Amsterdam Weekend Guide (17-19 July)

FAMILY & KIDS

Dive into family-friendly culture

Sponsored by OAM (Official Museums of Amsterdam)

Take your pick of Amsterdam’s best family-friendly museums, where the whole family can take in the cultural sights and sounds of the city. Begin at the Rijksmuseum, home to an unrivalled collection of Dutch masterpieces, including Rembrandt van Rijn’s The Night Watch, or discover the beautifully landscaped sculpture gardens. Cross the river IJ to the EYE Filmmuseum, Amsterdam's ode to the art of cinema, to catch a film screening or engage in interactive installations that are sure to keep the little ones entertained. Or head east to the Wereldmuseum, where thought-provoking collections explore global history and cultural heritage.

BEYOND THE CITY

Half-Day tour to Zaanse Schans Windmills

Sponsored content by Holland Ticket Services

Step back in time with our enchanting half-day tour to Zaanse Schans, a captivating village populated with windmills and plenty of historical charm. Nestled along the banks of the Zaan River and only 30 minutes from Amsterdam, this picturesque location brings the idyll of the 18th and 19th centuries to life. Picture an afternoon of visiting traditional houses and historic windmills, and enjoying the local hospitality and craftsmanship that define Zaanse Schans. 

Half Day tour to Zaanse Schans Windmills| Daily | Zaanse Schans

SPORTS & EVENTS

Editor’s Pick: Rooftop Yoga on the NEMO

Take in sweeping views of the city and the water with a morning yoga session atop the NEMO Museum. Hosted above the staggered steps of the famed rooftop designed by Renzo Piano (the architect known for London’s The Shard) these bi-weekly yoga sessions bring new meaning to starting your day off at new heights. Afterwards, swing by the new Game On exhibit at the NEMO museum, which explores how video games shape our understanding of the world.  

Rooftop Yoga on the NEMO | 17 July | The NEMO Museum

Wildcard Pick: Pride Run

Lace up your trainers and join the Pride Run this Sunday, as Amsterdam Oost comes alive in every colour of the rainbow. More than just a running race, Pride Run is a celebration of community, visibility, and inclusion, reminding us all that the work of equality is ongoing. If running isn’t quite your thing, come along to cheer from the sidelines for a day filled with Pride spirit.

Pride Run | 19 July | Amsterdam Oost

MUSIC & CONCERTS

Local Pick: Muziekgebouw aan t IJ’s Afro-Surinamese terrace concert

When the weather is clear and the summer nights are long and bright, there’s no better place to be than an open-air concert. Across five weekends this July and August, Muziekgebouw aan t IJ hosts concerts on its expansive terrace overlooking the IJ river.  This Saturday, celebrate the musical flair of Black Harmony with a concert of close-harmony vocals and Afro-Surinamese percussion. Singing in the Sranan Tongo language of Suriname, the group honours the rich traditions of Apinti and Kawina.

Festive Afro-Surinamese terrace concert|18 July | Muziekgebouw aan t IJ

ART & EXHIBITIONS

Summer at the Rembrandthuis

Lovers of both art and history (and art history!) should swing by the Rembrandthuis this weekend. As the former residence of the famed Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn, this incredible museum dates back to the early 17th century. As you wander from room to room, marvelling at the carefully reconstructed space where Rembrandt once lived and worked, you’ll feel as if you are transported to Rembrandt’s own lifetime. And to top it all off, this summer you can catch the museum’s temporary exhibit Rembrandt & Life, which includes 50 prints and two paintings by Rembrandt himself.  

Rembrandt & Life| Until 30 August | The Rembrandthuis

Foam Talent

Inside a beautiful canal house in the city’s centre you’ll find FOAM, the premier home for photography in the capital. Foam Talent, the museum’s annual competition featuring a new generation of photographers, will present the winning entries selected from almost 3,000 submissions across 107 countries. The chosen 15 artists present powerful works that offer incisive perspectives on topics such as belonging, identity and home.

FOAM Talent| Until 26 August | FOAM Museum

BARS & RESTAURANTS

Newly-Opened: Bar How

Noord's newest wine bar asks and answers the question of where to spend your Friday and Saturday evenings. How? With natural wine and small bites waterside in an art atelier. Head here for a strip-backed and rustic aesthetic – think concrete floors, wooden beams and logs artfully piled in the corner. There’s a terrace for sunny days, but this spot shines when the sun doesn’t; there’s nothing better than watching the rain fall on the river through glass-panelled doors while cradling a glass (or bottle) of merlot and listening to the wood crackle in the furnace behind you. A cheeseboard (wooden, too, of course) wouldn’t hurt either.

Bar how| Friday & Saturday 14:00-21:00 | Price range: €€  | Papaverhoek 23

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