Clubbers go Dutch

I'm in Amsterdam's NL bar chatting away and a girl keels right over at my feet. Not because I'm God's gift, just that she's a little loaded on strong skunk purchased from a nearby coffee shop. Within a nanosecond, three staff members jump over the bar, place her in the recovery position, check her pulse and apply an ice compress to the huge bump forming on her head. It seems that the Dutch are used to our British excesses.

Not that we'd encourage anyone to follow her example, but the safety precautions taken in the Dutch capital are one of the reasons Amsterdam is making a name as a clubbing destination.

Some years ago, the city's nightlife had little more to offer than a trawl through the red light district and the ubiquitous coffee shops. But a host of new club nights, an influx of foreign DJ talent and 5am weekend closing have changed all this. Add a flight time of less than an hour from most of the UK, and it's easy to see why more people are popping over just for the night.

Despite the legendary Supper club being closed, we squeezed in three venues on our night out: Mazzo (cavernous and playing progressive techno); Winston International (intimate with drum'n'bass, an associated hotel and an art gallery in the loos) and Odeon (three floors with different sounds on each, from disco to house). All were excellent.

Bar staff and doormen were overwhelmingly friendly and we drank doubles all night at prices much cheaper than back home. But despite imbibing copious vodkas, I'm sure my nextday headache was much milder than the girl in NL's.

James travelled with STA Travel - get its Global Clubber guide free from www.statravel.co.uk). Prices for three nights' accommodation and flights to Amsterdam start at £150. Departures are from London, Manchester, Scotland and Dublin, 0870 160 6070.