Festivals & Events

January

FashionWeek Nederland (FWN) - Besides an official catwalk at the Westergasfabriek, other public events (like trade shows, exhibitions, presentations, lectures, film screenings and parties) take place at galleries, museums, cinemas, shops and clubs throughout Amsterdam.
Flamenco Biennial - shows the rich flamenco tradition with modern dance performances, intimate song recitals and exciting musical alliances.
Food Soul Festival - indoor food truck festival in the Kromhouthal in Amsterdam Noord
Horecava Exhibition - largest trade exhibition for the restaurant, hospitality and catering industries in the Benelux region, takes place yearly in Amsterdam RAI.

February

Amsterdam World - An annual world music festival, a collaboration between musicians and artists from a European port and Amsterdam.
Esnoga Concerts - winter concerts in the candle-lit Portuguese Synagogue.
Remembrance of 1941 February Strike - On February 25, 1941 a general strike was organized during World War II in The Netherlands against the anti-Jewish measures and activities by the Nazis. This strike is remembered each year on February 25, with a march past the memorial the Dokwerker.
Sonic Acts Festival - festival for technology art with numerous live performances, an international conference, an extensive film programme and an exhibition, complimented by a publication. Each edition has a specific topic.

March

5 days off - a high-quality multi-day indoor dance event of international electronic music in the Amsterdam Melkweg, Paradiso and the Dutch Institute for Media Arts (Nederlands Instituut voor Mediakunst)
Amsterdam Coffee Festival - the largest coffee and artisan food event in the Benelux
Amsterdam Wine Festival - festival in honor of the grape harvest in the southern hemisphere
Cinedans - Festival of short and long dance films, documentaries, installations and Moving Media.
Opera Forward Festival - explores with new, leading work by progressive artists the future of opera.
The Spirit of Amsterdam - Whisky Festival Amsterdam in the 17th century Zuiderkerk.
WhyNot - a three day dance festival that brings you - next to dance and choreography - art installations, short films, a morning performance, afternoon workshop and late night party.

April

Amsterdam Kleinkunst Festival
Cinéma Arabe - feature films, documentaries and short films by international filmmakers with an Arab background.
CinemAsia - The Netherlands festival of new Asian cinema with a diverse mix of Asian films and documentaries from independent Asian filmmakers and video artists.
Cinestud - the oldest international student film festival in the world
Imagine - Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival
Keukenhof - the largest bulb flower park in the world
King's Day (Koningsdag) - biggest holiday in the Netherlands, celebrated on April 26-27.
National Museum Weekend (Museumweekend) - More than 500 museums across the Netherlands offer free or heavily discounted admission.
Pop Arts Festival - International puppet and object theatre festival.
Rokjesdagloop (Short Skirt Day Run) - The first day of the year on which women switch en masse from winter to summer clothes. Running event for female runners to take on a 5 or 10 km course.
Springsnow Festival - Amsterdam celebrates the magic of whirling elm seeds from 21 April to 21 May: the season in which the elms throw their seeds as natural confetti all over the city.
Tulp Festival - festival with the objective to have as many tulips in bloom in Amsterdam as possible.

May

Amsterdam Comedy Festival - international, English speaking stand-up comedy from the UK, the USA, Australia, New-Zealand on different stages in De Melkweg.
Amsterdams Bevrijdingsfestival - 5 May
Amsterdam Open Air - 2-days outdoor electronic music festival
Amsterdam Shorts! - Holland's only international short film festival organised by a team of short film fanatics that work at De Balie and Kriterion.
Copa Amsterdam - International soccer tournement for youth players under 19 years.
International Jewish Music Festival (Internationaal Joods Muziekfestival) - the only Jewish music competition in the world, with 24 groups from 12 countries.
KunstRAI - over 100 galleries display the latest developments in contemporary art, with paintings, photos, sculptures, installations and videos.
Liberation Festival (Bevrijdingsfestival) - celebrates the country's 1945 liberation from the Nazi German occupation. One of the main events is the large festival held on Museumplein, with music, poetry and speeches.
London Calling - the best new bands and trends from Great Britain.
Oosterparkfestival - Oost
Remembrance Day (Dodenherdenking) - gathering at the National Monument in Dam Square to honor soldiers and civilians killed in wars and peace operations since the beginning of World War II.

June

Amsterdam Summer Break Festival - a tropical festival in the heart of Amsterdam
Bacchus Wijnfestival - Bands, DJs, wine bars, mobile kitchens and perfect wines at a great outdoor location in the Amsterdam Woods. For festival lovers with a passion for wine.
Dream Amsterdam - Amsterdam used as a source of inspiration, studio, material, décor and exhibition space by an internationally acclaimed contemporary visual artist. This annual manifestation takes place outside museum walls, is streetwise and presents art that can't be overlooked.
Festifest - smallest live music and food festival of Amsterdam in Noorderlicht Café in Amsterdam Noord.
Holland Festival - trend-setting performing arts festival with Western and non-Western art forms going hand in hand. The programme includes theatre, music theatre, dance, opera, music, visual arts, literature and architecture.
ITs Festival Amsterdam - the biggest European festival where you can scout over 200 theatre talents in more than 70 unique productions.
Jazz at the Lake - an outdoor music festival on the waterfront with live performances of (inter)national top artists of Jazz, Soul and Funk.
Latinvillage Festival (Spaarnwoude Houtrak) - Music, DJs and dance shows.
LiveOOST - art, theater and food festival in different neighborhoods of Amsterdam Oost.
Ma Machinima International Festival (MMIF), happening inside the virtual world Second Life® with a simultaneous mixed-reality live cinema screening event in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Rock and Run - canal run event with live shows and musical performances throughout the course.
Taste of Amsterdam - a culinary festival at a unique location.
Viva Las Vega's Food Festival - the largest vegetarian festival in the Netherlands with workshops, a market and tastings.
Vondelpark Open - yearly golf tournement in Amsterdam's Vondelpark.
Wicked Jazz Sounds Festival - Famous artists and talented talent surprise visitors on 3 stages with a mix of jazz, hip hop, soul, funk, disco, drum & bass, latin and even house.

July

A day at the Park - dance festival
Amsterdam Gay pride - canal parade and parties
Amsterdam Roots Festival - Discover new sounds, different styles from all places of the world in the Oosterpark.
Dance Valley - The biggest and most popular open air summer dance festival in the Netherlands at Spaarnwoude recreation area, just outside of Amsterdam.
HortusFestival - summer festival for early twentieth-century chamber music.
Julidans - Summer festival of international contemporary dance with work of well-known choreographers as well as up and coming talents.
Kwaku Summer Festival - the biggest annual multicultural festival of the Netherlands that takes place in Amsterdam Zuidoost during 6 weeks in July and August.
On the Roof - live jazz, world, impro, classical music on a spacious roof in a forgotten corner of Amsterdam-Noord.
Over het IJ Festival - Amsterdam-Noord
Robeco SummerNights - 80+ concerts in The Concertgebouw, from classical to jazz and from flamenco to film scores by top musicians from the Netherlands and around the world.

August

De Parade - a travelling circus full of performances, theatre, dance and art.
Fantastic Amsterdam - historic festival, medieval market, knight tournament
Generations of Love
Grachtenfestival - annual festival with (classical) music on special locations in the centre of Amsterdam and on the IJ banks.
Kwakoe Zomer Festival - the biggest annual multicultural festival of the Netherlands that takes place in Amsterdam Zuidoost during 6 weeks in July and August.
Loveland Festival - Summer Dance Festival at the Sloterpark.
Magneet Festival - a crowdsourced festival for creative free spirits who submit ideas for the festival.
Mystery Land
Openlucht Filmfestival Pluk de Nacht - Open Air Film Festival Amsterdam
Robeco SummerNights - 80+ concerts in The Concertgebouw, from classical to jazz and from flamenco to film scores by top musicians from the Netherlands and around the world.
Uitmarkt - Opening event of the cultural season in Amsterdam, with free previews of upcoming theater, cabaret, musical and concerts at outdoor and indoor stages.
VOLTT Loves Summer

September

Icarus Festival - Music, philosophy, theatre, lectures, poetry and workshops on the imperfection of life.
Amsterdam Fringe Festival - Shows, performances, (music) theatre acts and live art celebrate the urge to act, artistic madness and the bravura that blossoms in the fringes of the theatre circuit in the Netherlands and Flanders.
Dam to Dam Run (Dam tot Damloop) - running event from the centre of Amsterdam to the centre of Zaandam.
Discovery Festival - a nighttime festival with live scientific research, ultra short talks, science-related art, music, and a lot of scientists and artists.
Dutch Theatre Festival (Nederlands Theater Festival)
Festival 5D - theater, dance, music and culinary entertainment.
Gospel Festival Amsterdam - the biggest Black Gospel Festival of the Netherlands, organised by the multicultural community of Amsterdam South East. This part of Amsterdam harbours a total of 85.000 inhabitants, over 130 nationalities and more than 80 different churches.
Heritage Days (Open Monumentendag) - during the 2nd week of September historical buildings and sites are open to the public free of charge. Besides opening their doors, many locations also organise on-site activities like exhibitions, music and guided tours.
Magneet Festival - a crowdsourced festival for creative free spirits who submit ideas for the festival.
Music for your eyes - Film festival about music. From reggae to metal, from Arctic Monkeys to Notorious BIG and from James Brown to Johnny Cash.
Music in the Seven Bridges Quarter - a chamber music festival in the center of historic Amsterdam
Noorderparkfestival - music performances, workshops, film screenings and theatre performances in Amsterdam-Noord
Unseen - annual international photography fair and festival
Valtifest
VERSCH - a showcase of innovating media art, electronic music and cross-over from young talented artists.
West Beach Filmfestival - outdoor film festival at the Sloterplas (for free) - Buitenterrein Sloterparkbad, President Allendelaan 3 (Slotervaart)

October

Afrovibes Festival - a multidisciplinary performing arts programme focusing on current developments in theater and dance from urban cultural hotspots in Africa.
Amsterdam Dance Event - the biggest club festival in the world: 5 days / 100+ clubs / 400+ events
Annual Dutch Art Fair (ADAF) - 150+ professional artists from 10 different countries show their work at the World Fashion Centre
Buddhist Film Festival Europe - a unique international platform for spiritual quality movies with a high contemplative content, particularly feature films, documentaries, experimental works and television programs that are inspired or influenced by Buddhism.
Cello Biennale Amsterdam - 9 days of musical inspiration and discovery for cello aficionados.
Cinekid - Annual Film, Television and New Media Festival for Children (4-16 years)
KLIK! Amsterdam Animation Festival - treats animation as an independent art form

November

Chocoladefestival CHOCA - chocolate festival inspired by Amsterdam's rich history of cacao.
IDFA - International Documentary Festival Amsterdam
Museum Night (n8) - over 40 museums and institutions open their doors and organize special events from 7pm until 2am on the first Saturday in November.
Sieraad Art Fair - professional contemporary jewellery designers sell their work directly and in person
Sinterklaas - the Entrance of Saint Nicholas in Amsterdam
Turn on the Lights - fireworks and light theatre show at Dam Square

December

Amsterdam Bach Consort - cantatas by Johann Sebastian Bach performed by a chamber choir and a solid core of professional instrumentalists and vocal soloists. (Dec-Jan-Feb-Mar-May)
Amsterdam Light Festival - A spectacular light art festival in the historical city centre of Amsterdam (Nov-Dec-Jan)
Miljonair Fair Amsterdam - exclusive and prominent "Luxury Event" with art and antiques, cars and sports cars, yachts and boats, craft and design, watches and jewellery, home entertainment, sound & vision to travel, hotels and resorts.
Pink Christmas - including the 'Drag Winter Olympics' at the Leidseplein.
Pink Film Days (Roze Film Dagen) - Amsterdam Gay & Lesbian Film Festival