The Grachtenfestival (Canal Festival) fills Amsterdam with classical music every August. The 29th edition runs from 7 to 16 August 2026, with more than 250 concerts at 95+ locations – on pontoons in the canals, in historic canal houses, hidden courtyards, rooftops and aboard boats. Classical music in unique places […]

The Hartjesdagen on the Zeedijk are one of Amsterdam's oldest and most colourful traditions. In the third weekend of August 2026, the historic street between Central Station and Nieuwmarkt fills with music, opera on the street, and the famous drag parade. Exact dates to be confirmed. A centuries-old Amsterdam tradition […]

The Prinsengrachtconcert is the most iconic concert of the Amsterdam summer: a free open-air classical performance on a pontoon in the Prinsengracht, in front of the Pulitzer Hotel. In 2026 it once again forms the festive finale of the Grachtenfestival in mid-August. The exact date will be confirmed by the […]

The IJ-Hallen is the largest flea market of Europe: one weekend a month, the NDSM wharf in Amsterdam Noord fills with hundreds of stalls of second-hand clothing, furniture, vinyl, books, art, toys and curiosities. The next edition takes place on 29 and 30 August 2026 with around 750 outdoor stalls; […]

Once a year, the canals of Amsterdam belong to swimmers instead of boats. During the Amsterdam City Swim on Sunday 6 September 2026, around 2,500 participants dive into the water for a 2 km swim through the historic city centre, raising money for research into ALS. Swimming through the canals […]

During Open Monumentendag (European Heritage Days) on 12 and 13 September 2026, hundreds of monuments across Amsterdam open their doors free of charge – including dozens of canal houses, hidden courtyards and historic interiors that are closed to the public the other 363 days of the year. Behind the facades […]

The NN Dam tot Damloop is the most famous running event of the Netherlands. The 40th anniversary edition takes place on 19 and 20 September 2026, when around 95,000 runners cover the 10 English miles (16.1 km) from the Dam in Amsterdam to the Dam in Zaandam, cheered on by […]

The Grachtenrace is Amsterdam's toughest and most spectacular rowing event: around 100 traditional sloops race a gruelling 22-kilometre course through the canals and across the IJ. The 2026 edition takes place on a Saturday in October. Exact date to be confirmed. Rowing through the heart of the city Where the […]

The TCS Amsterdam Marathon is the biggest running event of the Netherlands and one of the fastest marathons in the world. On 17 and 18 October 2026, around 45,000 runners from over 100 countries take over the city, cheered on by hundreds of thousands of spectators along the course. A […]

Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) celebrates its 30th anniversary from 21 to 25 October 2026. For five days and nights, the world capital of electronic music welcomes around 600,000 visitors, over 2,500 artists and more than 1,000 events spread across 500+ venues – from legendary clubs and warehouses to churches, museums […]

During Museum Night Amsterdam (Museumnacht) on Saturday 7 November 2026, more than 50 museums open their doors from 19:00 until 02:00. The 26th edition once again transforms the city's museums with special exhibitions, live music, DJs, performances, workshops and food – one ticket gives access to everything. What makes Museumnacht […]

IDFA – the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam – is the largest documentary festival in the world. The 39th edition runs from 12 to 22 November 2026, bringing around 250,000 festival visits to cinemas across the city centre. The world capital of documentary film For eleven days, Amsterdam is the […]