Amsterdam Weekend Guide (26-28 April)
Celebrate royally this weekend, as Amsterdam transforms into a living breathing carnival for King's Day. With events happening in every corner of the city, there’s no shortage of great ways to spend your weekend.
KING'S DAY EVENTS
Orange-powered events in all neighbourhoods:
- Skip the crowds in the city centre and opt for a more intimate take on King’s Day with Terrasmus’ cosy child-friendly vrijmarkt and live music on the edge of Eramsuspark.
- If a trendy King’s Day rendezvous is more your style, catch Yusu and Kingdom’s party at the Hoxton Lloyd Hotel, featuring DJs and delicious fare from their in-house restaurant, Brasserie Breman.
- For those seeking to ring in the King’s birthday a little earlier, BRET’s iconic red bunker will be open from 07:00 for another The Breakfast Club techno party with a side of breakfast.
- Roll into the afternoon with jazz and vinyl at Restaurant NAP in IJburg
- Or join the fun at Badhuis Javaplein with Badhuis x Juicy, serving up tunes and tasty bites from noon until dusk.
- The Homomonument, a memorial to commemorate those of Amsterdam’s queer community who were victims of persecution, will also be the site of celebrations on King’s Day for what will be “the city’s queerest open-air King’s Day festival”.
ART & EXHIBITONS
Museums that are staying open:
Feeling culturally inclined on King’s Day? Several of Amsterdam’s beloved museums remain open during the national holiday, an excellent option for those keen to avoid the teeming city streets.
- Check out the wildly popular Frans Hals exhibit at the Rijksmuseum and discover the works of this luminary 17th-century Dutch artist.
- At the Stedelijk Museum, catch trailblazing Marina Abramovic's performance pieces.
- The Heineken Experience will also run as usual, blending historic brewery tours with a bar experience.
- Fabrique des Lumières in Amsterdam’s Westergasterrein beckons with its newest art and sound installation, Dutch Masters: From Vermeer to Van Gogh, features displays of over 325 artworks.
- Explore the connections between humans, animals, plants, and microbes at Artis Groote Museum, part of Amsterdam’s beautiful inner-city zoo.
CONCERTS & GIGS
Imaginarium: A Minimalist Musical Voyage
Performed in the English Reformed Church of Amsterdam, Imaginarium: A Minimalist Musical Voyage will see a rare combination of piano and saxophone, showcasing the best of these two instruments. The program features works by the greats of minimalist classical music, including Philip Glass and Eric Satie, for an elegant evening of musical contemplation.
Imaginarium: A Minimalist Musical Voyage | Friday 26 April | English Reformed Church of Amsterdam
RESTAURANTS & BARS
Boozy Brunch at NEXT
Looking for the perfect end to a weekend full of King’s Day celebrations? Check out NEXT’s Boozy Brunch on Sunday afternoon. From 13:00 onwards, enjoy an international food and cocktail menu featuring mimosas, Bloody Marys, and plenty more. With 1 euro oysters and a line-up featuring local DJs, this relaxed event is bound to be the cherry on top of your King’s Day weekend.
Boozy Brunch | Sundays, 13:00 onwards | NEXT
Plant FWD Week
Plant Forward Week continues this weekend, with over 40 participating restaurants across Amsterdam. While the restaurants involved aren’t strictly vegetarian or vegan, their vision this weekend is to provide plant-forward dishes with vegetables as the central ingredient. Whether you’re a seasoned vegan or just vegetable-curious, Plant Forward Week is the perfect opportunity to discover new flavours across the city while supporting more sustainable eating habits.
Plant Forward Week | 20–27 April | multiple locations
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