In Amsterdam you can go to concerts, events or festivals almost every day. Amsterdam offers a diverse array of world-class entertainment. With so many festivals, cultural events, theaters, clubs, concert halls and intimate venues, there's something for everybody in Amsterdam.
Funfair in Amsterdam
End April
Who didn’t like it as a child to be swirled around in a carousel or to get sticky from some cotton candy. In Amsterdam it is still possible twice a year at the Westerpark. Opening hours: Every day from 14:00 to 23:00 hrs
National Museum Week
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During this Museum week about 450 museums are to visit. There are extra activities such as workshops, guided tours, tastings, children's treasure hunts, musical performances and the possibility to dress up. This year's theme is: "Let yourself be mesmerized by a museum ...
Imaginefilm Festival
The Imaginefilm Festival promises a week full of fantasy, anime, thriller, cult, horror and sci-fi. Screenings this year are at Pathe Tuschinski.
King's Day
King's Day is officially the national celebration of the birthday of the King, but this in reality is only an excuse to party hard. The celebrations takes place all over the Netherlands, but have a special atmosphere in Amsterdam. In ...
National Mills Day
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Since 1974 the event is held every year on the second Saturday in May. It is a day when as many mills as possible are running. The National Mills Day has now become an annual event. Besides turning and grinding, all kinds of activities take place at a large number of mills, from baking pancakes to music festivals. ...
Roots Festival
Begin juli
Each summer, the Amsterdam Roots Festival presents a wide range of global music and non-western culture. During the Amsterdam Roots Festival will the audience be offered a selection of performances, masterclasses and special projects at different locations.
Holland Festival
Early June
Holland Festival is the biggest in the Netherlands performing arts festival of international character. It brings events from all over the world on the fields of music, opera, theatre and dance, also draws attention to chosen films and art shows. Holland Festival also organises interesting conferences and workshops.
Open Garden Days
Third weekend of June
Amsterdam’s gardens are perhaps its best kept secret as they’re rarely visible from the street. For this weekend you can visit around 30 gardens, some of which are private gardens. You can buy one ticket that gives you entry to all the gardens.
Gay Canal Pride Amsterdam
Early August
The Gay Canal Pride festival presents an extensive programme with sports, cultural activities and parties. The highlight of the Amsterdam Gay Canal Pride is the canal parade on the second saturday during the event, which is a carnivalesque, cultural and ...
Grachtenfestival
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The Grachtenfestival: For five days, special locations in the heart of Amsterdam form the backdrop for more than 80 classical concerts. The concerts can be enjoyed in houses and gardens of hospitable local inhabitants and in concert halls, historic buildings, ...
De Parade
Early August
Nowadays, the parade stands proud as one of the few travelling festivals in the world. Inspired by traditional circuses, the park offers a brilliant kaleidoscope of brightly coloured tents making it simply picture perfect. De parade may look like an old-fashioned fairground but it promises a very action packed 17 days of ...
Prinsengracht Concert
A free traditional classical music concert held on Prinsengracht in Amsterdam every year in August since 1981. The open air concert is held on a temporary built stage directly on the canal’s ...
Jordaan Festival
End of September
A big inner city street festival celebrating the diversity of this former working class district. Features this year include drum bands, a children's festival, opera and cabaret, a boules competition, a flea market and an auction.
Uitmarkt
End of August
Considered to be the largest cultural event in Amsterdam, the Uitmarkt is definitely worth a visit. Organised every year during the last weekend of August, it celebrates the official opening of the Dutch Cultural and offers performances, concerts, exhibitions, drama, countless workshops ...
Draaiorgelfestival
Op de Dam in Amsterdam vindt sinds 2003 het jaarlijkse Draaiorgelfestival Amsterdam plaats. Dit festival wordt georganiseerd om aandacht te vragen voor het draaiorgel als Amsterdams cultuurgoed. Tussen ...
Klassiek op het Amstelveld
Klassiek op het Amstelveld is inmiddels uitgegroeid tot een internationaal podium voor jeugd en klassieke muziek samen met wereld sterren. Het festival is gratis toegankelijk. Het festival vindt ieder jaar plaats op het pittoreske Amstelveld, een van de weinige pleinen in de drukke binnenstad van ...
Heritage Days
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Open Monuments Day is held every year halfway through September, when thousands of monuments in the Netherlands are free to the public. The participating monuments can be recognized by the Open Monuments Day flag as shown here. Open Monuments Day is organized to encourage people to know more about their historical ...
Marathon Amsterdam
The marathon in Amsterdam is known for its fast, flat and historic parcours. The route is full of Amsterdam's attractions. As the road passes by the world famous Rijksmuseum on Museumplein, the Tropical ...
Museum Night
Early November
On Saturday night in a first week of November each year Amsterdam’s museums open through the night from 19:00 till 02:00 hrs. More than 50 museums open their doors with a special program for young people, based on their ...
Christmas Market
Late November to early January
For a Christmas atmosphere with Christmas shopping, ice skating and hot chocolate you can visit the following squares in Amsterdam:
Dam
Every year in December there is traditionally a big Christmas tree on the Dam square. ...
Ice Amsterdam
November
Fun on the ice in Amsterdam. The greatest place to skate a few laps, come to the ice rink at the Museumplein. The smoothest ice rink will be in front of the beautiful Rijksmuseum again, surrounded ...
Arrival of Saint Nicholas
Mid November
The tradition of Saint Nicholas bringing gifts to children, celebrated in many countries, is an extraordinary occasion in Amsterdam. Program, route and times 2018: 12:00 hrs: Arrival at the Maritime Museum (Scheepvaartmuseum). 12:45 ...
PAn Amsterdam – Art and Antique Fair
Third week of November
The biggest national antique fair in the Netherlands takes place in Amsterdam, and lasts for the full week. No wonder, as can be no hasty decisions made in the timeless fields of art and antiques. pAn takes place at the RAI congress and exhibition center. Last years showing also more of modern ...
Light Festival Amsterdam
Amsterdam's winter festival returns each year to illuminate the city's streets and waterways with bewitching light installations by international artists. With more than 35 large scale installations dotted across Amsterdam city centre, there are ...
New Year's Eve
New Year is another wild celebration. The Dutch often stay home with their families until midnight, and many clubs and bars open just then. The spots that are seriously crowded include Leidseplein, Rembrandtsplein and Nieuwmarkt. Many ...
