A Visitor's Guide to Getting a Great Haircut in Amsterdam

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.

Prime Barbershop Amsterdam Nieuwendijk 85, 1012 MC Amsterdam Centrum Phone: +31 6 4282 5105 Open daily: 10:00–21:00