Festival Agenda

Every year the Dutch celebrate the birthday of the old Queen on the 30th of April (except for the years that the 30th is a Sunday, then it is moved to Saturday the 29th of April). On this day an open-air festival is organized in Amsterdam that attracts about 1 million people from other cities. All the people go out on the streets (mostly dressed in the colour orange) to party. It starts in the morning and ends around midnight. People are allowed to sell anything they like (a sort of flee market), bars and restaurants have little stands in the streets, where they sell food and drinks. In many places in the city you can listen to live performing artists and dj’s and the Amsterdam canals are filled with boats. The night before, on the 29th , there is a warming up for the next day in some areas; you can find a few outdoor bars and dj’s stands.

Every year The Uitmarkt is thé opening of the cultural season. It is a public demonstration on a large scale of theatre companies, orchestras, ensembles, theatres, cabaret performers, impresario’s, museums, jazz music, world music and pop artists. For three days they all present their program for the new season on stage and in theatres to the audience. The Uitmarkt takes place at and around the Museumsquare, Leidsesquare, Max Eeuwensquare and the Vondelpark.

Every first weekend of August the largest gay event of the Netherlands is organized. A Couple of hundred thousands visitors come to Amsterdam every year for one of Europe's most popular and well-attended 'gay pride' festivals. The highlight is the Canal Parade on the Saturday in which about 75 decorated crafts with loud music carry revellers along the canals to the delight of spectators. If you want to be a spectator of the parade we suggest you find a spot along the Prinsengracht or the Amstel for this spectacle.

The first weekend of November on a Saturday 42 museums and institutions open their doors during the night from 7 pm till 2 am! All the institutions organize a special event for that night; in some of the museums you will find a dj or a band, there are special guided tours, lectures and games. You can buy a passe-partout, that gives you entrance to all the museums and special boats, trams and busses that night. A passe-partout will cost about 15 euros and is not available that night (so buy it in advance in many museums and at the Amsterdam Uitburo on the Leidseplein).

During the summer months June, July and August you can enjoy a free live performance in the beautiful Vondelpark in the middle of the city. On Wednesday afternoons there is theatre especially for kids. Classic music on Thursday evening, Dance on Friday evening, Saturday afternoons there are workshops and in the evening cabaret, every Sunday you can listen to all kinds of music mixed with a little bit cabaret. Bring a bottle of wine a some nice snacks and enjoy the summer!!

The night of the Prinsengracht Concert is a magical time to find yourself in Amsterdam. Celebrated soloists perform classical music from a stage floating in front of the Pulitzer Hotel on the Prinsengracht Canal, with fairy lights decorating the canal sides and buildings. The concert is the highlight of the city's nine-day Canal Festival and a hugely popular event. Arrive early if you want a good seat, as the event usually attracts around 20,000 people.

We made a selection of the most well known festivals, but Amsterdam offers more festivals and events every year. If you are interested, you can find more information on www.Iamsterdam.com.