What to Experience in Amsterdam: Events & Activities
In Amsterdam, there's a buzz of activity every day. Whether you're interested in markets, exhibitions, music concerts, theatre shows, or festivals, the city has it all. With a wide range of world-class entertainment, from large festivals and cultural events to intimate venues, theatres, clubs, and concert halls, Amsterdam offers something for everyone.
Marathon Amsterdam
Annually, typically in October, the streets of the Dutch capital are flooded with a sea of runners and enthusiastic spectators for the Amsterdam Marathon. The inaugural event was in 1975. This prestigious sporting event attracts both professional marathon runners and enthusiasts from all over the world.
A ...
Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE)
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The Amsterdam Dance Event, commonly referred to as ADE, is renowned worldwide as the largest club festival for electronic music and serves as a prominent conference for music professionals. Every October, Amsterdam transforms into the epicentre for electronic ...
Ice Skating in Amsterdam
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A winter holiday in Amsterdam isn't complete without ice skating. There are numerous options, and here are some of the best skating spots in the city. Below, you'll find the top places to skate during your Amsterdam winter ...
Christmas
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 ...
Christmas Market
December
Put on your skates, wrap the kids up in their winter coats, and gather your loveliest mates; the cosiest days of the year are just around the corner! We've listed the 6 best Christmas markets in Amsterdam for those looking to snap up ...
Arrival of Saint Nicholas
Every year, Sinterklaas arrives in Amsterdam by ship in mid-November. Then a whole parade accompanies him in a festive way through the city center. Hundreds of children welcome the children's friend and more than five thousand kilos of free candy are handed out along the ...
Light Festival Amsterdam
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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 certainly plenty of ...
2024
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 ...
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
Begin april
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.
King's Day in Amsterdam
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 ...
Kunst RAI
End of June
Kunst RAI is a modern art fair, which is organized each year for five days in the RAI exhibition and conference centre, in the south of Amsterdam. It is a big fair, with more than 120 galleries from the Netherlands and an increasing number of the foreign galleries, mainly from Western ...
Nationale Dodenherdenking
Jaarlijks vindt op 4 mei op de Dam de Nationale Dodenherdenking ...
National Mills Day
Tweede weekend van mei
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. ...
Kwaku 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 ...
Gay Pride Amsterdam
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Gay Pride in Amsterdam, officially known as Pride Amsterdam, is one of the most vibrant and colourful events in the Dutch capital. Held annually, usually in the first week of August, it celebrates the LGBTQ+ community and is a ...
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 ...
Open Monuments Day in Amsterdam
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Every year, on a weekend in September, many monuments in the Netherlands open their doors to the public. The participating monuments in Amsterdam can be recognised by the Open Monuments Day flag, ...
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 ...
