A guide to holidays and festivities in the Netherlands
30 September 2025
Events for internationals in Amsterdam this month
Last updated on 12 October 2026 at 09:23
Reading time: 4 minutes
Each month, the Amsterdam area plays host to an incredible range of things to do. Lots are accessible to non-Dutch speakers while still letting you get involved with your local community and explore aspects of Dutch culture. This time of the year is all about celebrations that bring light into the autumnal darkness, from Diwali to St Martin’s Day.
Art fairs
Image from Jitske Nap
Whether you’re going for people-watching, window-shopping or the actual purchase of art, a visit to an art fair is always a fun day out. And the Amsterdam Area has a few great ones coming up:
• PAN Amsterdam, 1-8 November – Paintings, antiques, photography and modern and contemporary art as well as jewellery, designer furniture and objects from ancient cultures and faraway countries wait to be discovered at this renowned fair.
• Amsterdam Art Week, 18-22 November – Contemporary art sweeps Amsterdam, as 70 exhibitions are staged across galleries, museums, project spaces and corporate collections.
• Affordable Art Fair, 25-29 November – Getting your hands on a piece of art doesn’t have to break the bank, and there are thousands of paintings, original prints, photographs and sculptures on show here for first-time buyers as well as seasoned collectors.
Amsterdam City Walk
People often mention how nice a feature of marathons it is that you get to run past all a city’s landmarks. To which we say, Amsterdam deserves a bit more time than that. How about a walk? You can make it a swift one, if you like. With routes ranging from 10 to 33 km, the City Walk has plenty of options for participants.
Kids’ Museum Night – Haarlem
Image from Teylers Museum Haarlem
There’s something so magical about going places after hours. You might have been to your hometown’s museums dozens of times, but exploring them when they are supposed to be closed is a whole different story – and it’s what makes the museum night concept such an enduring success. This kids’ edition is set to get the parents just as inspired as the children.
Amsterdam Dance Event – ADE
Image from Jasper ten Tusscher
Club kids and music-lovers from all over the world descend on Amsterdam’s dancefloors each October for what’s the world’s biggest club festival (as well as Europe's leading electronic music conference). And it’s not just EDM or house music at nightclubs – the programme is so extensive and all-encompassing that you’re bound to find something to your liking.
Imagine Film Festival
Image from Imagine Film Festival
As an Amsterdammer, you could hang out at film festivals all year round, there are so many of them. But, this one is extra magical and a definite favourite for many locals. The festival serves up everything from sci-fi to cult, anime to fantasy and horror to experimental.
Diwali Festival
Image from Twycer / www.twycer.nl
Celebrate the festival of lights with magical performances, great food and a wide range of market stalls. Events take place in Amstelveen and Almere.
The Murakami Songs
Music inspired by the literary world of Haruki Murakami is performed by a cellist, a pianist/composer, a percussionist and an actor/singer in what promises to be a wondrous evening. The concert is part of the Muziekgebouw’s wonderful Cello Biennale, which should have a firm spot in the diary of all of the Amsterdam Area’s music lovers.
Amsterdam Storytelling Festival
Image from Raymond van Mil
Discover the stories of your city and its people at this charming event. This year’s theme is ‘The Seer’, inviting stories that explore the unknown.
St Martin’s Day (Sint-Maarten)
In a number of European countries, St Martin’s Day is celebrated by children going on a lantern procession in the early evening– it’s a beautiful tradition to ring in the seasons of shorter days and cosy nights. Read more about it here, and if you have school-age children, be prepared to go on a panicked hunt for a lantaarnstokje!
Various locations, 11 November
IDFA
Each November, Amsterdam transforms into a paradise for documentary film fans. The world’s largest documentary festival features lectures, workshops and over 300 films that tell stories about life around the world.
Arrival of Sinterklaas
Image from SSIA/Mark Sedney
Sinterklaas’ arrival in mid-November each year traditionally marks the official start of the festive season. He travels variously on horseback, by float and, more often than not, on water – in Amsterdam, he’s coming in by steamboat, in Almere, the arrival is celebrated at the harbour, and in Haarlem, he’s sailing down the River Spaarne.
Various dates and locations
See also:
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Whether you’re new to the Amsterdam Area or have been living here for years, our newsletter is designed to help internationals make the most of life in this vibrant region.
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