Upcoming festivals

As the leading international performance arts festival in the Netherlands, the Holland Festival is back once again this year from 1 to 28 June. Since 1947, the festival has been providing Dutch and international theatregoers with a survey of the best and most widely-acclaimed performance pieces from around the world.

The festival offers a heady mix of theatre, music, dance, opera, film and visual arts as well as Western and non-Western performance pieces in a variety of languages. Its programming consistently emphasises discipline crossovers and always includes works of the highest artistic standards.

Since 2005, the festival has been headed by artistic director Pierre Audi. Under his direction, it has maintained its influential role as a leading international platform for innovation in the performing arts. The festival has particularly been a frontrunner in supporting modern and non-classical contemporary music and new forms in musical theatre. The Holland Festival has also proved to be a pioneer in introducing audiences to experimental theatre and international artists.

The festival graces the stages of some of the city's most exciting theatrical locations, such as the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ, Royal Theatre Carré, the Muziektheater, Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam and the Westergasfabriek.

Get inspired by new theatrical talent
Amsterdam's International Theatre School Festival (ITs) offers great opportunities to get inspired by new theatrical talent, taking place from 21 to 28 June 2012 on the stages of various Amsterdam theatres. The festival gives the newest batch of home-grown and international theatre graduates a chance to showcase their talents in front of a wide audience of theatre fans, casting agencies, artistic directors and the press.

The next big thing... and off-stage events
For the past 22 years, the Festival has provided a professional springboard for new theatre and dance talent. If you're wondering who's going to be the next big thing, you don't want to miss ITs... This year's event presents audiences with a condensed festival programme of around 45 of the best productions. The line-up also includes plenty of off-stage events, such as post-performance talks, a debate on musical theatre, dance workshops, after-parties with DJs and, not to forget, the annual award show.

Classical, mime, opera
The young artists' inspiring performances annually draw around 10,000 visitors to the festival, which is headed by artistic director Theu Boermans. Classical and contemporary, mime, dance, opera and theatre - there's something for everyone.

Varied programme
This year's festival highlights include a musical theatre and comedy show produced with acclaimed writer Arnon Grunberg and director Gerardjan Rijnders. Modern dance is also in the spotlight, with the festival featuring performances by the Amsterdam, Tilburg and Arnhem academies, but also by schools from the UK and Australia. Furthermore, there's a daring performance of Hamlet by Russian students (not to worry, its surtitled!) and a tough political indictment of Guantanamo Bay by Italian students in Bad People in Guantanamo
. And don't miss the chance to find out what ITs Choreography Award winner William Collins has dreamt up with his prize money.

On 7 July 2012, the Amsterdam ArenA will host the world premiere of Sensation's new event, Source of Light. The location in the South East District of Amsterdam will be transformed into the traditional oasis of white, welcoming 40,000 partygoers for a truly sensational party.

Grab your tickets!

The line-up for this year's tour features Mr White, Dennis Ferrer, Mark Knight, The Man With No Shadow, Riva Starr & Hardwell and tickets go on sale at 10:00 on 31 March. The event often sells out fast so you'll have to be quick to get tickets!

Sensation Travel

If you want to be guaranteed a ticket for Sensation Amsterdam 2012 and combine the event with a weekend in Amsterdam, Sensation Travel offers a package including hotel, transfer and a host of extras. More information is available via the link below: http://travel.sensation.com/event/21/sensation-amsterdam-2012.html

Five days of music from all cultures and corners
Taking place in five locations around Amsterdam, the Roots festival features five days of music from all cultures and corners of the world. It introduces fans to the latest developments in scenes whose musical roots stem from outside of Western Europe, bringing crossovers, the biggest names, and up-and-coming home-grown and international talent to the city's stages.

Open Air
The festival traditionally culminates in the free and fabulous Roots Open Air in Oosterpark. From noon until 22.00, enjoy a day filled with music across seven stages spread through the leafy park, with both international and local bands, the latest talent from Amsterdam, DJs, dance workshops, kids' programmes, an extensive market with exotic foods and accessories and a lot more. Foodies surely won't be disappointed by the variety of global goodies to be sampled.

Mutual inspiration
While much of the (popular) music that surrounds us these days is Western in style and tradition, the Amsterdam Roots Festival proves that there is a lot more on offer. More and more musical influences from other cultures take root in Europe; at the same time, Western influences and elements are increasingly used in world music. Non-Western sounds don't exclusively come to us from afar, but more and more often they originate nearby. Cultural identity and nationality are no longer always connected. The existing diversity within European world musical styles is seething with new impulses all the time - something which the Roots festival proudly demonstrates.

Encounters of the world
The Amsterdam Roots Festival is about encounters. Not only the meeting of the countless crossovers of musical styles from all over the world on the programme. Roots Open Air, the free open air part of the festival, displays a fascinating cultural panorama of music and people, where the famous and the lesser-known go hand in hand.

Julidans is a renowned international modern dance festival that brings the best of contemporary dance to Amsterdam 3 to 14 July 2012. The festival brings the best of contemporary dance to Amsterdam.

Committed, daring, cutting-edge - immerse yourself in two weeks of groundbreaking dance performances from around the world. Meet the artists, dine with the choreographers, sample the exciting programme at the Paradiso and discover the latest generation of talent at Julidans NEXT.

Julidans includes some of the best known choreographers in the world of dance, as well as new, undiscovered talent. The festival also distinguishes itself by featuring a unique programme of non-Western forms of contemporary dance from the Middle East, North Africa and China. These are performances that audiences in the Netherlands rarely get to experience.

Across the river

This summer, get across the river for this theatre festival, taking place from 5 to 17 July 2012. Catch the ferry across the IJ river (of course, if you already live in Noord, you may just take the bike!), and before you know it, you'll find yourself on the lively festival grounds, located at the former NDSM shipyard.

Out of the routine

This is one festival that is sure to take you out of your daily routine. With its great line-up of summer theatre, DJs and fabulous food, you'll be soaking up the summer sun at this city oasis in Noord in no time. As the festival specialises in location-specific theatre, there will be heaps of performances taking place in unusual locations.

Accessibility: by ferry from behind Amsterdam Central Station.

If you are planning to visit Amsterdam this summer, make sure you don't miss the magnificent Grachtenfestival (Canal Festival) in August. From 10 to 19 August 2012, the historic city centre of Amsterdam, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010, will boast a ten-day festival of classical music at numerous unique locations.

With love as its theme, the 15th edition of this highly successful festival is expected to draw over 50,000 visitors from the Netherlands and abroad. Alongside the special locations, productions and programmes, the Grachtenfestival has traditionally provided a stage for young talented musicians, giving them every opportunity to take the next step in their musical careers.

The Grachtenfestival will be held both indoors and outdoors - on pontoons in the canals, on boats, in splendid 17th-century canal-side houses, and in numerous other extraordinary locations. The complete programme will be announced on 21 June 2012 on www.grachtenfestival.nl.

The organisers ensure that ticket prices are kept affordable and several open-air concerts are free to the public. Tickets are available via the Grachtenfestival website at www.grachtenfestival.nl, or at the AUB Ticketshop.

Come and join us in Amsterdam in August. Come and visit the Grachtenfestival 2012.

Attracting thousands of visitors each year, Mysteryland is the source of a thousand and one stories once the festival lights go out. Each story is incredible but true, but no single one can fully reflect the festival experience.

This year's edition not only brings festival goers a broader creative events line-up, but also features an explosion of varied electronic musical styles ranging from cutting-edge dubstep, hip hop and disco to top international names in house, techno and electro.

Over 150 artists are scheduled to perform in front of 60,000 visitors. The festival programme also includes exhibitions by small-scale artistic collectives and theatre makers.

This summer, the Parade travelling theatre festival returns to the Netherlands. This fun cultural event always brings a rich array of artistic surprises in tow. The festival kicks off in Rotterdam and stops in The Hague and Utrecht before making its way to our fair city. The theatrical circus rolls into Amsterdam's Martin Luther King Park on 10 August.

The majority of the theatre performances are in Dutch, but even for non-Dutch speaking visitors, the Parade is an experience that's not to be missed. There's a slew of live music performances, plus all the exciting activities, culinary delights and the truly unique atmosphere guarantee a memorable day out no matter what language you speak.

In short, at the Parade there really is something for everyone. Whether you're a die-hard theatre devotee or just along for the ride, you'll find it here no matter what your pleasure is. Once on the festival terrain, you'll find yourself enticed by artists giving outdoor performances in full regalia. The festival offers visitors a variety of short and full-length performances, as well as performances in open-air and secret locations. There's always something new and surprising to look out for!

The afternoons have plenty in store for kids, too. The KinderParade features crafts, kids' theatre and cooking. Kids just love the old-fashioned funfair swings ride, where you can even find a few of the older festival goers having a whirl as the evening wears on. Hungry visitors can also choose from a variety of restaurants and food stalls. There's everything from sushi to burritos, and ice cream to poffertjes, the Dutch mini pancakes, with wine and cocktails to sip on. And don't forget the big, old-fashioned candy shop.

For the hearing impaired, the festival provides Dutch sign language interpreters at several performances.

Accessibility: Visitors are advised to take public transport or travel by bike. The festival grounds are accessible on foot or by taking tram 4 or 25 from Amstel Station.

The Uitmarkt rings in the start of the new cultural season each year, inspiring, entertaining and astounding theatre, music, book and film lovers alike. Annually attracting more than 500,000 visitors from all over the Netherlands, the Uitmarkt is one of the country's most popular cultural events.

Enjoy more than 450 performances by some 2,000 artists. From classical to kid-friendly, hip hop to dance and theatre to jazz - there's something for everyone. A wide range of performers, troupes and cultural institutions come together to make each edition truly special. The extensive line-up is available online and in the free Uitkrant magazine. It's also available for download through the free Uit App.

In addition to performances at the festival's large outdoor venues, there's also a book market, Uitmarkt Junior for the kids and an abundance of information booths and stands. Because all the artists and organisations involved volunteer their time, Uitmarkt has managed to remain a free festival.

Organised by the Amsterdam Uitburo, the event traditionally takes place in the last weekend of August. This year that's Friday, 24 to Sunday, 26 August. Amsterdam's Museumplein and Leidseplein provide the setting for the festival's performances, events, stands and stalls.

Access: Visitors are advised to use public transport. The festival locations are accessible on foot and by tram from Amsterdam Central Station.

What makes IJmuiden so special? On 25 & 26 August 2012, this year's Harbour Festival focuses on what's made IJmuiden distinctive throughout its 136 year history. The city's image as a dynamic port town where everything is possible is based on the age-old Dutch values of freedom and trading savvy. You can still find these characteristics in today's modern IJmuiden!

With music, plenty of activities and a cultural information fair, the festival's participating organisations are offering visitors an impressive events calendar suitable for everyone. IJmuiden's history was shaped by the turbulent waters of the North Sea, with fishermen braving the waves to earn their living. The town's hardy pioneers dug through the dunes to construct the North Sea Canal, creating a waterway for the shipping industry in the area. But these pioneers also built a village on the shifting sands of the dunes, attracting settlers from other Dutch coastal towns. Fishermen and factory workers made the new city of IJmuiden a bustling place, with 40 pubs located just around Willemsplein Square, sailors don't have to go far to quench their thirst.

With its principles of hard work, freedom and tolerance, IJmuiden has always been a magnet for businesses, artists, philosophers, free-thinkers, scientists and other creative minds from all over the world. And that's something the city wants to share with festival goers. Besides having a rich history, IJmuiden has all it needs to meet its promising future. As a windy city, the town is not only a perfect place for fishing and shipping, but also for the wind farms that are being built out at sea. It's also a science city, with Wageningen University exploring sustainable management, use and exploitation of the sea at its Research Centre, located behind the fishing port.

During two full days over the last weekend in August, the IJmuiden Harbour Festival reveals IJmuiden in all its present-day glory, more than a century after its founding near the locks of the North Sea Canal.

Each summer, the Vondelpark's open-air theatre hosts top concerts and performances from the world of comedy, dance, music and kid's theatre. Located in the heart of the park, the theatre has offered free open-air performances to both Amsterdammers and visitors alike for over 30 years.

From 5 June till 28 August this year, the festival line-up once again features modern dance on Friday evenings, kid's theatre and jazz on Saturday afternoons, and comedy on Saturday evenings. Sunday is dedicated to music, first with the classical lunch-time concert series, followed by the popular Sunday afternoon line-up ranging from pop, rock, Dutch and world music. Each performance series includes both established headliners and opening acts by fresh, new artists, giving burgeoning dance, musical and comedy talent a chance to shine.

The theatre can seat hundreds of concert goers of all ages and offers plenty of standing room. Visitors can also tuck into the tasty tapas, sandwiches and refreshments dished out by Peperwortel in the catering pavilion, created by famous designer Piet Hein Eek.

Show goers wishing to reserve seats can do so for a small fee. Front-row reservations for disabled concert goers are free of charge. All performances are free, but a small contribution dropped into the VondelparkEuroBus collection-box is much appreciated.

Accessibility: Vondelpark is accessible by trams 1, 2, 3, 5, 12 and 16 which stop along Van Baerlestraat, Overtoom, Amstelveenseweg streets and on Museumplein Square.

From 30 August to 9 September 2012, the Dutch Theatre Festival in Amsterdam revisits the best theatre productions of the season - those hailed as must-sees by critics and audiences alike.

Get star struck as the biggest names in the Dutch and Belgian theatre world strut the red carpet and experience the drama as performers compete for the theatre awards. The festival features the best productions of the theatrical season in various locations including the city's Stadsschouwburg Theatre, Theater Bellevue, DeLaMar Theater and De Krakeling Youth Theatre.

During the season, the theatre jury selects the year's highlights, revealing its top ten productions in May. The jury also nominates producers and actors for the VSCD Theatre Awards, presented during the festival's glittering gala event at Amsterdam's Stadsschouwburg Theatre. Audience favourites are also nominated and included in the festival listings. The highest scoring production receives the prestigious Avro Toneel Publieksprijs Audience Award, worth 35,000 euros.

For the newest generation of theatre goers, the festival includes a youth theatre listing with performances taking place at De Krakeling. But avant-garde theatre isn't left behind, with the Amsterdam Fringe Festival staging around 80 productions by cutting-edge home-grown and international producers and artists at over 25 locations.

Accessibility: take trams 1, 2, 5, 7 or 10 from Amsterdam Central Station.

The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) is the gateway to the international electronic music scene. As Europe's leading electronic music conference and the world's biggest club festival, it's a true dance lovers' Mecca.

ADE always brings in the crowds with established names on the line-up alongside rising stars (who take to the decks as part of ADE NEXT). The playlist is always suitably diverse, featuring electro, acid, techno, trance, house, hip-hop, drum 'n' bass and other beat-filled sounds to make you move.

This annual event attracts 2,500 business professionals and 112,000 festival visitors from all around the globe to dance to the tune of more than 700 DJs and artists. With this year's programme resembling a who's-who and who's-that of dance floor royalty, 2012 looks set to rewrite the rules on bringing down the house.

ADE presents music lovers with four days of the absolute world top of dance music artists.

Each year, the Cinekid Festival welcomes 50,000 young media buffs and their parents as well as renowned international guests to view over 500 media productions made especially for kids. The festival features an unprecedented and carefully-selected range of live-action and animated films, documentaries, television programmes and cross-media productions.

Among the festival activities is the ever-popular MediaLab, where kids learn all about media production and the latest media technology in a fun and interactive way.

In addition, Cinekid includes workshops, seminars and meetings with media professionals from the Netherlands and abroad. The festival also plays host to major premieres, special guests, fantastic parties and the fabulous Cinekid Awards. This is one festival fledgling film fans and young media aficionados shouldn't miss.

The 26th edition of Cinekid takes place this year from 17 till 26 October in Amsterdam. The national addition called Cinekid on Location (Cinekid op Lokatie) is set to take place in 25 towns and cities throughout the Netherlands.

Every November, the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) transforms the city centre into a paradise for documentary film fans. This year, the 25th edition of the event will treat documentary lovers to the latest and greatest domestic and international arrivals from the documentary film world.

No other festival in the world brings together so many great films, devoted fans and talented film makers in one place, making IDFA one of the world's leading documentary film festivals.

The films presented at IDFA all have their stories to tell. These are extraordinary stories about life - often revealing and moving, they can also be shocking or funny. With around 300 international documentaries on offer, IDFA's programming provides a look at the world from a variety of unique perspectives.

Taking viewers to some of the world's poorest and wealthiest places, the documentaries featured can often be as poetic as they are powerful. Although the films tend to deal with a wide range of issues, each entry prompts viewers to reconsider the world around them, often provoking debate.

IDFA is therefore also a lively meeting place for film-makers and audiences alike, with numerous in-conversation events on the programme. Each edition of IDFA offers an inspiring confrontation of art, film and social debate.

Date: 14 - 25 November 2012
Locations: Pathé Tuschinski cinema, Pathé de Munt cinema, de Brakke Grond theatre, Amsterdam Public Library (Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam - OBA)
Film Listings: available from 5 November at www.idfa.nl
Online Ticket Sales: start 7 November Ticket Sales Point: opens 13 November