Things to do during the summer
Summer 2015 Events in Amsterdam
Summer is a truly tourist season in the live of Amsterdam. While the Dutch leave for their holidays in the south of Europe and especially in August town feels almost deserted, thousands of visitors arrive. Probably the most attractive event is the Grachtenfestival in mid-August – the Festival at the Canals presenting the whole series of concerts and shows, culminating with the big concert on the boats on Prinsengracht, just in front of the Pulitzer hotel. Not only musicians play and sing on the especially built construction on barges, but the audience arrive also on their boats. Visitors also listen to the music from the canal banks and nearby bridges.
June 2015 Amsterdam Events
World Press Photo
April – July each year (in 2015 until 5 July)
World Press Photo AmsterdamWorld Press Photo is the biggest world’s press photography competition organized each year by the foundation based in Amsterdam with 80,000 entries competing. The exhibit of the World Press Photo best pictures is held in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam and is later shown not only in the Netherlands, but during more than 100 local shows in countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and America.
www.worldpressphoto.org
Taste of Amsterdam
4 June – 7 June 2015
Taste of Amsterdam A culinary festival during the prolonged weekend. Exhibition stands in the park with good food from the renowned Amsterdam restaurants. An occasion to meet their chefs and to drink a glass of good wine or champagne enjoying another of pleasurable events in Amsterdam
Dutch Raw Food Festival
Dutch Rawfood Festival14 June 2015
The third annual Raw Food festival will offer workshops, markets and lectures from world class speakers. You will be albe to try gourmet raw cousine, juices and wheatgrass. Talk about natural lifestile and buy fresh organic produce. Also there will be raw chef’s dinner held in the evening.
Amsterdam Day of Architecture
19 June – 21 June 2015
Day of Architecture AmsterdamAn event held during one weekend promoting Amsterdam modern architecture. During The Amsterdam Day of Architecture (Dutch: Dag Van de Architectuur Amsterdam) the guided tours are organized to show and tell the story of Amsterdam newest architecture and to present the future changes of the city. Most interesting are boat tours where you may see how Amsterdam remains the city constructed at the water areas. Also a special bicycle visiting route is charted along the most interesting new buildings, with a possibility to visit them inside on Sunday.
www.dagvandearchitectuuramsterdam.nl
Vondelpark Open Air Theater
Vondelpark Summer Theater5 May until 27 September
Dutch: Openluchttheater, Vondelpark, Various times
Are you trying to cool off this summer? Go to the open air theatre just by the fountain and let the entertainment do the work. From cabaret to drama to concerts to dance, there is something here for everyone and of all ages. Worth a visit just for the atmosphere.
www.openluchttheater.nl
The Open Garden Days (Open Tuin Dagen)
Amsterdam Open Gardensevery year third weekend of June
In 2015 it will be held on 19 June, 20 June and 21 June
Amsterdam’s gardens are perhaps its best kept secret as they’re rarely visible from the street. For this Amsterdam events 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, and there is a special canal boat to take you from one location to another.
www.opentuinendagen.nl
International Theatre School Festival – ITS
19 June – 26 June 2015
Art Amsterdam exhibitionThe ITS festival presents the work of young theatre makers, students of theatre schools from the Netherlands and some chosen European countries, different each year. During the event, not only theatre productions but also mime shows, dance performances as well as operas by young artists are presented. Workshops and attractive parties accompany the event.
www.itsfestivalamsterdam.com
July 2015 Amsterdam Events
BlijBurg
several attractions through the whole summer
Bring a picnic and a bucket and spade to Blijburg or ‘Happyville,’ a man-made temporary swimming beach nearby the Ijbrug at the Ij Lake, complete with a funky restaurant–bar, DJs and bands. Just check the weather in advance!
www.blijburg.nl
Amsterdam Roots Festival
Amsterdam Roots30 June – 5 July 2015
Each summer these Amsterdam events present a wide range of global music and non-western culture. For over 7 days in June, the audience is offered a selection of performances, masterclasses and special projects at different locations.
www.amsterdamroots.nl
European Athletics Championship 2016
11 July – 9 August 2015
‘Kwakoe’ is a weekend event that takes place every Saturday and Sunday, 10am – 8pm 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 multicultural and family-oriented festival. The admission is € 2.50.
Comedytrain International Festival
July – August 2015
Comedy Train Amsterdam LogoToomler, Breitnerstraat 2,
(Wednesday-Friday, 8:30pm – 11:30pm)
Comedy Train Amsterdam LogoOrganised by the Toomler comedy café, the 10th edition of this annual festival features the very finest in English language stand-up comedy. With the likes of Adam Hills (Australia), Eddie Bannon (Ireland), Adam Bloom (UK), Paul Provenza (US) and Ron Vaudry (Canada), you will leave Toomler in stitches, guaranteed.
www.comedytrain.nl
Robeco Summer Concerts (Robeco Zomerconcerten)
July – August 2015
Each 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– they start at € 12,50. This is an excellent opportunity to listen to classical music in one of the world’s most famous philharmonic halls.
www.concertgebouw.nl
Gay Pride
25 July – 2 August 2015, Canal Parade: Saturday August 1st
The Gay pride festival presents an extensive programme with sports, cultural activities and parties. The highlight of the Amsterdam Gay Pride is the canal parade on 1 of August, which is a carnivalesque, cultural and slightly naughty boat parade through Amsterdam’s canals.
www.amsterdamgaypride.nl
August 2015 Amsterdam Events
Gay Pride Canal Parade
Culmination of the Gay Pride Festival: Saturday August 1st
De Parade Theater Festival
each year 17 days in the summer, in 2015: 7 August – 23 August
De ParadeThe festival, which travel through the big cities of the Netherlands usually at the end of summer ending its cycle at Amsterdam events. In especially constructed colorful theater tents set up in one of the city parks, small theater and circus groups, comedians and magicians give performance addressed mainly to the young audience. During 17 days around 70 performances will be given.
www.deparade.nl
Grachtenfestival
14 August – 23 August 2015
GrachtenfestivalFor ten days, special locations in the heart of Amsterdam form the backdrop for more than 80 classical music and jazz 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 area around Prinsengracht.
www.grachtenfestival.nl
Prinsengracht concert
third weekend of August each year, in 2015: Saturday 22 August 2015
A traditional open air classical music concert held every year on Prinsengracht canal, on a temporary built stage directly on the canal’s water. Spectators traditionally arrive on their boats with wine and snacks. Unique atmosphere, especially after the fall of the darkness.
Pluk De Nacht – Open Air Film Festival
Pluk de Nacht Amsterdammiddle of August each year, not confirmed program yet
An open air film festival taking place at two youth clubs, Het Stenen Hoofd and Studio K. Both clubs have restaurants and bars and in case of cold evening they do supply blankets for these Amsterdam events. If it rains, the screenings move inside. The selection includes by and large never widely released indie films, known only from some film festivals, but also experimental shorts and unknown pieces of archival footage. Entry at Pluk De Nacht is free.
www.plukdenacht.nl
Sail Amsterdam
Amsterdam Sail19 August – 23 August 2015
SAIL Amsterdam is a large maritime manifestation that takes place every 5 years. For six days, of this events in Amsterdam the city will be a vibrant exhibition of historic ships and nautical heritage. About 20 tall ships are expected in Amsterdam harbour, together with 500 historic sailing and motorboats.
Uitmarkt
Amsterdam Uitmarktlast weekend of August
Considered to be the largest of cultural events in Amsterdam, the Uitmarkt is definitely worth a visit. Organized every year during the last weekend of August, it celebrates the official opening of the Dutch Cultural season and offers performances, concerts, exhibitions, drama, countless workshops and a book market. And if you are in doubt, the entrance is free.
