Must-see Amsterdam Festivals
Amsterdam Festivals: Were you looking for a handy one-page-for-all with festivals in Amsterdam? Then, You came to the right page. With this article, you’ll have all the main ‘must-see’ festivals in and around Amsterdam during this summer, right in your hand.
Some events last a single day, others last whole summer. We selected lots of festivals that focus on music, theatre, arts, food, culture & lifestyle. Amsterdam Youth Hostel Leidseplein organized them by date for you.
You can also look here for other things to do. Check our site regularly and find out that we organise all kinds of usefull information for travellers on our blog.
Amsterdam Festivals: MAY
Amsterdam Festivals: Liberation Day Amsterdam (music & culture to celebrate our freeedom) 5 may
Vondelpark Open Air Theatre (music, dance, cabaret, stand-up comedy, children’s comedy) 1 jun – 24 aug
Amsterdam Festivals: JUNE
- Vondelpark Open Air Theatre (music, dance, cabaret, stand-up comedy, children’s comedy) 1 jun – 24 aug
- Holland Festival (theatre, performance arts) 1 – 29 jun
- Amsterdamse Bostheater (music, theatre) 3 jun – 6 sep
- Artis ZOOmeravonden (sunset openings; learn what the animals get upto after sunset) 7 jun – 30 aug
- Open Garden Days (cultural, excursion; Amsterdams best kept secrets) 20 jun – 22 ju
- ITs Festival (Amsterdam International Theatreschool; young theatre talents on stage) 20 – 27 jun
- Taste of Amsterdam (food festival) 4 – 7 jun
- Mystic Garden Festival (music) 21 jun
- Shoeless Open Air (music, dance) 21 – 22 jun
- Pandemonium (music; hardcore) 21 jun
- EkoTown (lifestyle; organic) 21 – 22 jun
- WESTwaARTS (fun-activities, series of mini-festivals) 22 jun – 20 jul
- Defqon.1 (music; electro) 27 – 29 jun
- Awakenings (music; techno) 28 – 29 jun
- Robeco SummerNights (music; classics, jazz, pop) 28 jun – 31 aug
- Viva Las Vega’s Food Festival (lifestyle; vega) 29 jun
Amsterdam Festivals: JULY
- Vondelpark Open Air Theatre (music, dance, cabaret, stand-up comedy, children’s comedy) 1 jun – 24 aug
- Amsterdamse Bostheater (music, theatre) 3 jun – 6 sep
- Artis ZOOmeravonden (sunset openings; learn what the animals get upto after sunset) 7 jun – 30 aug
- Keti Koti Festival (culture; suriname) 1 jul
- Amsterdam Roots Festival (music; world/roots)Amsterdamse Bostheater (music, theatre) 2 – 6 jul
- WESTwaARTS (fun-activities, series of mini-festivals) 22 jun – 20 jul
- Robeco SummerNights (music; classics, jazz, pop) 28 jun – 31 aug
- Julidans (dance; modern/contemporary) 1 – 12 jul
- Gay & Lesbian Summer Festival (film) 1 jul – 1 aug
- Over het IJ Festival (theatre, music & food) 3 – 13 jul
- Comedytrain International Summer Festival (stand-up comedy) 2 jul – 2 aug
- Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek (fashion) 4 – 14 jul
- Pitch Festival (music; electro) 4 – 5 jul
- Luminosity Beach Festival (music; trance) 4 – 6 jul
- Sensation (music; dance) 5 jul
- De wereld draait buiten (theatre, culture, music & poems) 6 jul
- Turn up the Beach (music; dance) 12 jul
- Kwaku Summer Festival (multicultural festival) 12 jul – 10 aug
- A day at the Park (music; house, techno & disco) 12 jul
- 18 hrs Festival (music; rock) 12 jul
- Wu-Stock (music; rap) 17 jul
- Viva Brasil Festival (music; latin) 18 – 20 jul
- Electronic Family Festival (music; dance & trance) 19 jul
- Milkshake Festival (music & lifestyle; respect, freedom, love & tolerance) 20 jul
- Hortus Festival (music; classical) 23 jul – 3 sep
- Klamme Handjes Festival (music; dance) 26 jul
- Amsterdam Live on Stage (music) 26 jul
- EdelWise Festival (music) 26 jul
- TIKTAK Eclectic Music Festival (music; eclectic) 26 jul
- C.R.A.F.T. Festival (music; dance) 26 jul
- Amsterdam Gay Pride (lifestyle; gay & lesbian) 26 jul – 3 aug
Amsterdam Festivals: AUGUST
- Amsterdam Gay Pride (lifestyle; gay & lesbian) 26 jul – 3 aug
- Comedytrain International Summer Festival (stand-up comedy) 2 jul – 2 aug
- Vondelpark Open Air Theatre (music, dance, cabaret, stand-up comedy, children’s comedy) 1 jun – 24 aug
- Amsterdamse Bostheater (music, theatre) 3 jun – 6 sep
- Artis ZOOmeravonden (sunset openings; learn what the animals get upto after sunset) 7 jun – 30 aug
- Robeco SummerNights (music; classics, jazz, pop) 28 jun – 31 aug
- Kwaku Summer Festival (multicultural festival) 12 jul – 10 aug
- Hortus Festival (music; classical) 23 jul – 3 sep
- Dekmantel Festival (music; electronic) 1 – 3 aug
- Sky City Festival (music; edm & pop) 2 aug
- Dance Valley (music; dance) 2 aug
- Pluk de Nacht (film) 6 – 16 aug
- Landjuweel Festival (music & lifestyle; recommended!) 6 – 10 aug
- De Parade Theatre Festival (theatre; travelling festival) 8 – 24 aug
- Loveland Festival (music; dance) 9 aug
- Appelsap Fresh Music Festival (music; hiphop, electro) 9 aug
- Latin Village Festival (music; eclectic) 10 aug
- World Cinema Amsterdam (film) 14 – 24 aug
- GrachtenFestival (music; recommended!) 15 – 24 aug
- BijlmerBios (film) 20 – 23 aug
- Summer Dance Forever (music; dance) 21 – 28 aug
- Magneet Festival (music & theatre) 22 – 24 aug
- the Brave Festival (music; indie, singer/songwriter, folk) 23 aug
- Mysteryland (music; dance) 23 aug
- Bollywood at the Park (film; india) 29 – 30 aug
- UITmarkt (cultural festival; theatre, music, books & film) 29 – 31 aug
- Voltt Loves Summer (music; electronic) 30 aug
Amsterdam Festivals: SEPTEMBER
- Amsterdamse Bostheater (music, theatre) 3 jun – 6 sep
- Dutch Theatre Festival (theatre) 4 – 14 sep
- Amsterdam Fringe Festival (theatre; stage arts) 4 – 14 sep
- West Beach Filmfestival (film) 5 – 27 sept
- Valtifest (music; dance, electro, house) 6 sep
- West’ival (film, photography, music & food) 12 – 14 sep
- Amsterdam Fotoweek (photography) 12 – 21 sep
- International Jewish Music Festival (music) 13 – 16 sep
- Amsterdam Heritage Days (culture/architecture) 13 – 14 sep
- Jordaan Festival (music; folk) 18 – 20 sep
- Klassiek op het Amstelveld (music; classical) 20 sep
- North Sea Surf Festival (music; surf) 20 sep
Because there are more than 300 festivals in Amsterdam during the year, it’s not possible to display it all here, but there is a Amsterdam Festival Guide with more info about our fair city’s cultural highlights.n You can also visit iAmsterdam.com regularly to stay updated.
