King’s Day
27 April
Enjoy the expansive celebrations for King Willem-Alexander’s official birthday that include open-air concerts and innumerable street markets. Huge swathes of orange are accompanied by similar proportions of alcohol as Amsterdam swings into party mode.
Holland Festival
June
Amsterdam hosts the country’s oldest and largest performing arts festival, which throws up plenty of performances and shows ranging from operatic to theatrical and modern dance.
Open Garden Days
June
Every year over the third weekend of June some 30 canal-side gardens are made available for public access, meaning a side to the city that is usually a no-go can be seen and appreciated. Purchasing tickets is necessary, and each year there is a theme to the garden displays.
Grachtenfestival
August
Recognised musicians and newcomers alike have been given the platform to perform at Grachtenfestival since the 1990s, with events spread over 10 days and often held in incredibly attractive canal locations.
Amsterdam Dance Event
October
Some 350 dance and electronic music events are spread out over five nights, as Amsterdam plays host to what is billed as “the world’s biggest club festival”. Big name international DJs pull out all the stops while putting on a show for some 200,000 revellers.