There’s always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what’s on the agenda for May 2026? Amsterdam is buzzing, even in 2026. From inspiring exhibitions to new plays and film screenings, the city is once again brimming with cultural highlights. Step into a museum, take a seat in the theater, or discover a special event. Looking to try something new? Check out our latest cultural tips here!
There’s always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what’s on the agenda for April 2026? Amsterdam is buzzing, even in 2026. From inspiring exhibitions to new plays and film screenings, the city is once again brimming with cultural highlights. Step into a museum, take a seat in the theater, or discover a special event. Looking to try something new? Check out our latest cultural tips here!
The Zuidas. Amsterdam Zuidas is a neighborhood undergoing rapid transformation, where international allure and everyday life are increasingly converging. Once known primarily as a business district, the area is developing into a mixed-use neighborhood where living, working, and studying reinforce each other. View the neighborhood guide and our latest listings.
There is always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what will we be doing in March 2026? Amsterdam will still be buzzing in 2026. From inspiring exhibitions to new theater plays and film screenings, the city will once again be full of cultural highlights. Step into a museum, dive into a theater, or discover a special event. Want to experience something new? Check out our latest cultural tips here!
There is always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what will we be doing in February 2026? Amsterdam will still be buzzing in 2026. From inspiring exhibitions to new plays and film screenings, the city will once again be full of cultural highlights. Step into a museum, dive into a theater, or discover a special event. Want to experience something new? Check out our latest cultural tips here!
2025, new openings. You don't have to look far to see how Amsterdam continues to change. Sometimes that change isn't in grand gestures, but in small doors that opened, in people who dared to turn their dreams into a place. In 2025, new businesses opened throughout the city that are more than just a new address on the map. Behind every opening is a story of origin, craftsmanship, and choices that determine how we eat, drink, and gather today. Read and view the list by district.
There is always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what will we be doing in January 2026? Amsterdam is buzzing – even in 2026. From inspiring exhibitions to new plays and film screenings, the city is once again full of cultural highlights. Step into a museum, dive into a theater, or discover a special event. Want to experience something new? Check out our latest cultural tips here!
Christmas special! There is always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what will we do during Christmas and the holidays in 2025? For all lovers of Christmas markets, Christmas delicacies, Christmas movies, and candlelight concerts, I have listed some highlights here. Happy holidays and a happy New Year! Check out our latest cultural tips here!
Ten years of Shortlist Amsterdam, all addresses. Sisters Famke and Floor van Praag celebrate the anniversary of their cookbook series about great restaurants with a brand-new edition full of simple, successful recipes. To complete the picture, we collected all the Shortlist addresses from the past ten years and divided them by neighborhood, creating a culinary guide to Amsterdam today. Text: Broersma, images: Petrovsky & Ramone, restaurant selection: Shortlist
De Weteringbuurt is a small, characterful neighborhood in the center of Amsterdam. It is located between Leidseplein, the Rijksmuseum and the Prinsengracht and feels like a quiet enclave in the middle of the hustle and bustle. Because of its location near museums, theaters and the Vondelpark, many residents live there who love the urban vibrancy but are still looking for a quiet living environment. View the neighborhood guide and our latest offer
There's always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what about December 2025? Amsterdam is buzzing – even this autumn. From inspiring exhibitions to new plays and film screenings: the city is once again full of cultural highlights. Step into a museum, dive into a theater, or discover a special event. Fancy experiencing something new? Check out our latest cultural tips here!
There's always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what about November 2025? Amsterdam is buzzing – even this autumn. From inspiring exhibitions to new plays and film screenings: the city is once again full of cultural highlights. Step into a museum, dive into a theater, or discover a special event. Fancy experiencing something new? Check out our latest cultural tips here!
Neighborhood guide: Prinseneiland is a quiet enclave in the heart of Amsterdam, surrounded by water and history. The old warehouses, once filled with merchandise, now form the backdrop for spacious lofts and studios. Brick, beams and stepped gables are reminiscent of the shipyards of the Golden Age. Culinary addresses such as Tannay, BAK and Calisto are within walking distance, while 't Papeneiland, JWO Lekkernijen and the Lindengrachtmarkt give the neighborhood its taste and soul. Read our tips here
There's always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what about October 2025? Amsterdam is buzzing – even this autumn. From inspiring exhibitions to new plays and film screenings: the city is once again full of cultural highlights. Step into a museum, dive into a theater, or discover a special event. Fancy experiencing something new? Check out our latest cultural tips here!
Amsterdam-Noord has long been a blind spot on the urban map. For many, it was 'the other side' — a part of the city you passed through on the way to something else. But those who now take the ferry from Central Station no longer disembark in the fringes of the city. On the contrary: you arrive in a dynamic area that is reinventing Amsterdam.
There's always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what about September 2025? Amsterdam is buzzing – even this summer. From inspiring exhibitions to new plays and film screenings: the city is once again full of cultural highlights. Step into a museum, dive into a theater, or discover a special event. Fancy experiencing something new? Check out our latest cultural tips here!
Meet the entrepreneur, in this series Maud Moody. Toscanini has been a household name in Amsterdam for forty years. Not only because of the tasteful, homely Italian cuisine, but also because of the people behind the business. Maud Moody, one of the founders, tells how it all started – and how a holiday in Rome led to one of the city's most beloved restaurants. Read the whole story
Neighborhood guide: The Oosterparkbuurt is lively and culturally diverse. Around the park you will find cafes and restaurants that make the neighborhood a popular place for residents and visitors alike. The Oosterparkbuurt grew at the end of the 19th century around the park of the same name, designed by Leonard Springer. The park was opened in 1891 and still forms the green heart of the district. Walking paths, ponds and monuments give it an almost stately allure, while local residents jog, picnic and meet each other there every day. Read our tips here
Neighborhood guide (around) De Plantagebuurt: De Plantagebuurt originated in the 17th century as an expansion district outside the busy city center. Unlike the canal ring, this area was not completely built up with canal houses, but was designed as a green part of the city, with gardens, avenues, and country houses. Hence the name 'Plantage' – referring to planting and space. Today, the Plantagebuurt is a particularly quiet enclave in the center, where culture and nature merge in a natural way. View our selection here
There's always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what about August 2025? Amsterdam is buzzing – even this summer. From inspiring exhibitions to new plays and film screenings: the city is once again full of cultural highlights. Step into a museum, dive into a theater, or discover a special event. Fancy experiencing something new? Check out our latest cultural tips here!
There's always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what about July 2025? Amsterdam is buzzing – even this summer. From inspiring exhibitions to new plays and film screenings: the city is once again full of cultural highlights. Step into a museum, dive into a theater, or discover a special event. Fancy experiencing something new? Check out our latest cultural tips here!
Neighborhood guide (around) the Willemspark: Anyone walking through the Willemspark immediately notices: there is space here, there is peace. But the charm of this neighborhood lies not only in the stately avenues and the Vondelpark around the corner. It is precisely that combination with everything that Amsterdam-South has to offer that makes living here so attractive. From Emmaplein, the streets fan out towards Museumplein, Concertgebouw, Cornelis Schuytstraat and the chic neighborhoods of Oud-Zuid. On the west side, the transition to the Schinkelkwartier, Hoofddorpplein and the Schinkelbuurt begins — lively, with good restaurants and fine specialty shops. And towards the south, the Willemspark connects almost seamlessly to the Olympic Quarter and the Stadionbuurt: wide streets, lots of light, fine terraces and hidden favorites. View our selection here
There's always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what about June 2025? Amsterdam is buzzing – even this spring. From inspiring exhibitions to new plays and film screenings: the city is once again full of cultural highlights. Step into a museum, dive into a theater, or discover a special event. Fancy experiencing something new? Check out our latest cultural tips here!
Find, Collect, Live. A selection of exceptional interior design addresses in Amsterdam. From traditional workshops to minimalist design stores, and from vintage classics to unique objects you won't find anywhere else. In every neighborhood, you'll discover places where interior design meets architecture, materials, and atmosphere. This guide brings together the best addresses.
Between city and tranquility: where taste and peace come together. For those who sometimes want to leave the city behind, but don't want to give up the good life, we have good news. Surrounding Amsterdam is a network of places that combine tranquility, taste, and character. You can cycle or drive there in no time—and suddenly you're somewhere where the grass is truly greener, the cheeses are riper, and the wine is surprisingly local. A selection of our favorite restaurants, farms, and delicatessens—between city and tranquility. View our tips
There's always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what about May 2025? Amsterdam is buzzing – even this spring. From inspiring exhibitions to new plays and film screenings: the city is once again full of cultural highlights. Step into a museum, dive into a theater, or discover a special event. Fancy experiencing something new? Check out our latest cultural tips here!
There's always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what about April 2025? In the new year, we can visit museums, theaters, and cinemas again, and enjoy all the cultural activities that Amsterdam has to offer. The city's offerings are diverse and interesting once more! Read our latest cultural tips here.
There's always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what about March 2025? In the new year, we can visit museums, theaters, and cinemas again, and enjoy all the cultural activities that Amsterdam has to offer. The city's offerings are diverse and interesting once more! Read our latest cultural tips here.
There's always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what about February 2025? In the new year, we can visit museums, theaters, and cinemas again, and enjoy all the cultural activities that Amsterdam has to offer. The city's offerings are diverse and interesting once more! Read our latest cultural tips here.
The Museum Quarter in Amsterdam is one of the most iconic districts of the city. Located in the southern part of the city center, this neighborhood offers a unique mix of rich history, impressive architecture, world-famous art and culture, and green oases such as the Vondelpark. It is the place where the grandeur of the past comes together with the vibrancy of the present. Check out the neighborhood guide and our latest offers
Amsterdam, a city steeped in history and creativity, is a true treasure trove for art lovers. Amidst the charming canals and picturesque streets lies an impressive range of galleries that offer a platform for both established names and emerging talent. For residents and visitors, this cultural landscape offers not only inspiration, but also a unique connection between art and urban life. Read about some special galleries here and view the entire range of the city in the guide
There's always something fun to do in Amsterdam, but what about January 2025? In the new year, we can visit museums, theaters, and cinemas again, and enjoy all the cultural activities that Amsterdam has to offer. The city's offerings are diverse and interesting once more! Read our latest cultural tips here.
Amsterdam is a city that can rightly be called a paradise for museum lovers. From the world-famous Rijksmuseum to the intimate Van Gogh Museum, art and history come together here in a way that you won't find anywhere else. The museums of Amsterdam distinguish themselves through their unique mix of masterpieces from the Golden Age and modern innovation. Where else can you admire a Rembrandt and then enjoy interactive experiences, such as in the Moco Museum or the NXT Museum, which is entirely focused on digital art? In addition, the small-scale and specialized museums, such as the Tassenmuseum or the Verzetsmuseum, make the city a true treasure trove of stories and culture. The location of many museums in historic canal houses or iconic buildings, such as the modern Eye Filmmuseum, adds an extra dimension to the experience. This unique combination of tradition, diversity and innovation makes the museums of Amsterdam a cultural experience that cannot be compared with any other city. View the range of the most unique museums in Amsterdam here
The 37th edition of PAN Amsterdam, an eclectic fair for art, antiques and design, will take place from Sunday 24 November to Sunday 1 December 2024. Approximately 125 established art dealers, antique dealers and gallery owners will present a versatile, high-quality range of art that covers more than 5,000 years of art history and is visited annually by more than 40,000 art buyers and enthusiasts. A team of 80 independent experts is responsible for the authenticity and quality of the range. The 37th edition will take place in RAI Amsterdam. Read more here
The Affordable Art Fair was founded in 1999 by Will Ramsay, with the intention of making buying art accessible to everyone. This commendable initiative has now grown into one of the largest art fairs in the world. For the current calendar year alone, 13 fairs are planned worldwide. The formula is simple. Under the motto 'discover the pleasure of collecting art', Affordable Art Fair offers a relaxed and inspiring environment that offers everyone the opportunity to explore, obtain information and buy contemporary art. Read more here
Neighborhood guide; the Vondelpark neighborhood West. 'What makes this location so special is that you actually get the best of three districts: Oud-West, Oud-Zuid and Zuid.' You benefit from the convenience and charm of each neighborhood. For my daily groceries, I always enjoy going to butcher Van der Laan on the Zeilstraat – the quality is top-notch there! For fresh fish, the IJmuider Vishandel on the Amstelveenseweg is my regular spot. And when it comes to wine, Chabrol on the Overtoom is definitely the place to be for the best wines. For an evening of dining out, Ron Gastrobar on the Sophialaan is an absolute favorite, as is Bonnie on the Amstelveenseweg, where the atmosphere is always cozy! And for lovers of Asian or Indian cuisine, there are plenty of great restaurants within walking distance, such as Restaurant Blauw. For a quick and delicious takeaway meal, you should go to Kokita. Read the story of these residents and view the other hotspots in this neighborhood.
Unseen, the leading international art fair for contemporary photography, is celebrating its eleventh edition. Seventy-eight galleries are exhibiting at Westergas, Amsterdam's iconic art and culture village. During Unseen, Amsterdam has a wonderful selection of photography exhibitions to offer. Museums and institutions such as Foam, Huis Marseille, and De Brakke Grond, known for their focus on the avant-garde, have adapted their programming. Their exceptional offerings reflect the city's strong photographic tradition. Read more here.
Neighborhood guide: around the Apollobuurt. 'The Apollobuurt neighborhood is characterized by a spacious and luxurious design. The streets are named after concepts from ancient Greece and after painters and composers. With the adjacent Museum Quarter, the Willemsparkbuurt and the Stadionbuurt, there is a wide range of culture, art and excellent shops and restaurants.' View the selection here
Bread is an indispensable part of the Dutch household. A sandwich with cheese, peanut butter, or chocolate sprinkles is almost symbolic of our culture. In fact, 74 percent of Dutch people see bread as cultural heritage. So it's no surprise that you sometimes get tired of your own packed lunches. That's why we've selected a range of tasty and affordable sandwiches in Amsterdam for you. Read our tips here!
Coffee is naturally bitter. Over the centuries, various methods have been devised to suppress the bitter taste, bring out the other aromas, and regulate the amount of caffeine. A basic rule is that the caffeine and bitter taste are absorbed into the water slightly more slowly than the other aromas. Many factors determine the taste, such as the coffee bean, the roasting method, the type of water, the temperature, and the brewing methods. They know all about these things.
Italians came to the Netherlands centuries ago. They made ice cream, laid Italian granite terrazzo, were chimney sweeps, or worked in the mines in Limburg. These Italian migrant workers helped rebuild the Netherlands after the Second World War and also had a major influence on our food culture. Read here about the best places in Amsterdam to shop for Italian groceries and eat and drink Italian.
The Andreas Schelfhoutstraat is just a stone's throw away from the eclectic Amsterdam West where you can enjoy trendy coffee bars, cafes and restaurants in the Baarsjes.
At the end of the street is the canal, the Schinkel. On the other side of the water is the Amstelveenseweg. Here you will find good local shops in addition to traditional cafes and trendy restaurants. View the neighborhood guide
Neighborhood guide: De Pijp. A selection of fine places around the Sarphatipark. Amsterdamsche Courant (1892): "The best time to see why De Pijp is named as such is in the morning between eight and nine o'clock. If you station yourself then, you will see what a stream of people rushes through the streets to the old city; then they are in fact long, wide pipes."
The Jordaan, a selection of fine places around the Westerstraat. Along the canals and in the narrow streets of the Jordaan are independent shops, cozy pubs, and trendy eateries. There are several markets in the Jordaan, such as the Saturday market on the Lindengracht, the Monday morning and Saturday market on the Noordermarkt, and the Monday morning (fabrics) market in the Westerstraat. View the neighborhood guide
In the narrow streets of Amsterdam you will find the 'brown cafes', traditional pubs where time seems to stand still. These places owe their name to the warm, brown tones of the wooden interiors, formed by years of smoke and the flickering light of candles. Here, locals and tourists come together to enjoy a glass of beer, a jenever or a simple snack, such as a cheese board or bitterballen. The charm of these cafes lies in their timelessness: regular guests have known the bartender for years, and stories from the past are still shared. Icons such as Café Chris and Café Hoppe breathe history and offer an intimate atmosphere that connects generations. A visit to a brown cafe is not just having a drink, it is a step into the rich tradition of Amsterdam. Check out our selection of cozy brown cafes in Amsterdam
© Morad Bouchakour (1999). On the way to a job interview.
Aernoud Bourdrez.
When you walk into Aernoud Bourdrez's office, nothing seems to indicate that this is a law practice. It feels more like an artist's studio: walls covered with photographs, a light box with the infamous Jackass X-ray, still lifes, and objects, each suggesting a story. This is no coincidence. Bourdrez never ended up at the Rietveld Academy, where he was rejected as a young man, but the art world did eventually become his permanent domain. Not through creating art, but through the law that brought him into that very domain.
© Jacqueline Hassink (Fitting Rooms, Givenchy, 2011).
© Rafaël Rozendaal (Into Time 15 06 01, 2015).
An exhibition that showcased his development.
Anyone who wants to understand Bourdrez's collection must start with the exhibition he curated at Huize Frankendael. He decided not to organize the exhibition as a lawyer (too cliché), but as a way to show his own evolution as a collector. Eight Rooms, eight phases. Not of art history, but of personal development.
The first room contained work that appealed to him in his early years: images that are quickly readable. Photography that revolves around color, beauty, directness. The kind of work that triggers something in you without you knowing why. Bourdrez calls this his instinctive starting point: buying what you immediately understand. This was followed by images that mainly evoke associations (The associative phase). Works that draw you into the world because they refer to beauty, desire, elegance, or tension: close-ups of faces, the female body, animals, details that are almost cinematic. Not because they are superficial, but because they immediately capture your gaze.
© Eddo Hartmann (Black Pylon, Semipalatinsk Test Site, Kazakhstan, 2022).
© Paul Huf (Bonny after the shoot, 1964).
In the next room, his attention shifted to photographers who develop a precise visual language: artists who work both autonomously and on commission, and for whom form, composition, and idea coincide. Here, it became clear how important the image as an object becomes when it is supported by a consistent visual logic. Next came the works in which the story behind the image took center stage. Photography that not only records, but follows, documents, or bears witness. Portraits taken over several years, or series in which a person's life visibly changes. Here, for Bourdrez, the narrative became more important than the appearance. The moment he began collecting art with his head in Location just with his eye.
Next came a room devoted to appropriation art. This room focused on artists who re-use, distort, or repurpose existing images in a new context. For Bourdrez, this marked a turning point: the moment he began to see art as a way of questioning systems. What is original? Who owns an image? What does authorship mean? This is where his legal world first began to connect with his art world.
The last room brought everything together: works in which he himself became part of the process. Legal letters, negotiations, agreements, misunderstandings, and constructions suddenly became part of the artwork. Not because he had planned it that way, but because some works only come into being when someone challenges the system.
© Dana Lixenberg (Valentino, 1999).
© Paul Kooiker (Hunting and Fishing, 1999).
© Paul Blanca (Self-Portrait with Rat, 1993).
His criteria: the artist above the work.
Based on this conviction, Bourdrez developed eight criteria for purchasing art. Only three relate to the image itself; five relate to the artist. It starts with the question of whether a work truly moves him, but his attention quickly shifts to the artist: is there a powerful story behind the work? How scarce is the oeuvre and how transparent is the artist about it? Is he or she intelligent, capable of self-reflection, and able to reinvent themselves? Another criterion that became increasingly important to Bourdrez is stamina. Artists who continue to search, explore, and persevere—even when the going gets tough—get his attention more than artists who seek comfort. And finally, he looks at an artist's position in the field: who does someone work with, how is the oeuvre developing, and what steps are being taken to further the work? As a result, his collection is not a collection of objects, but a collection of ways of looking.
© Edited self-portrait Nan Goldin.
© RAAAF (Deltawerk //, 2019).
© Koen Hauser (Sculptural Nude, 2012).
© Piet Parra (This Seat is Taken, 2024).
© Jacqueline Hassink (Table of Power, Board Room BMW, 1995).
© Gert-Jan Kocken (Disaster Areas, 2004).
The artists who shaped him.
Bourdrez speaks with great precision about artists who have helped him sharpen his gaze. Paul Kooiker is one of them: an artist who surprises me every time with the steps he takes. Inspiring and inimitable. Scheltens & Abbenes combine Japanese-style precision with an attractive but understated visual language; photography that uses perfectionism not as a result, but as a subject. He admires Lixenberg for her perseverance and human approach. For him, Rafaël Rozendaal is an artist who develops so autonomously that he has to learn to look anew each time.
It is art that not only appeals to him aesthetically, but also influences his way of thinking. The artists are mirrors through which he sees his own profession and the position he occupies within it more clearly.
Law as a creative discipline.
In his practice, Bourdrez explores possibilities for connection in conflict, which is more in line with the language of the art world than the polarization that lawyers tend to fuel. The results he is most proud of were not the cases in which he was stronger or litigated better, but those in which a solution was found that no one had thought of before. His example is the case with his downstairs neighbors about noise pollution, in which a noise measurement came out exactly at the legal limit. In Location litigate, he pointed out to both legal aid insurers the costs of a lost year and expenses and suggested that they jointly pay for new flooring. No winner, no loser, but a solution.
© Jackass (Butt x-ray, 2006).
© Joep van der Made (Boxing poster for book launch, 2009).
© Saskia Noor van Imhoff (Untitled, 2013).
I was struck by the episode where Ryan Dunn placed the dinky toy in his behind.
©Ewoudt Boonstra
The Jackass case: an X-ray as a work of art.
Of all his stories, the Jackass case is the most well-known. He wanted the famous X-ray from the episode in which Ryan Dunn carries a toy car inside his body, not for the shock effect, but because it met all the conditions of art for him: authentic, disruptive, unique, with its own logic. The summons letter he sent was legal, but the tone betrayed admiration. The negotiations that followed—first a Mercedes that got stuck at customs, then a DAF that did pass through—had the structure of a performance. Years later, after Dunn's death, that DAF was found in his container, according to friends his favorite car. A story that could not possibly have been invented, but fits perfectly into Bourdrez's world: where law, coincidence, and art intertwine.
Contracts as performances.
Some artists create work that consists mainly or entirely of legal acts. Tino Sehgal, for example, from whom the Stedelijk purchased a work on the basis of a verbal contract that could not be recorded anywhere. Bourdrez supervised that transaction and calls it one of the rare moments when the law literally became art. Another example is Alberto de Michele, who stipulated in a contract that he would steal back the exhibited contract. The text is the work of art.
Art as mental infrastructure for conflicts.
Looking back, he sees how artists have shaped him. Art teaches him to look at systems differently, at people differently, and at conflicts differently. It makes his legal practice not only precise, but also empathetic, inquisitive, and sometimes playful.
It is precisely this combination that makes him such an exceptional figure within the legal profession. A lawyer who is guided by artists, a collector who helps shape art through legal structures, and someone who believes that the law should always take a step back to leave room for imagination.
© Raquel van Haver (Portrait of Aernoud Bourdrez, 2025).
© Scheltens & Abbenes (Arper Tables II, 2015).
© Bea Correa (Fakewear, 2005).
© Koos Breukel (Zea van der Elsken, 2016).
Light is never just light. For Dimitri Saddi, founder of PSLab, it is a language with which you tell stories. From their studios in Amsterdam, Antwerp, Paris, London, Bologna, Berlin, and their home base in Beirut, the team works on lighting plans that do not start with a lamp, but with people. "Everyone has their own relationship with light," says Dimitri. "It touches on habits, memories, and emotions." In this edition of The Edit, Dimitri, Taco (Amsterdam), and An (Antwerp) delve deeper into their way of working: how dialogue, technique, and reflection come together in a lighting plan that is never generic, but always a Immediately translation of someone's life. Be inspired
Ten years of Shortlist Amsterdam, all addresses. Sisters Famke and Floor van Praag celebrate the anniversary of their cookbook series about great restaurants with a brand-new edition full of simple, successful recipes. To complete the picture, we collected all the Shortlist addresses from the past ten years and divided them by neighborhood, creating a culinary guide to Amsterdam today. Text: Broersma, images: Petrovsky & Ramone, restaurant selection: Shortlist