The Dutch are crazy for their football (soccer) teams. In Amsterdam the city’s team is called Ajax (pronounced eye-yaks). They are one of the best in Europe and can be counted on to give a good show. If you want to make friends with the Dutch you can’t miss by turning out for a game!
And now the Admirals, play American style football at the Arena. They’re becoming very popular with the locals. Another sign of the Americanization of the Dutch.
Music, theater, dance and film festival from Africa and other non-western countries.
In mid-April the state run museums in Holland offer free or heavily discounted admission. A good time to take in some art and culture.
This world famous music event takes place in Den Haag, a half hour from Amsterdam by train. Top artists from around the world converge for a weekend of great jazz in mid-July.
A good time to catch Jazz, blues, reggae and world music at the end of May. De Melkweg and other venues host the event.
Please visit their website for more details on this years show!
If you enjoy classical music, you might want to check this out in August. Several canal boats act as a stage in the Princengracht canal for a live concert. A very unusual, but typically Dutch event, it takes place in front of the Pulitzer Hotel. This is part of the much larger Grachtenfestival of diverse music performances on the canals around Amsterdam.
Music lovers jam the surrounding streets and squeeze into the canal itself. The Princengracht becomes blocaded with boats full of partygoers eating and drinking to the accompaniment of wonderful classical music floating across the canal.
During the whole month of June Holland celebrates the arts with venues everywhere hosting performances by Dutch and international artists. Music tops the list but drama, dance and cabaret are also featured.
This annual event in the fall highlights the upcoming season of music and performing arts. All around Amsterdam stages are setup for various groups to preview their talents. The Dam Square has the biggest stage with the best acts. The most amazing part is you get all this entertainment for FREE! That is a rare thing in Holland. If you are staying for a few months it’s possible to get discounts by subscribing to a series of performances. The whole scheme is rather complex to sort out, but there are some good values.
If you like Christmas, you’ll love Holland. They celebrate it three times! In late November they mark the arrival of Sinterklaas (our Santa Claus is derived from the Dutch holiday). Sinterklaas and his entourage of black (supposedly Moorish, but really Dutch in blackface) helpers travel from town to town giving little goodies (usually ginger cookies) to children.
Amsterdam has hundreds of bridges including old and new drawbridges.
Check out Amsterdam, City of Bridges for more info and photos.