Amsterdam Old Course (Amsterdam-Duivendrecht)

Nine holes in the ArenA’s shadow

Amsterdam Old Course has been played since 1934, laid out by the famous British partnership of Colt, Alison & Morrison — the same design school behind many of Europe’s classic courses. It is a nine-hole parkland course in Amsterdam-Duivendrecht, rolling green ground that sits right beside the Johan Cruijff ArenA. From the club’s own description, this is shaped, shot-making golf: par is 36 over about 2,161 metres, with a course rating of 69.5 and a slope of 129 off the standard tees.

Golfers on LeadingCourses give it 7.6 out of 10 from 143 ratings, and Hole19 golfers score it 4.4 out of 5 across 81 reviews (checked 11 October 2026). The numbers tell the same story as the design: a Colt layout rewards placement and a steady short game far more than raw power.

Amsterdam Old Course is classified as a challenging course, so it suits experienced golfers most of all — players who enjoy thinking their way around rather than hitting flat out. There is also a real path in for those still growing: a golf academy on site, a junior-friendly welcome and a ladies’ programme, so a developing golfer can build toward it with the right coaching.

Playing here as a guest

Good news for visitors — this is a pay-and-play course, so no membership is needed. You do need a valid handicap, though: a Dutch GVB or NGF card, or a recognised national equivalent, is checked before you go out. Tee times are booked online, and the course is open year-round. The green fee is €35 for nine holes and €45 for eighteen, which here means playing the nine holes twice.

For practice there is plenty: a covered, floodlit driving range, a putting green, a short-game area and practice bunkers — a full warm-up before you play. A restaurant and terrace in the clubhouse round out the day.

Where smart golf wins

A Colt nine like this one asks for control, not muscle. Placement off the tee and a soft, accurate approach matter more than distance, and nine holes played twice means you meet every shaping problem a second time — so a repeatable swing really pays. That steady approach game and short-game precision is exactly the part I most enjoy helping a player build before a challenging round.