Events for internationals in Amsterdam this month
Open-air cinema
Somehow, few events encapsulate summer in the city as much as outdoor cinema. Watching a movie outside alongside fellow film enthusiasts, maybe in a park or by the waterside, perhaps with a cocktail in hand, is the perfect combination of laziness and thrills. Just what high summer calls for. And the Amsterdam Area has a lot of really good ones on offer.
- Cityscape Cinema (Hotel Arena and A’DAM Lookout, until 23 August) – classic romantic comedies mingling with Oscar faves and leftfield classics
- Movies at H’Art Museum (H’Art Museum, until 25 August) – an inspired selection of films including recent Oscar winners, renowned docs and all-time favourites, shown in the museum’s expansive courtyard.
- Pluk de Nacht (Het Stenen Hoofd, 19-29 August) – sultry summer evenings by the waterside, deckchairs, a campfire and cocktails.
- West Beach Film Festival (Sloterplas, 16-20 September) – Films by the lake, plus music, theatre, food, spoken word and art.
Tekenwandeling (Drawing walk)
The artist Liesje van den Berk leads ‘drawing walks’ through Amsterdam Noord. Groups set out with a pencil and pad to gather inspiration from their surroundings. No artistic experience is necessary, everyone is welcome. The drawing walks alternate with walks including storytelling; check with the bookshop Boekhandel van Noord for details.
Proefpark Haarlem
Live around here? Like trying new food? You’re in luck: the Amsterdam Area and surroundings host more foodie events than you can shake a stick at. This one has 30 food trucks with street food from all corners of the world – from North India to the Balkans.
The Maker Market
This monthly market at De Hallen in Amsterdam-West is a vibrant hub of craftsmanship, design and inspiration, with plenty of creations and original designs by makers from Amsterdam and beyond. Combine with a stroll around De Baarsjes and Bos en Lommer.
Amsterdam Fringe
This leftfield theatre festival takes over gardens, bars, warehouses and, yes, the odd theatre stage for its invigorating mishmash of theatre, performance and dance by emerging talents.
Serve the City Action Day
Volunteering organisation Serve the City runs a monthly Action Day where you can try some of the many activities that they organise. Get involved with community gardening, help at the local animal shelter, cook lunch for refugees or tackle odd jobs for an elderly neighbour… and meet new people while you’re at it.
Amsterdam City Swim
Each year, huge numbers of foolhardy courageous people brave the water of Amsterdam’s canals for this charity swim in aid of ALS research. If you’d rather not jump in, you can always watch – and donate, of course.
Food Waste-Free Week
The campaign group Food Waste Free United (Samen tegen voedselverspilling) organises a week full of events to fight food waste, from workshops on how to make kimchi or bread pudding to community lunches with food prepared from leftover produce.
Concertgebouw Orchestra Opening Night
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra celebrates the opening of the new cultural season with a free annual open-air concert, this time taking place in beautiful and bustling Oosterpark. The programme is made up of a collection of reliable crowd-pleasers, including Rossini’s William Tell Overture, Debussy’s Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune; bits of Bizet’s Carmen, some Johann Strauss, and Wagner’s Tannhäuser Ouverture.
Yayoi Kusama
If you are sometimes on the internet and have more than a fleeting interest in art, you are quite likely to have come across some of Yayoi Kusama’s visually arresting installations, such as her famous Infinity Rooms. But this is more than Instagram art: Kusama’s been a key figure in avant-garde movements since the 1960s. This major retrospective is an absolute must-see.
Open Monument Day
Each year, the public get the chance to enter through the normally closed doors of many of Amsterdam’s architectural marvels, listed buildings and other extraordinary heritage. You know that amazing building you cycle past on your way to work every day? Check the programme – you might be able to finally look inside.
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