The easiest way to watch rugby in Amsterdam is in a sports bar that carries Ziggo Sport, because Ziggo Sport holds the Dutch rights to almost every major rugby competition. Pick a bar with big screens and sound on, confirm your match with the venue before kickoff, and book a table for the Six Nations or an Autumn International. Below you will find what is on, how access works, what to check before you go, and the Dutch smoking rules that apply in any bar.
TL;DR
- Ziggo Sport shows the Six Nations, the Autumn Internationals, the Rugby Championship, Greatest Rivalry and the Lions tour in the Netherlands, so a bar needs that channel to show them.
- Six Nations runs from early February to mid-March, the Autumn Internationals fill November, and kickoff times in the Netherlands are often 16:00 or in the evening.
- Before you go, confirm the match, the sound, the seating and whether you can reserve a table for a group.
- Indoor smoking and vaping are banned in Dutch bars, restaurants and shisha lounges, 24 hours a day.
- We at Big Shots Amsterdam combine a sports bar, restaurant, café and lounge, so a long match can include a proper meal.
Table of Contents
- What rugby can you watch in Amsterdam?
- Why Ziggo Sport decides where you can watch
- What to check before you choose a rugby bar
- Food and drinks for a two-hour match
- Smoking, vaping and shisha: the rules in an Amsterdam bar
- Watching rugby live in Amsterdam
- Our view: why a multi-experience venue suits rugby
- Make Big Shots part of your match day
- FAQ
- Sources
What rugby can you watch in Amsterdam?
More than most visitors expect. Rugby is not a mainstream Dutch sport, but the TV calendar is full once you know where to look. Ziggo Sport has said that from 2026 it exclusively shows the Six Nations, Nations Cup, Sanzaar Rugby Championship, Greatest Rivalry, Summer Nations Series, Rugby World Cup warm-ups, British & Irish Lions tour, Rugby Europe Championship and Autumn Internationals. The same announcement adds the Women's Six Nations, the Rugby Europe Championship with the Dutch national team (Oranje) and the HSBC SVNS sevens series.
Here is how the year usually looks for a fan in the city:
| Period | What is on | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| February to March | Six Nations (men's and women's) | The biggest bar occasion of the rugby year. The 2026 edition ran from 5 February to Super Saturday on 21 March, all live on Ziggo Sport. |
| June to August | Summer Nations Series, Lions tours in tour years, Rugby Championship | Southern hemisphere matches can land at unusual hours in Dutch time. |
| November | Autumn Internationals | Matches across the month, usually on weekends. |
| Through the season | Rugby Europe Championship, SVNS sevens | Smaller crowds, easier to get a table. |
For the Autumn Internationals, Ziggo's own schedule for 2025 shows that most matches started at 16:00 Dutch time, while the last match on some weekends started at 21:00. Treat that as a pattern, not a promise: the fixture list changes every year, so check the official schedule for the current dates.
The southern hemisphere has its own highlights. Ziggo lists the best matches from Rugby's Greatest Rivalry 2026, with the New Zealand All Blacks facing four South African provincial teams and then the Springboks, as live broadcasts on Ziggo Sport.
How to check what is on before you go
- Open the rugby page on Ziggo's site for the current match list and kickoff times in Dutch time.
- Convert any times you see in British or New Zealand media: Amsterdam is usually one hour ahead of London and many hours behind or ahead of the southern hemisphere, so an evening game at home can be a very early or very late one here.
- Contact the bar with the match, the date and your group size. A bar that has the channel can still be showing another event on its biggest screen.
- Arrive 30 to 45 minutes before kickoff for a big fixture, particularly when Ireland, England, Wales, Scotland, France or New Zealand are playing, since traveling supporters fill bars quickly.
Why Ziggo Sport decides where you can watch
Access is the first question, and it is simpler than it sounds. According to the Streamwijzer overview, rugby is not on Netflix, Disney+, HBO Max, Viaplay, Videoland or ESPN in the Netherlands. The matches sit on Ziggo Sport. For a bar, that means the venue needs a Ziggo Sport package on its business account. For you at home or in a rented apartment, it means a subscription.
The Ziggo Sport page states that channel 14 is free for Ziggo customers and carries Six Nations rugby, and that Ziggo Sport Totaal costs €16.95 per month. The Ziggo Sport newsroom adds that Ziggo customers watch channel 14 at no extra cost and that Ziggo Sport Totaal, with six extra channels, is available to everyone, not only Ziggo households.
If you stay in Amsterdam for a few weeks, the price depends on your TV provider. A price comparison on ditkost.nl, checked on 8 September 2026, lists these monthly prices for Ziggo Sport Totaal:
| Provider | Price per month |
|---|---|
| Canal Digitaal | €15.95 |
| Ziggo | €16.95 |
| Odido | €17.50 |
| KPN | €17.99 |
The gap between the cheapest and the most expensive is €2.04 per month, or €24.48 per year. For one weekend of rugby with friends, though, the cheapest option is usually the bar: no contract, a big screen and a crowd.
What to check before you choose a rugby bar
A sports bar that shows football all week does not always do the same for rugby. Rugby matches run 80 minutes of play plus stoppages, so you are committing about two hours. These are the points that matter most.
1. Is your match confirmed? Ask for the exact fixture and kickoff time. Do not rely on a general "we show all sports" line on a website.
2. Sound. Football bars often keep music on. Ask whether the commentary can be on for your match, or whether you will follow it with the picture only. If you want the full atmosphere, say so when you book.
3. Screens and sightlines. A bar with several large screens lets a group spread across tables and still see the line-out. Ask which table has the best view.
4. Reservations and group size. For a Six Nations Saturday, a table for six or more should be reserved. Tell the venue whether you want to stay for one match or a double header, since some days have two or three matches back to back.
5. Opening hours. Early kickoffs, and southern hemisphere matches in particular, may start before a bar normally opens. Confirm that the kitchen and the bar are open for the full match.
6. Food during the game. A match that starts at 16:00 and ends around 18:00 runs straight into dinner. A venue with a kitchen saves you a move mid-evening.
7. Where the venue is. Central bars are easy for visitors without a bike. Check tram or metro connections, because trams thin out late.
If you want more on how to judge a venue in general, our guide to big screen spots for sports fans in Amsterdam walks through screens, sound and atmosphere. If you are new to the idea, what a sports bar actually is in Amsterdam covers the basics.
Food and drinks for a two-hour match
Match-day habits differ by crowd. Supporters from the British Isles will want a pint. Visitors from France or Italy might prefer a glass of wine with a plate to share. Locals often come for the social side and the food.
What works for a long rugby match:
- Shareable plates early. Tapas and sharing plates keep a group fed without anyone leaving their seat during a try.
- A proper meal at half time or after. Burgers, pizza, pasta and steaks hold up well when the match runs long.
- Breakfast for the early games. Southern hemisphere matches can start in the morning in Dutch time, and a cooked breakfast with coffee is a decent way to start.
- Drinks paced for 80 minutes. Order a round at kickoff and again at half time rather than stacking everything at once. A craft cocktail is a good option for those who do not want beer.
Our kitchen covers breakfast, tapas, soups, salads, steaks, burgers, pizza, pasta and several plates, along with drinks, all on our menu page. Prices are not published online in the data we work from here, so look at the menu itself before you plan a big group order.
If you would rather watch from your hotel or apartment, we also offer delivery through online ordering.
Smoking, vaping and shisha: the rules in an Amsterdam bar
Visitors from countries with different rules are often surprised here. The Dutch food and consumer product authority is clear: indoor smoking and vaping are banned in hospitality venues, including cafés, restaurants and shisha lounges. The ban applies 24 hours a day and covers tobacco, vapes and products containing tobacco, such as water pipes. The venue must communicate the ban, for example through house rules and a visible sign on entry.
What does that mean on match day?
- The ban applies to owners, staff and customers alike. According to Business.gov.nl, any establishment that serves food or drinks counts as a catering venue, and that includes shisha lounges.
- Tobacco smoking is allowed on outside terraces that are open on at least one side. Products without tobacco may be smoked indoors, as the same page explains.
- Do not plan to buy cigarettes or vapes at the bar. According to iamexpat.nl, since July 2024 tobacco and vapes can no longer be sold in supermarkets, hotels, restaurants and bars, which leaves convenience shops, specialist shops and petrol stations.
Smokers who want to get through a long match without leaving the table sometimes look at nicotine alternatives. For a broader look at smoke-free rules for smokers and vapers, this read covers why the rules catch people out and what the options are.
For the details in Amsterdam, see our guides on vaping rules in Dutch hospitality venues, what the law allows in indoor smoking bars and bringing shisha to a bar.
Watching rugby live in Amsterdam
Television is the main option, but not the only one. Amsterdam has a real rugby scene. The city's home ground, the National Rugby Centre Amsterdam at Sportpark De Eendracht, is a 5,000-capacity stadium that hosts the Dutch national team. Rugby.nl reports that the 2025-2026 season card costs €110 and covers all home matches of Oranje, Delta and the Cheetahs. Season card prices change each year, so check the current offer.
A good plan for a rugby weekend: see a club or national match in the afternoon, then move to a bar for the evening international. For a Six Nations Saturday, this is a good way to spread the day across venues without queueing.
Our view: why a multi-experience venue suits rugby
Rugby is a social sport. Most people who watch it in a bar are not alone: they come with a group, they stay for the whole match and they want somewhere to eat as well as drink. That is why we built Big Shots Amsterdam as more than one thing.
We are a sports bar, a restaurant, a café and a lounge at three central venues in Amsterdam. For a match day that matters. You can start with breakfast for an early kickoff, share tapas during the first half, move on to a steak or a burger after, and stay for a cocktail once the final whistle goes. You do not need to leave the room, or the group, to do any of it.
Our advice to anyone planning a rugby day is simple. Decide the match first, then message the venue with the date and your group size. Tell us whether you want commentary on. A relaxed atmosphere and a good screen do most of the work, and the food and drinks do the rest. If part of your group would like a lounge experience after the game, we can tell you how that works on the day.
Read more about the social side of the experience in our piece on why people watch sports in bars in Amsterdam.
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Make Big Shots part of your match day
We offer sports viewing, a full kitchen, craft cocktails and a lounge space, with online ordering for when you would rather stay in. See the menu for food and drinks, the lounge experiences for a longer evening, and our home page for venue details.
If you are coming from abroad for a weekend, bring a team shirt and take a look at our merch as a keepsake. For other fixtures, our guides cover Six Nations in Amsterdam, Eredivisie viewing, cricket and the English-style bar scene.
FAQ
Which channel shows rugby in the Netherlands?
Ziggo Sport. It holds the Dutch rights to the Six Nations, the Autumn Internationals, the Rugby Championship and more. Ziggo customers watch channel 14 at no extra cost, and Ziggo Sport Totaal is available to everyone for a monthly fee. A bar needs a Ziggo Sport package to show these matches.
Do I need to reserve a table to watch rugby in Amsterdam?
For a Six Nations weekend or a big Autumn International, yes, particularly for groups of four or more. Send the venue the match, the date and your group size a few days ahead. For smaller fixtures you can often walk in.
Can I smoke or vape while watching the match?
Not indoors. The ban covers cafés, restaurants and shisha lounges around the clock, and applies to tobacco, vapes and water pipes. Tobacco may be smoked on an outside terrace that is open on at least one side.
When is the best time to visit for rugby?
February to mid-March for the Six Nations and November for the Autumn Internationals. Summer has southern hemisphere matches and, in some years, a Lions tour. Always check the official schedule for the current dates and kickoff times.
Can I order food while I watch?
Yes. In our venues you can order from the menu at your table, from breakfast and tapas to steaks, burgers, pizza and pasta. If you are watching elsewhere, you can order for delivery.
Sources
- Ziggo Sport vergroot rugby-aanbod met internationale topcompetities
- Waar kijk je Autumn Internationals? | Ziggo
- Kijk rugby op Ziggo Sport | Ziggo Entertainment
- Ziggo Sport | Ziggo
- Wat kost Ziggo Sport totaal in 2026? | ditkost.nl
- Rookverbod: waar mag niet worden gerookt en gevapet? | NVWA
- Ban on smoking in the workplace | Business.gov.nl
- Smoking and smoking rules in the Netherlands | iamexpat.nl
- Verkoop seizoenkaart 2025-2026 van start | Rugby.nl