Events in Amsterdam
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.
Summer Concerts
July – AugustEach summer, informal and entertaining classical music concerts - the Robeco Zomerconcerten take place at the prestigious location of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. The Summer Concerts are sponsored, so the tickets are relatively cheap. This is an excellent opportunity to listen to classical ...
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Kwaku Festival
–'Kwakoe' is a weekend event that takes place every Saturday and Sunday, in July and August. In Dutch terms, that makes for about 20 days of pure dancing, eating and anything else in between. Wind down on a hot summers day with theatre, music, film, literature, sport and everything on offer at this very buzzing ...
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Gay Canal Pride Amsterdam
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 slightly naughty boat parade ...
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Grachtenfestival
–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, museums and out of doors in the ...
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De Parade
–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 ...
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Prinsengrachtconcert
A traditional free open air classical music concert held on Prinsengracht every year in August sinds 1981. The concert is held on a temporary built stage directly on the canal’s water in front of the Hotel Pulitzer. Spectators traditionally arrive on their boats with wine and snacks. There is a unique romantic ...
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Jordaan Festival
–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.
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Uitmarkt
–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 and a ...
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Heritage Days
–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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Amsterdam Dance Event
–Over 2.000 artists from around the globe performing in 80 of the best clubs in Amsterdam, ADE's festival has grown into the world's biggest club festival for the whole spectrum of electronic sub-genres. ADE offers 320.000 clubbers 5 days of guaranteed partying with ...
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Funfair in Amsterdam
–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. Opening hours: - Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 24:00 hrs - Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 23:00 hrs
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Museum Night
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 own collection and ...
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Ice rink Leidseplein
Middle of November to early JanuaryUPDATE: During winter season 2016/2017 there is no ice rink at the Leidseplein. There is a large ice rink at the Museumplein. Also this year in Amsterdam it's slipping ...
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IDFA - International Documentary Filmfestival of Amsterdam
–International documentary festival screens 200 documentary films and videos.
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Christmas Market
Late November to early JanuaryFor 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 ...
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Arrival of Saint Nicholas
Mid NovemberThe tradition of Saint Nicholas bringing gifts to children, celebrated in many countries, is an extraordinary occasion in Amsterdam. Program, route and times 2016: 11:45 hrs: Arrival at the Maritime Museum (Scheepvaartmuseum). 12:30 ...
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PAn Amsterdam – Art and Antique Fair
–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 ...
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Ice Amsterdam
NovemberFun 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 ...
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Light Festival Amsterdam
–In the center of Amsterdam there are plenty light sculptures to view and are appealing buildings put in the spotlights. The Amsterdam Light Festival is a cultural event where it's all about light and water. Boat and ...
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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 ...
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Tulip Day
Every year the tulip season is official started on Tulip Day. Everyone can pick tulips for free on Dam square, in a specially constructed garden. Dutch tulip growers create an enormous garden on Dam square with around 200.000 tulips. More than 10.000 ...
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National Museum Week
Begin aprilDuring 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 piece."
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End AprilWho 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. Opening hours: - Friday and Saturday from 11:00 to 24:00 hrs - Sunday to Thursday from 11:00 to 23:00 hrs
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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.
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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 ...
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Nationale Dodenherdenking
Jaarlijks vindt op 4 mei op de Dam de Nationale Dodenherdenking plaats. De burgemeester van Amsterdam loopt samen met honderden mensen in een stille tocht vanaf het Museumplein naar de Dam. Om ...
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National Mills Day
Tweede weekend van meiSince 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. More ...
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Holland Festival
Early JuneHolland 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.
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Open Garden Days
Third weekend of JuneAmsterdam’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.
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Roots Festival
Eerste weekend van juliEach 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.
More informationKwaku Festival
End July'Kwakoe' is a weekend event that takes place every Saturday and Sunday, in July and August. In Dutch terms, that makes for about 20 days of pure dancing, eating and anything else in between. Wind down on a hot summers day with theatre, music, film, literature, sport and everything on offer at this very buzzing ...
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