Culture Guide (January 2025)

Die ersten Menschen

For: the not so old-school maestro...

Self-described as an erotic mystery, this moving opera tells the story of earthly temptation as Adam and Chawa fall from grace in God’s garden. Composed by Rudi Stephan before his untimely death during World War II, Die ersten Menschen returns to the Dutch National Opera with renewed vitality. Bringing a contemporary sensibility to Stephan’s affecting score, this story of desire and consequence will stay with you long after its final scene.

Die ersten Menschen | 22 January - 2 February | National Opera & Ballet

Normality No More

For: the bold and the brave…

Reflecting poignant and complex experiences of neurodiversity, Normality No More takes audiences into the highly personal landscape of the mind. The performance defies conventional concepts of normality with dynamic movement and evocative music, offering a moving study of identity and perception in our modern world. Set to the beloved sounds of Schubert's Winterreise, this exciting fusion of contemporary dance and classical music explores the beauty and complexity of the human experience.

Normality No More | 28 - 29 January | International Theatre Amsterdam

The Picture of Dorian Gray

For: the Wilde at heart...

Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray, a tragic tale of beauty and obsession, is adapted for the stage by Bird Brain Theatre at Mike’s Badhuistheater. With a contemporary twist, this daring reinvention brings Wilde's distinct caustic humour and searing melancholy to life. Expect a visually stunning show that explores vanity, morality and the cost of seeking eternal youth.

The Picture of Dorian Gray | 17 - 18 January | Mike's Badhuistheater

Causing a Scene

For: the theatre buff...

This theatrical whirlwind is an exciting feat of fast-paced creativity. Over 24 hours, six writers, six directors, two producers, and 24 actors collaborate to write, rehearse and perform six original short plays for a live audience in a single day. Causing a Scene: 24 Hour Queer Theatre is produced in collaboration with Theatre Bellevue and Backlash Media, and is part of Brave Space, a storytelling program that celebrates diversity and experimental new voices. Thriving on the unfiltered and the unafraid, this thrilling program is sure to keep you on your toes.

Check out this roundup for more LGBTQI+ theatre and stage in 2025.

Causing a Scene: 24 Hour Queer Theatre | 8 January | Theater Bellevue

Hortus by Night

For: the botany enthusiast...

Glühwein in the garden, anyone? This winter, Amsterdam's Hortus Botanicus transforms into a lit-up wonderland for Hortus by Night, an enchanting nighttime escape into one of the world's oldest botanical gardens. Explore the garden after dark, guided by storytelling and light installations that beautifully illuminate the scene. The centrepiece of this year's audiovisual installation is a voyage through time created by light artists Tim Vermeulen and Louise te Poele, which emulates the planetary movements of our universe.

Hortus by Night | until 5 January | Hortus Botanicus

Lunar New Year

For: the cultural celebrator…

Catch the Lunar New Year celebrations in Amsterdam's Chinatown this January as the city comes alive in honour of the Year of the Snake. Centred around the Nieuwmarkt and Zeedijk, the celebrations include dance and live music to signify the arrival of good fortune and the expulsion of evil spirits. Bask in this coming together of sound, colour and culture in the heart of the city.

Lunar New Year | 29 January | Citywide

New Art at NDSM

For: the art lover…

From January onwards, two new works of art will grace the city's NDSM wharf. Continuing the area's already buzzing reputation for forward-thinking art installations, these art works will be displayed in the open air alongside the IJ river. Flock to the waterfront to take in Slackwater, an avant-garde sculptural piece by Holly Hendry, and a conceptual work entitled Sunset in Amsterdam by Mike Rijnierse and Ludmila Rodrigues, featuring a glittering sphere dangling above the IJ that emulates the sun setting over the water. These site-specific pieces examine the relationship between art, water, and NDSM's ever-changing identity as part of Amsterdam's (Un)monumenting initiative.

(Un)Monumenting | 16 January onwards | NDSM

Dear Frail Male

For: the courageous critic...

What does masculinity signify today? Just van Bommel explores the physical and symbolic weight of masculinity in a captivating performance. Taking to Frascati's intimate stage, van Bommel revisits a night full of difficult reckonings, using a careful medley of humour, compassion and cultural criticism to unpack the fragility of male identity. Offering a moving commentary on our modern world and its complexities, van Bommel examines masculinity through thoughtfully composed movement and sharp wit.

Dear Frail Male | 21 January - 1 February | Frascati

Legends of Amsterdam

For: the history buff...

An innovative retelling of the city's most formative historic stories, the Legends of Amsterdam exhibit fuses technology and art into a quintessentially Dutch rendering of the past. The show, which works closely with AI artist Harrison May, creates immersive visual interpretations of the city's iconic myths and tales. Bringing historical monuments and individuals into sharp new relief, this forward-thinking convergence of art, artificial intelligence and history pays tribute to Amsterdam's 750th anniversary.

Legends of Amsterdam | 25 October 2024 - 31 January 2025 | City Hall Amsterdam

National Tulip Day

For: the flower aficionado…

Once a year, tulip growers invite visitors and locals alike to partake in a delightful tradition: picking your own tulips for free at a picking garden in Museumplein, all in honour of National Tulip Day. Celebrating the formal start of tulip season in the Netherlands, this day spotlights the country's emblematic flower in all its colourful glory. With thousands of flowers to choose from, it's a truly joyful celebration of nature and community.

National Tulip Day | 18 January | Museumplein

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