Amsterdam’s vibrant festival programme marks it out as the must-visit destination for culture vultures looking for city breaks with an added dimension.
The Dutch Theatre Festival in September revisits the best theatre productions of the season, as chosen by critics and audiences. The theatre jury reveals the top ten productions in May each year and nominates producers and actors for awards, which are presented at a glittering gala held at the city’s Stadsschouwburg Theatre. The festival also includes youth theatre performances and a cutting-edge fringe taking in over 25 venues.
Fans of the dark side of film will be irresistibly drawn to Amsterdam’s Imagine Film Festival held in April at the Kriterion Cinema and dedicated to fantasy, horror, sci-fi and animation. The line up includes both art house and mainstream films and is a well-established fixture for buffs and professionals alike. The film programme is complemented by celebrity talks and masterclasses, not forgetting the infamous Night of Terror – a must for die-hard horror fans!
Jazz lovers flock to Zaandam, north of Amsterdam city centre, each June as it opens up its streets to all styles of jazz, from Dixieland to modern, spread over seven venues around the town. In between the stages are a huge variety of stalls and stands, including the famous Retromarkt fair and classic car displays. Marching bands, fun activities for kids and great food and drink make this a perfect event for all ages and tastes.
Another summer festival with wide appeal is the Amsterdam Roots Festival – five days of diverse music from all cultures and corners of the world. Some of the most popular names in roots and crossover appear in five locations across the city, as well as up-and-coming local and international talent. The programme culminates in a free open-air day in Oosterpark with bands, DJs, dance workshops and an extensive market selling exotic foods and other global goodies.
Julidans, the renowned international modern dance festival, brings the best of contemporary dance to Amsterdam each July with two weeks of ground-breaking performances from around the world, including a unique programme of non-Western forms of contemporary dance from the Middle East, North Africa and China. During the festival there are also opportunities to meet the artists, dine with the choreographers and discover the stars of the future at Julidans NEXT.
One of the most popular cultural events in the Netherlands is August’s Uitmarkt, which rings in the start of the new cultural season with theatre, music, book and film events featuring more than 450 performances and around 2000 artists. In addition to performances at the festival’s large outdoor venues including everything from classical music, hip hop and dance to theatre and jazz, there is a book market, Uitmarkt Junior, for the kids and an abundance of stands and stalls to enjoy – all for free!
Amsterdam’s lively arts scene offers over 90 festivals to choose from each year, so you’ll have a great excuse to return again and again! A wide range of cheap flights to Amsterdam will whisk you to the heart of the city from many UK airports, or take your time and enjoy the view on a ferry crossing from the East Coast ports – the choice is yours.
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