British life in Amsterdam: poppies, pints and finding your people

Amsterdam is so international that you can go weeks without noticing you're the only Brit in the room. When you do want a bit of home, there's a society that's been at it since 1920, a Legion branch, a cricket club in the woods and a pub on every square showing the footie.

The short version

• The British Society of Amsterdam and the Netherlands says it has served British expats in the city since 1920, and membership is free [2].
• The Royal British Legion Holland Branch holds its Remembrance Sunday service at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Oosterbeek, this year on 8 November 2026 at 11.30 [3].
• VRA in the Amsterdamse Bos is the city's oldest cricket club, and AAC Rugby runs men's, women's, youth and social sides [5][6].
• Christ Church Amsterdam is the Church of England chaplaincy, with Sunday services at 10am [4].
• For the Premier League, the pubs on Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein are the usual bet [7][8].

Who's who: British organisations in and around Amsterdam

The British Society

If you join one thing, make it this. The British Society of Amsterdam and the Netherlands describes itself as serving the Amsterdam British expat community since 1920, and it's open to English speakers of any nationality, with free membership [2]. Its programme leans towards history and outings: recent events included an Amsterdam Light Festival boat trip in November 2025 (sold out), an Ypres battlefield weekend in October 2025 and a Market Garden battlefield tour in April 2026, which was fully booked [2]. Sign up on its site and you'll hear about the next one.

Christ Church

Christ Church is the Anglican chaplaincy for Amsterdam, part of the Church of England's Diocese in Europe. Its main church is at Groenburgwal 42, with Sunday services at 10am alternating between the city centre and its south location [4]. Last year it held a candlelit Advent carol service in mid-December and a midnight Holy Communion on Christmas Eve, with a borrel (drinks) beforehand [4]. Its 2026 Christmas times weren't up when we checked, so watch its site.

Business and the embassy

The Netherlands British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) in The Hague runs forums, networking events and awards for British–Dutch business [9].

There's no British consulate in Amsterdam. The British Embassy in The Hague handles passports, consular help and emergencies, by appointment [1]. In an emergency in the Netherlands, call 112 first.

Royal British Legion and the Royal Society of St George

The Royal British Legion Holland Branch was formed in 2010 from earlier branches and covers the whole country [3]. Its big day is Remembrance Sunday at the Commonwealth War Graves cemetery at Oosterbeek, near Arnhem, where the branch has held a service every year since 2011. This year it's on Sunday 8 November 2026 at 11.30 [3]. You can now give to the Poppy Appeal by QR code, and the branch held its AGM on 3 October 2026 [3]. Oosterbeek is a long day out from Amsterdam by train, but standing among the Arnhem graves on a cold November morning is something you don't forget.

We couldn't find a Royal Society of St George branch in the Netherlands when we checked in November 2026. If you're keen, ask the society directly.

Sport: cricket, rugby and the footie

Cricket: VRA calls itself the oldest cricket club in Amsterdam [5]. It plays at the national sports complex in the Amsterdamse Bos in Amstelveen, a ground that hosts Netherlands internationals and touring sides in summer. VRA's men's first team and its women's team both play in the Dutch Topklasse, there are youth teams in all age groups, and a Saturday afternoon recreational league and company teams for those of us whose best days are behind us [5].

Rugby: AAC Rugby, founded in 1930, plays at Sportpark De Eendracht in Amsterdam Nieuw-West [6]. It has about 500 members from more than 15 nationalities, a men's 1st XV in the top Ereklasse, a women's XV with eight national titles, youth rugby from age 6, and a 3rd XV of "social rugby for adult players of all ages" [6]. Senior training is on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, and the site is in English. The club also runs the Amsterdam Sevens, next held on 5 and 6 June 2027 [6].

Football: Ajax play at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam Zuidoost, and Eredivisie football is a good night out. For the Premier League, head to the pub.

Pubs and the big matches

Amsterdam is an hour ahead of the UK, so a 3pm Saturday kick-off at home is 4pm here. These pubs had 2026 sports listings or current sites when we checked:

Our guide to British food, shops and pubs in Amsterdam covers the rest, from a Sunday roast to where to buy the Marmite.

Bonfire Night, the King's Birthday and Christmas

We couldn't find a public Bonfire Night event in Amsterdam for 2026. The Dutch do their fireworks at New Year, when the whole city goes up in smoke, so you won't be short of bangs, just a few weeks late.

We also couldn't find a public King's Birthday party for 2026. The embassy's social media is the place to watch. Don't confuse it with King's Day (Koningsdag) on 27 April, when the Dutch celebrate their own king: the city turns orange, everyone sells their junk on the street, and it's the best street party you'll go to all year.

Christmas is easier: carols at Christ Church, mince pies from the British shops, and a pub full of paper hats for the Boxing Day fixtures. Bear in mind the Dutch save their presents for Sinterklaas on 5 December, so the office may be oddly quiet about Christmas.

Politics and practical bits

Both main UK parties have branches for members here: Conservatives Abroad Netherlands and Labour International's Netherlands branch.

1. Register as an overseas voter. British citizens abroad can now vote in UK general elections however long they've been away. See our guide to votes for life.
2. Vote locally too. Registered residents can vote in Dutch water board elections, and after five years' residence in municipal elections [10].
3. Sign up for FCDO travel alerts for the Netherlands and keep the embassy's contact page handy [1].
4. Find your crowd. Our community group for Brits in the Netherlands is the easiest place to ask who's going to the pub for the Six Nations, and you can join here.
5. Make Dutch friends as well. It takes longer than at home; our guide to Dutch directness and making friends explains why.

Sources

1. GOV.UK: British Embassy The Hague
2. The British Society of Amsterdam and the Netherlands (events checked November 2026)
3. Royal British Legion Holland Branch: news headlines (Remembrance 2026, AGM October 2026)
4. Christ Church Amsterdam (posts to December 2025)
5. VRA Cricket Club: About (site dated 2026)
6. AAC Rugby Amsterdam (results for November 2026)
7. Three Sisters Pub (sports listings for 8 November 2026)
8. St James's Gate Amsterdam (fixtures for November 2026)
9. Netherlands British Chamber of Commerce
10. GOV.UK: Living in the Netherlands (updated 23 December 2025)

Keep reading

• British food, shops and pubs in Amsterdam
• Dutch directness and making friends
• Nightlife in Amsterdam
• Consular help from the FCDO