear upsell structure at checkout.

How to get the most value

Book the service that actually matches what you need rather than defaulting to the most expensive combo. If you just need hair done, the €40 Men's Haircut or Fade covers it. If your beard needs attention too, the €49.99 combo saves you a second appointment. Only go for the full €60 Haircut & Beard Trim + Wash if you want the complete, unhurried experience.

Where to get it

Prime Barbershop Amsterdam is at Nieuwendijk 85, five minutes from Amsterdam Centraal and four from Dam Square, open daily 10:00–21:00. Walk-ins welcome, or book ahead via Fresha for a guaranteed slot.

See the full [services](/services) menu for every price and duration, or get in touch via [contact](/contact) with any questions before you book.

Amsterdam Centrum is small enough to shop on foot and dense enough that you can cover four very different shopping streets in an afternoon. Here's the route we give clients who ask, plus the obvious place to work a haircut into it — Prime Barbershop Amsterdam sits on Nieuwendijk 85, right in the middle of all of it.

Start at Nieuwendijk

Nieuwendijk runs from just behind Amsterdam Centraal down towards Dam Square, and it's the oldest shopping street in the city. High-street brands, sneaker shops, streetwear, phone and electronics stores, plus a steady run of cafés and snack spots. It's fully pedestrianised, so you can walk the length of it without thinking about traffic.

This is also where you'll find us: Nieuwendijk 85, open daily 10:00–21:00. If you're starting your day here, get the haircut first — you'll spend the rest of the afternoon looking like you planned it.

Then Kalverstraat

Cross Dam Square and Kalverstraat picks up where Nieuwendijk leaves off: the busiest shopping street in the Netherlands, running south from the Dam to Muntplein. Bigger flagship stores, department stores, fashion chains. Kalverstraat is about a four-minute walk from our door — straight down Nieuwendijk, across the Dam, and you're on it.

Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal for a slower pace

Running parallel to Nieuwendijk, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal is wider, greener and much calmer. Fewer chains, more independent shops, bookshops, and places to actually sit down. Good for when Kalverstraat gets overwhelming on a Saturday. It's a two-minute walk from Nieuwendijk 85.

The Negen Straatjes for independents

Ten minutes west, across the canal belt, the Nine Streets are the antidote to the high street — vintage, concept stores, small designers, specialty coffee. Worth the walk if you have half a day rather than an hour.

Where to get a haircut while you're in the centre

The honest answer for anyone shopping in Amsterdam Centrum: get it done on Nieuwendijk, because you're already there. Prime Barbershop is at Nieuwendijk 85, five minutes from Amsterdam Centraal, four from Dam Square, and directly between Nieuwendijk and Kalverstraat.

- Men's Haircut / Fade — from €40, 40 minutes - Haircut & Beard Trim — €49.99 - Beard Trim — €25 - Walk-ins welcome, or book ahead on Fresha - Barbers speaking English, Arabic, Spanish, French and Dutch

Forty minutes in the chair fits neatly between shops, and because we're open until 21:00 seven days a week, you can shop first and cut later.

A simple half-day route

1. Arrive at Amsterdam Centraal, walk down Damrak 2. Turn onto Nieuwendijk — shops, and a haircut at number 85 3. Continue to Dam Square — Royal Palace, Nieuwe Kerk, the National Monument 4. Kalverstraat south to Muntplein 5. Loop back along Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal for the quieter end

See the full [services](/services) menu, or check [contact](/contact) for directions from wherever you're starting.

Two days is enough to see Amsterdam Centrum properly if you stay inside the canal ring and walk. Here's how we'd spend it — and where to fit in a haircut so you look right in the photos rather than after them.

Day one: the historic core

Morning. Start at Amsterdam Centraal and walk down Damrak towards Dam Square. The Royal Palace, the Nieuwe Kerk and the National Monument are all on one square, and it's the natural centre of the city.

Late morning. Cut into Nieuwendijk, the oldest shopping street in Amsterdam. This is also the moment to book yourself in: Prime Barbershop, Nieuwendijk 85, is a two-minute detour from the Dam and open from 10:00. A men's haircut or fade is €40 and takes 40 minutes — easy to slot in before lunch on your first day so you're sharp for the rest of the trip.

Afternoon. Walk east into De Wallen — beyond the reputation, it's the oldest part of the city, with the Oude Kerk and some of the prettiest small canals in Amsterdam. Then Nieuwmarkt for a drink.

Evening. Dinner around the Spui or the Jordaan edge, both walkable.

Day two: canals, culture and shopping

Morning. The canal belt — Herengracht, Keizersgracht, Prinsengracht — is a UNESCO World Heritage site and best seen on foot in the quiet hours. The Anne Frank House sits on Prinsengracht; book well ahead.

Midday. Kalverstraat for the big shops, or the Negen Straatjes for independents and vintage.

Afternoon. The Begijnhof courtyard, the Amsterdam Museum, or a canal cruise leaving from Damrak.

Evening. Back through Nieuwendijk towards the station. If day one got away from you, we're open until 21:00 every day — a beard trim is €25 and takes half an hour.

Where to get a haircut in Amsterdam as a visitor

Two things matter when you're travelling: language and location. At Prime our barbers speak English, Arabic, Spanish, French and Dutch, so explaining what you want isn't a problem — bring a photo if it's easier. And at Nieuwendijk 85 we're a flat five-minute walk from Amsterdam Centraal, so it works whether you're arriving, leaving, or filling a gap in the middle.

Walk-ins are welcome all day. If your schedule is tight, book online through Fresha for a confirmed slot.

Read more in our [visitor's guide to getting a great haircut in Amsterdam](/blog/visitors-guide-to-getting-a-great-haircut-in-amsterdam), or see the full [services](/services) menu.

Kalverstraat is the busiest shopping street in the Netherlands, running from Dam Square down to Muntplein. What it doesn't have is a good, unhurried barbershop — which is why a lot of our clients walk the four minutes over from Kalverstraat to Prime Barbershop, Nieuwendijk 85.

Getting here from Kalverstraat

From anywhere on Kalverstraat, walk north to Dam Square, cross it, and continue onto Nieuwendijk. We're at number 85. Four minutes at the top of the street, seven from the Muntplein end. All flat, all pedestrianised.

Why it's worth the short walk

Kalverstraat is designed for volume — crowds, chains, queues. Nieuwendijk one street over is calmer, and inside the shop it's calmer still. Every appointment includes a real consultation before the clippers come out, and a finish check before you leave the chair.

- Men's Haircut / Fade Haircut — from €40 (40 min) - Scissor Cut — €45 - Haircut & Beard Trim — €49.99 - Beard Trim — €25 - Haircut & Beard Trim + Wash — €60

Flat prices, published upfront. No experience tiers, no add-ons at the till.

Open when you're actually shopping

We're open daily 10:00–21:00, including Sundays — the same hours the shops keep, plus a few more at the end of the day. Walk in whenever there's a gap, or book on Fresha if you'd rather not wait.

Also nearby

We're a five-minute walk from [Amsterdam Centraal](/amsterdam-centraal), four from [Dam Square](/dam-square), three from [De Wallen](/red-light-district), and we're on [Nieuwendijk](/nieuwendijk) itself. See the [full Amsterdam Centrum page](/barbershop-amsterdam-centrum) for the whole neighbourhood.