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I admit I've been to Amsterdam more than 10 times in the last 15 years.
Club 8 has weekly tournaments. I forget which day/s. Everyone speaks English- bring the phone number and call when you get there.
Even if you stay near Central Station, it's an okay walk (looks like a long distance by map AND it feels like it on your first walk there). And transportation workers lie. We took a bus according to directions from Central Station and Old Ms Rude Headquarters told us schedule info from over a year old. What a waste of time, money, and totally blew a good mind frame. Get yourself a bottle of water, a map, and a smoke- it's a nice walk even at 3am.
Bring your cue. There's a front "Challenge Table" where you bet the amount the table's "owner" decides- usually an ongoing 5 Euros per game. That table had no table time charges- it was encouragement for people to meet each other, to be competitive and to play better.
Some of my best conversations during this last trip- over a month in europe- were at Club 8. The people are thoughtful, friendly, and willing to share their open minds with your own.
Watch out for trickery. The shop owners know you're goofed, so they throw in "presents" with your purchases. You think you're getting something free, and really, its like they're throwing extra crap in your cart and then charging you for it. A dependable, every- time example: buy cigarettes and they'll "give" you a chocolate bar as a "present" (their words).
For a week I thought the Dutch had this weird thing with cigarettes and chocolate, but NOOOooo- they were tricking me into buying a chocolate bar everytime I bought a pack of cigarettes! When I told the next guy I wasn't paying for the candy but was sincerely touched by the gift, he took the candy back. Huh.
My favorite coffee shop- 420 Club. They have backgammon, blues music, and long viking style wooden tables and benches... And if you have an unwanted chocolate bar from the gift shop, they'll totally buy it off of you because the barista has serious munchies.
