Amsterdam Weekend Guide (22-24 May)

FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Editor’s Pick: Lente Kabinet

The prelude to Dekmantel and run by the same team, Lente Kabinet – known as the ‘Spring Cabinet’ – brings greenery to the electronic scene. A two-day festival organised in the gorgeous natural reserve known as Het Twiske on the fringes of Amsterdam-Noord, Lente Kabinet is a mainstay of the springtime festival scene. Go for one day or two and expect big names in the scene, from Job Jobse and Honey Dijon to Bergahin resident Sedef Adasi.

Lente Kabinet| 23-24 May | Het Twiske

Harry Styles at the Johan Cruijff ArenA

Harry Styles arrives in Amsterdam with his Together, Together residency, as he takes over the Johan Cruijff ArenA for 10 nights, with Swedish pop icon Robyn as a very special guest. For fans travelling to Amsterdam, grab a ticket on TicketSwap and get to know the Zuidoost neighbourhood if you're staying nearby, which is known for great food and community. Alternatively, do as Harry does and grab a coffee at one of the city's best cafés, stop by a record store for one of his earlier vinyls or belt out As It Was at one of Amsterdam's best karaoke bars.

• Harry Styles | multiple dates in May and June | Johan Cruijff ArenA | buy tickets

Hosted by electronic music festival organisers Komm Schon Alter, the focus here is on great house music for a slightly older crowd. Everyone here has to be 24+, which means no kids are allowed either, and the onus is on creating a positive and communal atmosphere. Organised in the Gardens of West, this is an excellent daytime festival for those who want a dance in gorgeous green surroundings.

Das Festival | 23 May 12:00-23:00 | Gardens of West 

ART & EXHIBITIONS

Joy Soldiers: The Language at Oscam

This free-to-enter contemporary art museum christens its new location with a solo exhibition by the Martinican illustrator and digital artist known as Black Childish (real name Mickaël Mehala), who reinterprets the classic image of toy soldiers as a powerful symbol of self-expression and community. Through digital sculpture, illustration, and large-scale 3D-printed works, he calls attention to the power and visibility of everyday heroes. 

Joy Soldiers: The Language| Opens May 23 | Bijlmerplein 

Kho Liang le – Mid-Century Modernist at the Stedelijk Museum

The Stedelijk hosts the first major museum retrospective of Kho Liang Ie, who defined Dutch design for furniture and interiors from the 1950s to the mid-1970s. Explore 200 objects and extensive visual material covering all aspects of his career, including the presentation of part of the interior of Schiphol Airport, a stand for Artifort and a reconstruction of part of his previous exhibition at the Stedelijk Museum in 1971. 

Kho Liang Ie — Mid-Century Modernist| Until 18 October | Stedelijk Museum

Two Suns At Once at Treehouse NDSM

Over 14 artists work together in this exhibition that focuses on collaborations, with music and visual art combining to create an immersive experience. Vico Persson, visual artist and resident of the Treehouse NDSM program, curates alongside Mulan Go, Treehouse's artistic coordinator. Expect sculptures, ready-mades and more, with an emphasis on found and recycled materials. 

Two Suns At Once  | 21 May - 14 Jun | Treehouse NDSM

NATURE AND ACTIVE

Local Pick: Amsterdam Beaches

A trip to one of the Dutch capital's beaches is a must this weekend. Go local with the urban beach in NDSM or Sloterpas in Nieuwe West, or if you’re more in the mood for a day trip head out to the Amsterdam area. Wijk aan Zee is a great option for a real seaside feel, while  Zandvoort is an easily reached, 9km long, hotspot that draws in thousands of Amsterdammers year-round.

Wildcard Pick: Oatly Bike-Thru

This plant-based milk alternative offers a world's first, a "Bike-thru" – a spin on the traditional drive-through, but in true Amsterdam fashion, made for bikes instead. Coffee is the focus here, with a lineup of international roasters rotating control of the stand. Catch the last of Barcelona’s Nomad on Friday or cycle down for Copenhagen’s April once they take over from Saturday onwards. The caffeine-fueled energy boost will keep your wheels spinning all day long.

Oatly Bike-Thru| Until 7 June | Papaverhoek 24

RESTAURANTS & BARS

This waterside restaurant is one for sunny days. While technically on the borders of Noord in Landsmeer, it’s worth the trip. Jutting out on a pier into the lake, it summons visions of Netflix’sVirgin River. Inside, it’s all wood beams, soft sofas and golden orb lighting, which make it feel more like a living room than an eatery. The food is all comfort food, too – tuna melts, Philly cheesesteaks, Korean short ribs and pizza from the cavernous pizza oven.

Paviljoen De Breek | open Mon-Sun, 10:00-22:00 | Sportpark 1

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