Amsterdam Weekend Guide (24-26 July)

ART & EXHIBITIONS

Rembrandt with Bloomberg Connects

Sponsored by Bloomberg Connects

As the former residence of the famed Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn, this incredible museum dates back to the early 17th century. Wander from room to room, marvelling at the carefully reconstructed space where Rembrandt once lived and worked, and you’ll feel as if you’re a part of Rembrandt’s own lifetime. Both a painter and an art dealer, he sold his own works as well as those of others. You can listen to this remarkable story on the Bloomberg Connects platform, an audio tour with nine stops that leads you through the entire museum. In addition to audio tours, you can also find stories, maps, and interviews with artists and curators on Bloomberg Connects.

Explore the free Rembrandt House Museum guide on Bloomberg Connects, for expert insights, context, and more.

Queertropolis at NDSM

Set within the creative heart of NDSM, Queertropolis reimagines Amsterdam into a queer urban utopia through contemporary art. The exhibit invites visitors to become active citizens in the shaping of the city’s identity, stepping into a living map. Beyond the exhibit itself, the program also includes artist-led workshops, performances and film screenings across three weekends this summer.

Queertropolis| 24 July – 9 August | NDSM Wharf

FESTIVALS & EVENTS

Editor's Pick: De Parade Opening Weekend

Travelling theatre festival De Parade brightens the banks of the Amstel river once again this summer. With its opening weekend, this lively carnivalesque festival brings an unbeatable atmosphere to Martin Luther King Park with a mix of theatre, music, spoken word, dance, and a host of food trucks. Each year, this cherished institution has Amsterdammers flocking to its whimsical fairground setting to experience nothing short of a perfect summer evening. 

De Parade opening weekend| 24 – 26 July | Martin Luther King Park 

Amsterdamse Terrassen Festival

For four summer evenings, Rembrandtpark transforms into Amsterdam's largest open-air terrace as some of the city's favourite food and drink haunts – including hotspots like Bar Bellini, Yuzu, and Amsterdam’s ceviche restaurant Sjefietshe – set up pop-up spaces beneath the greeny canopy of the park. Expect bites and drinks from a host celebrated local restaurants, as well as plenty of dancing with live music, DJs, karaoke and even a silent disco under the trees. 

Amsterdamse Terrassen Festival| 23 – 26 July | Rembrandt Park

THEATRE & PERFORMANCE

Wildcard Pick: My Brother's Keeper

Summer in the city is synonymous with the Amsterdamse Bos, and it’s here that you’ll find the Bostheater. A hidden amphitheatre in the forest, the Amsterdamse Bostheater offers a summer program of open-air performances under the hanging branches of age-old trees. For two nights this season, the newly formed Seraphim Foundation premieresMy Brother's Keeper, a blend of storytelling and folk music performed byMezrab’s Sahand Sahebdivani and Raphael Rodan. 

My Brother’s Keeper| 25 – 26 July | Amsterdamse Bostheater

Friday Night Live at Contra

Ease into the weekend with the Friday Night Live jazz series at Contra, where guitarist David van der Grinten fronts the band in an evening of contemporary jazz. Set in the old-timey grandeur of the former academic club of the University of Amsterdam, this beautiful restaurant and jazz bar pairs great bites and cocktails with music performances late into the night. 

Friday Night Live| 24 July | Contra 

FILM & CINEMA

Local Pick: Camp, Cult and Queer at LAB111

For two months across July and August, popular cinema LAB111 in Amsterdam’s West spotlights the delicious and glittery aesthetics of queer film. Featuring everything from drag-comedy to lesbian neo-noir, this lineup of films pays loving homage to the history of queer cinema, in what is sure to be diverse, bold and beautiful celebration.   

Camp, Cult and Queer| July – August | LAB111

RESTAURANTS & BARS

Newly-Opened: Stads Cafe

Creators of city-wide hotspot Teds bring us Stads Cafe, located in the Westergas terrain and looking out over the green environs of Westerpark, wines and refined bites in an elegant understated space. Open 5 days a week from the early morning to late into the night, this 'city cafe' seems to live up to its name as Amsterdam's brand new an all-day living room.

Stads Cafe| Wednesday – Sunday | Westergasterrain

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