I amsterdam - Best Open-air Cinema

While the success of any open-air cinema is unfortunately dependent on the behaviour of the weather, during the months of July, August and September, Amsterdam is particularly abundant with opportunities to catch a film in the great outdoors. Sometimes it's classics, sometimes a new smash hit, and even sometimes a sneak preview of a movie expected to do well later in the year.

Pluk de Nacht

Specialists at the open-air game, Pluk de Nacht is an annual outdoor film festival held at the man-made beach Stenen Hoofd, a short walk west of Central Station. The festival runs from 9 to 19 August 2007, showing free films daily. It can seat up to 500 customers, who can chill out on deckchairs and watch a movie once the sun goes down (typically starting around 21.30). The terrain also includes an exhibition, bar and restaurant, so you can also party with friends from 18.00.

This year's programme features a unique collection of recent independent hits from film festivals around the world, such as Eagle vs Shark (New Zealand), Bunny Chow (South Africa) and Parents (Iceland). All films in English or screened with English subtitles.

Location: Stenen Hoofd
Westerdoksdijk 40
1013 AE Amsterdam

Website: www.plukdenacht.nl

Filmmuseum Sunsets

All year long, the Filmmuseum, in Amsterdam's Vondelpark, offers a diverse mix of new international films and classic movies drawn from the archive. While they continue to screen films indoors throughout summer, July and August sees the organisation also making use of their green surroundings. Outdoor screenings take place on Saturday evenings, typically focussing on film classics that deserve a fresh showing on the big screen. Films begin after sunset and tickets are a mere €3, including a free beer.

As an added bonus, 2007 features an additional programme titled Sunset at Overhoeks. In 2009 the Filmmuseum is due to relocate to the north bank of the River IJ. To mark this future transformation, they're hosting a special series of screenings near the new location (the garden at Overhoeks, opposite Central Station, across the river) from 6 to 8 September 2007. Expected screenings include Volver, West Side Story and Marie Antoinette.

Location: Filmmuseum
Vondelpark 3
1071 AA Amsterdam

Website: www.filmmuseum.nl

Ketelhuis

Ketelhuis is a small independent cinema located inside the industrial-turned-cultural setting of the Westergasfabriek complex, next to Westerpark. Saturday night typically means open-air screenings during summertime, taking place directly outside the cinema.

Location: Ketelhuis
Pazzanistraat 13
1014 DB Amsterdam

Cavia Open-Air

This independent cinema usually only shows a couple of films per week throughout the year, and it continues this routine through summer. But in doing so, it leaves the confines of its regular home, instead taking films to different outdoor locations each weekend. There's no set theme, but you can expect a diverse array of modern classics alongside key movies from the '60s and '70s.

Location: Varies each week.
Website: www.filmhuiscavia.nl (Primarily in Dutch. Click 'Programma' for programme and locations)

Rialto Open-air

Taking a worldly approach, Amsterdam's Rialto cinema takes over the Marie Heinekenplein (De Pijp) for four nights in August (15 to 18 August 2007). Rather than looking backwards, this cinema has its eyes fixed firmly ahead, offering a selection of films from the upcoming Africa in the Picture festival (September) and Cinema South Africa (November). Films begin at 22.00 and the square can cater for 500 international movie lovers.

Due to the nature of the screenings, the language of the films is typically not English, although the majority of screenings are shown with English subtitles—however, this is not always the case, and varies by film, so check in advance.

Location: Rialto Open-air
Marie Heinekenplein