By Siddhi:
Who? Anyone in Amsterdam who wants to do something offbeat for the evening or take a break from exploring the cultural and artistic aspects of the city. And of course, for those who want to cool down in the heat of the summer.
What? The Xtracold Icebar located at the center of the city. The bar is set at negative ten degrees celsius for you to enjoy a “chill” beverage, snack, or casual conversation while bundled up in thermal gear in an ambience tailored to simulate a true Eskimo experience.
How? You can either walk to the ice bar which is located at Amstel 194 – 196, Amsterdam or you can take public transportation. Trams (9 and 14 to Waterlooplein or 4 to Rembrantplein), metros (53, 54, and express line 51 to Waterlooplein), and buses are all easy methods to reach the location. The Amsterdam water taxi also brings you write to Xtracold.
Why? Amsterdam is one of our favorite cities of all time. After several days of thoroughly exploring the city’s plethora of museums and structural beauties, we wanted to do something that didn’t feel traditionally “Amsterdam”. Several brochures all over the city kept referencing the Xtracold Icebar, so we decided to give it a shot. When we walked into Xtracold, we were greeted by slick modern Dutch design and a set of ethereal changing colored lights that made us feel like we were truly whisked into the underground club scene (and yes! Both my sister and I were allowed in despite our age). We were given a set of thermal gear to keep us warm in the freezing temperatures and joined a group of others into a tunnel that led to a room constructed entirely of ice. Needless to say, it was very, very cold. But for the ten to fifteen minutes that we stayed in the ice cave, we really did feel like ice dwellers. There’s also a 3D movie that’s made just for the experience and special LED lighting to set the “cool” tone. And what’s even more unique about Xtracold is that the theme of the bar changes biannually, so if you’ve been there before, you could be in for a surprise if you decide to visit again.
You can visit the Xtracold site here:
a global affair 