The Best Amsterdam Festivals – Culture, Music & Performance Arts
The best festivals: Looking for the best Festivals to visit during your stay in Amsterdam? Uptown created a handy overview-article for all the ‘must-see’ festivals in and around Amsterdam during this summer. Some events last a single day, others last whole summer. We selected the most popular and prestigious Festivals that focus on music, theatre, arts, food, culture & lifestyle.
You can also look here for other things to do while staying in Amsterdam. Check our site regularly for more interesting stuff that will enhance your Amsterdam Experience.
MAY
The best festivals: Liberation Day Amsterdam (music & culture to celebrate our freeedom)
Vondelpark Open Air Theatre (music, dance, cabaret, stand-up comedy, children’s comedy)
JUNE
Vondelpark Open Air Theatre (music, dance, cabaret, stand-up comedy, children’s comedy)
Holland Festival (theatre, performance arts)
Amsterdamse Bostheater (music, theatre)
Artis ZOOmeravonden (sunset openings; learn what the animals get upto after sunset)
Open Garden Days (cultural, excursion; Amsterdams best kept secrets)
ITs Festival (Amsterdam International Theatreschool; young theatre talents on stage)
Taste of Amsterdam (food festival)
Mystic Garden (music)
Shoeless Open Air (music, dance)
Pandemonium (music; hardcore)
EkoTown (lifestyle; organic)
WESTwaARTS (fun-activities, series of mini-festivals)
Defqon.1 (music; electro)
Awakenings (music; techno)
Robeco SummerNights (music; classics, jazz, pop)
Viva Las Vega’s Food Festival (lifestyle; vega)
JULY
Vondelpark Open Air Theatre (music, dance, cabaret, stand-up comedy, children’s comedy)
Amsterdamse Bostheater (music, theatre)
Artis ZOOmeravonden (sunset openings; learn what the animals get upto after sunset)
Keti Koti Festival (culture; suriname)
Amsterdam Roots Festival (music; world/roots)Amsterdamse Bostheater (music, theatre)
WESTwaARTS (fun-activities, series of mini-festivals)
Robeco SummerNights (music; classics, jazz, pop)
Julidans (dance; modern/contemporary)
Gay & Lesbian Summer Festival (film)
Over het IJ Festival (theatre, music & food)
Comedytrain International Summer Festival (stand-up comedy)
Mercedes-Benz FashionWeek (fashion)
Pitch Festival (music; electro)
Luminosity Beach Festival (music; trance)
Sensation (music; dance)
De wereld draait buiten (theatre, culture, music & poems)
Turn up the Beach (music; dance)
Kwaku Summer (multicultural festival)
A day at the Park (music; house, techno & disco)
18 hrs (music; rock)
Wu-Stock (music; rap)
Viva Brasil Festival (music; latin)
Electronic Family (music; dance & trance)
Milkshake (music & lifestyle; respect, freedom, love & tolerance)
Hortus Festival (music; classical)
Klamme Handjes Festival (music; dance)
Amsterdam Live on Stage (music)
EdelWise Festival (music)
TIKTAK Eclectic Music Festival (music; eclectic)
C.R.A.F.T. Festival (music; dance)
Amsterdam Gay Pride (lifestyle; gay & lesbian)
AUGUST
Amsterdam Gay Pride (lifestyle; gay & lesbian)
Comedytrain International Summer Festival (stand-up comedy)
Vondelpark Open Air Theatre (music, dance, cabaret, stand-up comedy, children’s comedy)
Amsterdamse Bostheater (music, theatre)
Artis ZOOmeravonden (sunset openings; learn what the animals get upto after sunset)
Robeco SummerNights (music; classics, jazz, pop)
Kwaku Summer (multicultural festival)
Hortus Festival (music; classical)
Dekmantel Festival (music; electronic)
Sky City Festival (music; edm & pop)
Dance Valley (music; dance)
Pluk de Nacht (film)
Landjuweel (music & lifestyle; recommended!)
De Parade Theatre Festival (theatre; travelling festival)
Loveland Festival (music; dance)
Appelsap Fresh Music Festival (music; hiphop, electro)
Latin Village (music; eclectic)
World Cinema Amsterdam (film)
GrachtenFestival (music; recommended!)
BijlmerBios (film)
Summer Dance Forever (music; dance)
Magneet Festival (music & theatre)
the Brave Festival (music; indie, singer/songwriter, folk)
Mysteryland (music; dance)
Bollywood at the Park (film; india)
UITmarkt (cultural festival; theatre, music, books & film)
Voltt Loves Summer (music; electronic)
SEPTEMBER
Amsterdamse Bostheater (music, theatre) 3 jun – 6 sep
Dutch Theatre Festival (theatre) 4 – 14 sep
Amsterdam Fringe Festival (theatre; stage arts) 4 – 14 sep
West Beach Filmfestival (film) 5 – 27 sept
Valtifest (music; dance, electro, house) 6 sep
West’ival (film, photography, music & food) 12 – 14 sep
Amsterdam Fotoweek (photography) 12 – 21 sep
International Jewish Music Festival (music) 13 – 16 sep
Amsterdam Heritage Days (culture/architecture) 13 – 14 sep
Jordaan Festival (music; folk) 18 – 20 sep
Klassiek op het Amstelveld (music; classical) 20 sep
North Sea Surf Festival (music; surf) 20 sep
Because there are more than 300 festivals in Amsterdam during the year, it’s not possible to display it all here, but there is a Amsterdam Festival Guide with more info about our fair city’s cultural highlights.n You can also visit iAmsterdam.com regularly to stay updated.
