Amsterdam Weekend Guide (16–18 October)

FESTIVALS & EVENTS

The Art Of Drinks

Fancy discovering new wines, cocktails and spirits? Then The Art of Drinks is the place for you. Makers from home and abroad present their favourite drinks here, which you can sample at the various stands with your admission ticket. Fancy trying something a little more exclusive? Then opt for a €15 or €25 tasting passport to discover five special drinks. Would you like to do more than just taste, and also learn more about what’s in your glass? Then take a look in the Tasting Theatre, where experts will introduce you to the origins and production process of various drinks. There’s plenty to enjoy later in the day too: from 7.30 pm, De Kopstootbar’s Disco Bingo is on the programme. Who knows, you might even go home with a great prize!

• 17 October | De Kromhouthal | 15.00 – 22.00 | From € 35 | more information

TCS Amsterdam Marathon

The TCS Amsterdam Marathon is getting underway again! The regular 7.5 km, half marathon and full marathon are sold out, but you can still secure a race number for the 7.5 km Business Run, Kids Run and Heroes Run. Not much of a runner? Then there’s always another discipline in which you can excel: enthusiastically cheering from the sidelines.

• 17-18 October | starting point Olympic Stadium or Stadionweg | Free for spectators | more information

Budget Pick: Denim Days Market

Looking for a unique pair of jeans? Then head to Denim Days at De Hallen, where you can shop for vintage jeans and accessories. You can also give your favourite denim a second life during the sashiko workshop, where you’ll learn how to repair jeans decoratively. There’s also a workshop on dyeing socks with natural indigo. A great weekend tip for anyone who wants to shop sustainably and get creative.

• 16-17 October | De Hallen | Free | more information

ART & EXHIBITIONS

Adam Pendleton

What happens when you stretch the rules of art—and those of a museum? American artist Adam Pendleton explores the boundaries of abstract art in his first solo exhibition, Some Wild Kind of Language. He combines paint, ink, text and geometric forms to create layered compositions. A major highlight is the Stedelijk Museum's monumental staircase, whose walls have been painted black specifically for the exhibition. Against this dark backdrop hang 8 large drawings made with gold ink. By displaying his work in unexpected places, Pendleton challenges you to look at art differently.

• 10 October - 17 January | Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam | € 22.50 | buy tickets

Wildcard Pick: AmsterArt in the Church

Admire, buy and even make art yourself: this weekend, it’s all possible in the monumental Posthoornkerk, where Dutch and international artists are exhibiting and offering their work for sale. Friday evening is the grand opening, with live music and the chance to meet the artists. Various workshops are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. During Indian Roots & Reinvention, for example, you can create your own painting using acrylic paint and pastel chalk, inspired by traditional Indian painting. Part of the ticket proceeds will go towards the restoration of the Vondelkerk.

• 16-18 October | Posthoornkerk | €5 | more information

Whistler. Dandy and Disrupter

James McNeill Whistler was a painter, printmaker and enfant terrible – a kind of 19th-century influencer. He was constantly looking for new ways to create art. Vincent van Gogh admired his work and considered him one of the most highly regarded artists of his time. In this first retrospective exhibition of his work, discover what made Whistler such a remarkable and influential artist.

• 16 October-10 January | Van Gogh Museum | €25 | more information

CONCERTS & GIGS

Allie X

One of indie pop’s most daring and unsung acts, Canadian singer Allie X reinvents herself with every album. This time, donning an ethereal, Victorian-esque aesthetic for the visuals in her fourth LPHappiness is Going to Get You, her sound is sparse, organic and more subdued than her last outings. Catch her at Melkweg, where she’ll reel off her latest plus favourites from Cape God and Super Sunset  – we’re holding out for a live rendition ofFresh Laundry,ScienceorGirl of the Year(give them a listen before you go).

17 October | doors open 19:00 | Melkweg | buy tickets

Editor's Pick: Myles Sanko

Fancy a Friday night full of soul, groove and jazz? Then the Melkweg is the place to be. This Friday, British singer Myles Sanko will present his new album, I See My Light, which alternates warm soul, jazz, and hip-hop with Ghanaian rhythms. His songs are about self-confidence and personal growth. With a concert like this in store, choosing between the Melkweg and Friday night TV suddenly becomes a whole lot easier.

• 16 October | 7:30 pm | Melkweg | from € 29.90 | buy tickets

Sanam

The Lebanese band Sanam has already won many hearts at festivals such as Le Guess Who? and Rewire. This weekend, the Beirut-based band will perform at the Bimhuis, featuring music from the album Sametou Sawtan. The songs explore loss, alienation and the desire for connection. Themes that resonate with life in Lebanon, where political instability and a prolonged economic crisis affect everyday life. Singer Sandy Chamoun describes it as the distance you can feel from your own home, even when you still live there. With Arabic vocals, rock, jazz and electronics, the band conveys these feelings.

• 18 October | 20:30 | Bimhuis | more information

RESTAURANTS & BARS

De Pijp has a new restaurant. In the space where Restaurant JA was until recently, Steffie and Daan opened their own place, Omi, on 1 October. Daan previously gained experience at Marie, BAUT and Ron Blaauw. With her background in hospitality and event management, Steffie also brings plenty of experience in the restaurant industry. Dinner at Omi consists of three courses and can be expanded with additional dishes, such as sea bass with kohlrabi and mussels with gnocchi. The menu also features many dishes inspired by family recipes, such as ‘Broeder’. A comfort food dish with crottin cheese and port, inspired by the food they remember from their grandmothers. And with so much nostalgic goodness to choose from, you may enjoy lingering over dinner here just as much as you do at your own grandmother’s.

• Omi | open from 1 October, Tue–Fri from 17:00 | price range €-€€ | Tweede Jan Steenstraat 3

Follow us on social media

Stay up to date with events and activities in Amsterdam, get inspiration for your next day out and discover special places via our @Iamsterdam Instagram account and @Iamsterdam_official TikTok channel.