Culture Guide (July 2025)

Julidans

For: the daring dancer...

Julidans sets the tone for July: a month that celebrates exploratory and riotous dance performances, dreamed up by choreographers from across the globe. As Amsterdam’s premier contemporary dance festival, the annual Julidans program is a highlight of the city’s cultural calendar. Bold, experimental and always meaningful, the performances range from intimate solos to explosive dance troupes, offering something for every type of dance enthusiast. Keep your eye out for the solo performance by acclaimed Swiss choreographer Sarah Ludi, or catch a moving ensemble work by innovative Belgian company Peeping Tom. 

Julidans | 2 – 13 July | citywide

Kwaku

For: the culturalist...

Zuidoost staple Kwaku enters its eighth edition to celebrate culture, food and sport. What began as a football tournament has evolved into one of the country’s largest festivals, though the football tournament still makes up a crucial part of the event’s distinct flavour. Celebrating the richness and diversity of Zuidoost in Amsterdam, its signature blend of culture, music, food, football and dance emerged from the culture of the city’s Afro-Caribbean diaspora. The festival is held in Nelson Mandelapark across four weekends, welcoming over 300,000 visitors. Catch iconic rapper and storyteller Mensa on July 13th, or swing by on its final Sunday, when Kwaku goes Pink as part of Amsterdam Pride.

Kwaku Summer Festival | 12 July – 3 August | Nelson Mandelapark

Karel Martens

For: the artistic visionary…

The Stedelijk Museum spotlights Karel Martens, known as one of the country’s most influential post-war graphic designers. As the first full retrospective of this boundary-breaking designer, the exhibit spans his experimental and taste-making 65-year career. With his playful and striking designs, Martens shaped the visual sensibilities of generations, redefining the possibilities of graphic design. During the exhibition, you’ll discover over 300 works, including sketches from his archives, granting access into the mind of this unique and visionary creative.  

Karel Martens | from 11 July | Stedelijk Museum

Isamu Noguchi

For: the avant-garde designer…

Step into the imaginative universe of Isamu Noguchi with the Rijksmuseum’s free garden exhibition. For Noguchi, sculpture was more than an art form: it was a lens through which to understand the world around us. With his famed Akari light sculptures, Noguchi became an icon of modern sculpture, blurring the lines between art and design. Discover his elegant and playful forms in the beautiful surroundings of the Rijksmuseum Gardens, and wander indoors for an accompanying exhibit that spotlights the indelible mark he left on the world of design. 

Isamu Noguchi | 28 May – 26 October | Rijksmuseum

Keti Koti Festival

For: the commemorator...

Commemorating the abolition of slavery in the Netherlands, the yearly Keti Koti Festival – translating poignantly to “broken chains” – points to the country's painful colonial legacy in Suriname and the Dutch Antilles. The memorial will take place at Oosterpark, while the festival itself is held at Museumplein. Featuring an invigorating program of music and dance that pays homage to the resilience of the Surinamese and Antillean communities, Keti Koti is a day to reflect on the pain of the past, but also to celebrate – reminding us of the urgency and necessity of freedom for every person.  

Keti Koti Festival | 1 July | Museumplein

Amsterdam Roots Festival

For: the community-minded…

Returning to Oosterpark with its signature lineup of music, dance, theatre and hands-on workshops is the Amsterdam Roots Festival. With its emphasis on cultural inclusivity, this year's theme Blind Spots turns our attention to the stories we might have missed. With performances by international artists like Florence Adooni and Ak Dan Gwang Chil, the festival brings a timely message of cultural connection and community. 

Amsterdam Roots Festival | 6 July | Oosterpark

Photo League New York 1936–1951

For: the photography fiend…

Photo League New York 1936–1951 captures the story of an iconic city during a turbulent time. Tracing a remarkable chapter in the history of photography, this exhibit features images taken by the Photo League, a group of imaginative photographers from the periphery of society, many of whom were women, and many Jewish,  who documented New York's streets during a period of immense social and economic upheaval. Their focus on the city’s labourers, children and immigrants created a strong visual language of social critique that endures to this day. 

Photo League: New York 1936–1951 | From 27 June | Jewish Museum

De Parade

For: the summery delight-seeker…

Travelling theatre festival De Parade brightens the banks of the Amstel river once again this summer. Starting in July, this lively, carnivalesque festival brings an unbeatable atmosphere with a mix of performance, music and delicious food trucks. A cherished institution in the Netherlands, De Parade has Amsterdammers flocking to its whimsical fairground setting to experience nothing short of a perfect summer evening. 

De Parade | 25 July – 10 August | Amstelpark

ArtZuid Biennale

For: the outdoor art enthusiast...

What better way to enjoy the capital’s summer weather than to explore its renowned outdoor sculpture biennale ARTZUID? Featuring 60 outdoor artworks along a picturesque five-kilometre path, the ARTZUID route crosses the iconic Dutch architect Berlage's expansive Plan Zuid – which spans the tree-lined boulevards of the Apollolaan, the Minervalaan and the Churchilllaan. The exhibit’s works are curated by prominent names such as Rudi Fuchs and Roberto Meyer. Celebrating the beauty of outdoor sculpture and the surrounding landscape, ARTZUID is a public art experience like no other. 

ARTZUID | 17 May - 21 September | Zuid

Amsterdamse Bostheater

For: the cultural aesthete...

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. From classical plays to performances by big names in the music industry – think Spinvis, Nick Mulvey and Jake Bugg, to name a few – a night at the Amsterdamse Bostheater is always one to remember. This July, you'll find a wealth of performances playing out in this magical spot, from American rock band Bright Eyes to the whimsical Australian band The Paper Kites, as well as theatre and performances for children.

Amsterdamse Bostheater | May - August 2025, Amsterdamse Bos

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