Upcoming festivals

Dedicated to fantasy, horror, science fiction and animation films, the 28th edition of the Imagine Film Festival takes place this year. But be warned - while generic labels may seem helpful, they often conceal more than they reveal. That's why each year the line-up of films at Imagine prove that the fantastic film has more to offer than just a list of genre types. Experience it for yourself at Kriterion Cinema.

For eleven days in April, movie goers will be treated to a slew of amazing films. It looks like 2012 is gearing up to be another year of great crossovers, huge titles and films just waiting to be discovered. The line-up includes both art house and mainstream, as well as crowd pleasers and debate provoking films. But Imagine isn't just about the around 45 features and 25 shorts on show. It's also a meeting place for film buffs and professionals alike. In addition, it's a great scouting event and the site of three awards granted by a jury of experts and the public.

The festival also engages in dialogue with both national and international guests, offers a master class, exposes important themes and delights die-hard horror fans with its infamous Night of Terror.

Organisers are already expecting to welcome over 15,000 film fans.

As the leading international performance arts festival in the Netherlands, the Holland Festival is back once again this year from 1-26 June. Since 1947, the festival has been providing Dutch and international theatre goers 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 pieces 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. Holland Festival has also shown itself as 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 Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ on the IJ River, Carré Theatre on the Amstel, centrally-located Muziektheater and Stadsschouwburg and Westergasfabriek in the hip district of Westerpark.

Some highlights of the Holland Festival

Mea Culpa
The official opening performance of the festival is the last work by German avant-garde theatre-maker and artist Christoph Schlingensief, a multidisciplinary, 'readymade' opera about life, death and mortality that documents the last stages of Schlingensief 's fight against cancer, which he lost in 2010. Muziektheater.
In German with Dutch surtitles.

Birds with Skymirrors
A theatre and dance performance in which the Samoan director choreographer Lemi Ponifasio questions our disturbed relationship with the earth. Rather than preaching environmental politics, Ponifasio addresses the issue with a rich and solemn sense of dignity. Stadsschouwburg

Un Tramway
Isabelle Huppert stars in this new production that's based on the stage classic A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams. Director Krzysztof Warlikowski examines what Williams' themes of sex, desire, death and madness can mean today. Stadsschouwburg
In French with Dutch surtitles.

Before I Sleep
Taking place in an office block in Amsterdam's business district, this interactive performance lets the audience wander through various rooms in small groups and led by an actor, thereby closely experiencing the mix of film and live performance created by the English company dreamthinkspeak and its artistic director Tristan Sharps. FOZ Building

Laurie Anderson - Delusion
New York-based singer, violinist and performance artist Laurie Anderson presents her latest work, a series of short mystery plays alternating between reality, dream and myth. Muziektheater
In English with Dutch surtitles.

Yevgeniy Onegin
Traditionally, the Holland Festival stages one of its performances in the open air. This year, it's Tchaikovsky's lyrical opera Yevgeniy Onegin (Eugene Onegin) that will be beamed live from the Muziektheater onto a big screen in Amsterdam's Oosterpark. It's free! But don't forget to bring your picnic. Muziektheater/Oosterpark
In Russian with Dutch surtitles.

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 Thursday, 23 June until Friday, 1 July 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.

Amsterdam ArenA surges in a sea of white for the world premiere of Innerspace, the latest Sensation event. Once again, this party pulls out all the stops for an unforgettable night of bangin' beats and the best international dance artists and, of course, the dress code remains 'be part of the night, dress in white'.

This year's event is dedicated to spirituality. Innerspace is a journey through the inner reaches of man. The event reaches for the superlative once again as it aims to provide party goers with the biggest interactive experience for the most spectacular show. It wants to give dancers a personal experience that touches them down in the depths of their souls.

For the past 12 years, Sensation has been building a global platform for dance music and the event is set to travel to 15 countries this year. But Sensation Amsterdam also has a growing international following, with at least 7000 party goers from 55 countries coming together at ArenA last year. Sensation Travel even offers party-themed travel packages so that clubbers can enjoy Sensation in style.

Keep an eye on your local events guide for more on when tickets go on sale.

Sensation & Dance4life
Sensation is continuing to work together with Dance4life, an organisation that fights the world-wide spread of HIV and Aids. Sensation donates 0.50 euro from every ticket to Dance4life.

Accessible by train, bus and metro

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.

Tracks
The theme of this year's festival is 'Tracks', examining the role that cultural background and traditions can play as sources of inspirations. Performers this year include the Chilean folk of Inti Illimani Histórico & Eva Ayllón (Wed 22, Tropentheater), Imam Baïldi with their Turkish-Greek-Jewish-hip hop-crossover (Fri 24, Paradiso) and the Narasirato Pan Pipers from the Southern Pacific, whose repetitive music is inspired by sounds of nature only but will remind the Western listener of electronic dance music (Sun 26, Roots Open Air in Oosterpark).

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, taking place this year from 3 - 10 July. The 21st edition of the festival has been compiled by a new artistic team and promises to bring 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.

Venues hosting the festival this year include Amsterdam's Stadsschouwburg Theatre, Theater Bellevue, the Melkweg, the Paradiso, Podium Mozaïek, the Vondelpark Open Air Theatre and Bijlmer Parktheater. This year's festival opens with a controversial production by artist VA Wölfl. Highlights also include never-before-seen performances from Brazil and the world premiere of Wim Vandekeybus's latest production. Other performances on the festival roster are: Ich sah: Das Lamm... (Neuertanz/VA Wölfl), Bound (Vuyani Dance Company/Gregory Maqoma) and Salves (Maguy Marin).

Across the river

This summer, get across the river for this theatre festival, taking place from 7-17 July. 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, including one as part of the Summer in the Tolhuistuin programme.

Talents of the future

The eleven-day event gives visitors a taste of the theatre talent of the future. This year also welcomes more established theatre makers, who have taken on the challenge of creating their first on-site performances for Over het IJ - for example, don't miss acclaimed choreographer Anouk van Dijk's performance Mensch - as well as giving newcomers a chance to shine.

Accessibility: by ferry from behind Amsterdam Central Station.

This is a festival like no other! Named after the city's canals, the Grachtenfestival is an annual classical music event featuring performances in extraordinary locations throughout central Amsterdam, along the IJ River and in Amsterdam Noord. During the festival, Amsterdam grows at least 50 rare concert locations richer, from canal house salons to open-air locations along or on the city's waterways.

Mayor of Amsterdam Eberhard van der Laan recently became patron of the Grachtenfestival, taking over the role from former mayor Job Cohen. Accepting the patronage, Mayor van der Laan said it was an honour to hold the patronage and expressed his deep enthusiasm for the festival.

This year, the festival takes place from 12 to 21 August and is especially focused on new musical talent from all over the Netherlands as well as on taking visitors on a fun and informal musical journey of discovery around new locations. Each year, the festival programme is organised around a theme.

The first Saturday of the festival, 4 August, is dedicated to Future Sounds - Young classical on the water, with new talent playing outdoors in a concert route. The House, Garden and Roof Terrace series of concerts is scheduled to take place on the following Saturday, 11 August, showcasing the winners of national and international competitions. These concerts are always popular with festival goers, many of whom start queuing early for tickets on the morning of the concert.

The Junior Grachtenfestival provides a kid's version of the regular festival featuring performances especially tailored for kids in fun locations, such as Vuurtoreneiland, the region's own lighthouse island. 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.

For more information, visit www.grachtenfestival.nl.

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.

The variety of this year's musical line-up includes both international performers, such as Sebastian Ingrosso, Richie Hawtin, Hi-Tek Soul from Detroit masters Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson, Marcel Dettman, Tensnake, Boys Noize, Modeselektor, Martin Solveig, Dave Clarke and Ben Sims,as well as home-grown talent likeJoris Voorn, 2000 And One, Speedy J, Afrojack, Chuckie, The Man With No Shadow, Gomes and Brutuzz. The festival also features innovative crossovers, such as the collaboration between hip hop artists Winne and Skintoand hardstyle DJs Headhunterz and Promo.

So, what will your Mysteryland story be? Join us on Saturday 27 August at the Floriade grounds, Haarlemmermeer together with 60,000 visitors and find out.

This summer, the Parade travelling theatre festival will be making its 22st tour through 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. August 5 is the big day for Amsterdam, when this theatrical circus rolls into the city's Martin Luther King Park.

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. The festival is on in Amsterdam until Tuesday 21 August.

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, 24 August. Amsterdam's Museumplein, Leidseplein and Vondelpark 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? From 27-28 August, this year's fun 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 2016 Harbour Festival reveals IJmuiden in all its present-day glory, 136 years 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 1-11 September, 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 for 2011 is again suitably diverse: electronic, 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 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, 2011 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. The Amsterdam Dance Event 2011 runs from 19 to 22 October.

This year's line-up sure doesn't fall short of previous editions. Big names include Dutch Grammy award winner Afrojack who recently scored a number one hit in America; Richie Hawtin's new 'Plastikman 1.5' show; DJ superstar David Guetta; techno legend Carl Cox; and, of course, Amsterdam's very own Armin van Buuren. But there's a slew of underground heroes and up-and-comers for you to discover, so make sure to keep checking the programme!

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