Amsterdam Travel Guide - Festivals & Events
April Festivals
Queen's Day (Konninginedag): is a great time to be in Amsterdam if you enjoy street parties, when the centre of Amsterdam is closed to vehicular traffic to make room for the many street markets and festive events that mark the celebration of Queen Beatrix's birthday at the end of April. Residents and visitors join in the merriment that’s accompanied by lots of food, drink and fireworks.
Queen's Day (Konninginedag): is a great time to be in Amsterdam if you enjoy street parties, when the centre of Amsterdam is closed to vehicular traffic to make room for the many street markets and festive events that mark the celebration of Queen Beatrix's birthday at the end of April. Residents and visitors join in the merriment that’s accompanied by lots of food, drink and fireworks.
June Festivals
The Holland Festival: is held in June, and constitutes the main arts event of the Dutch calendar. Amsterdam is awash with cultural events for more than three weeks, with performances staged at its new modern music venue (Muziekgebouw aan't IJJ) and other concert halls and theatres throughout the city.
The Holland Festival: is held in June, and constitutes the main arts event of the Dutch calendar. Amsterdam is awash with cultural events for more than three weeks, with performances staged at its new modern music venue (Muziekgebouw aan't IJJ) and other concert halls and theatres throughout the city.
August Festivals
The Amsterdam Canal Festival: or Grachtenfestival, is held in August, with classical music concerts held along two of the main canals. In all, nine days of performances are featured – held both indoors and out – with the grande finale being the Prinsengracht concert, on a stage floating at the front of the Pulitzer Hotel.
The Amsterdam Canal Festival: or Grachtenfestival, is held in August, with classical music concerts held along two of the main canals. In all, nine days of performances are featured – held both indoors and out – with the grande finale being the Prinsengracht concert, on a stage floating at the front of the Pulitzer Hotel.
Gay Pride: is an annual highlight for Amsterdam’s sizeable gay community. It is a joyful celebration held in early August, the main event of which is the very colourful carnival parade on Prinsengracht. Gays and lesbians from around the world come to participate.
November Festivals
The Cannabis Cup: is held in November, as a celebration of all things made from cannabis or related to marijuana. Amsterdam is well-known for its tolerance to less-than-traditional behaviour and by the canals, in red light district and at the city’s notorious ‘coffee shops’, you can buy and enjoy the finest cannabis available.
The Cannabis Cup: is held in November, as a celebration of all things made from cannabis or related to marijuana. Amsterdam is well-known for its tolerance to less-than-traditional behaviour and by the canals, in red light district and at the city’s notorious ‘coffee shops’, you can buy and enjoy the finest cannabis available.
Thousand of people from many countries around the world come to participate, appreciate this more relaxed lifestyle and enjoy the more than 400 ‘coffee shops’ in Amsterdam where you can buy and smoke marijuana legally.