Skip to content

Essentially Amsterdam – Tuesday, September 29, 2026

Essentially Amsterdam
Tuesday September 29, 2026
Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: skateboarders complete a 500km charity challenge, Amsterdam Centraal adds bottle and can compartments to its bins, and a rarely lent Matisse painting opens at H’ART.

Share: WhatsApp · LinkedIn · Facebook · Reddit
The activities listed below are just a curated sample of what’s going on in Amsterdam. Check out our completely redesigned events calendar here.
At a glance
🌦️ Weather: Hi 24°C / 75°F (3° warmer than yesterday) · Lo 17°C / 62°F · 12% chance of rain · wind E 21 km/h (11 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Mostly fine, a shower is possible.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 07:37 · Sunset 19:22 · Waning Gibbous · Moonrise 19:53 · Golden hour 18:52 to 19:22
🌊 Outdoors: Air quality moderate (AQI 45) · ragweed pollen low
💶 Markets: AEX 1,116 (+0.4%) · S&P 500 7,684 (-0.8%) · €1 = $1.14 · $1 = €0.88
News
Skateboarders complete 500km Amsterdam charity challenge: Charlie Hutchings-Sait and Dan Lee travelled from London through France and Belgium, raising more than £3,000 for three charities. They arrived in Amsterdam on Saturday after a week-long skateboarding challenge.
New Amsterdam Centraal bins add bottle and can compartments: The municipality is installing new bins with a separate compartment for deposit bottles and cans, starting at Amsterdam Centraal. It hopes the design will reduce litter caused by collectors searching existing bins.
Ten Dutch restaurants earn Michelin Bib Gourmands: Three of the new Bib Gourmand recipients are in Amsterdam, while seven are elsewhere in the Netherlands. Michelin will announce its Dutch star selection at a ceremony in Maastricht on October 5.
Artis’s new jaguar begins exploring his enclosure: A 16-year-old male jaguar arrived at Artis from Sweden last week and has begun going outside. The zoo hopes he will eventually have cubs with its 17-year-old female.
Rod Stewart brings farewell tour to Amsterdam: Rod Stewart will perform at Amsterdam’s Ziggo Dome on 28 May 2027 as part of his farewell tour, The Final Encore. The tour looks back on more than six decades on stage.
Lower alcohol consumption worries Amsterdam entrepreneurs: People are drinking less alcohol. Amsterdam entrepreneurs fear what that could mean for their businesses.
Amsterdam streets test XPENG’s VLA 2.0 system: A pre-production L03 using VLA 2.0 was tested on Dutch roads, with an XPENG employee at the wheel. The observer said it anticipated bicycles and handled construction cautiously.
Late September heat gives way to rain: Temperatures could reach 30°C locally on Tuesday, with unusually warm conditions continuing into Wednesday. Showers are expected from the west that evening, with thunderstorms possible overnight.
Amsterdam-Barcelona tops European flight stress ranking: The route scored 75.1 out of 100 in AirAdvisor’s 2026 study, while London Heathrow-Amsterdam ranked second at 63.8. The index measured delays, cancellations, weather exposure and flight time, not turbulence or safety.
Rarely lent Matisse painting on view at H’ART: H’ART Museum’s Matisse retrospective runs from October 3 to February 14, with 80 works on loan from the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Thirty-seven are by Matisse, alongside works by artists he influenced.
Family / Children
English Storytelling, spoken stories for English listeners: Listeners hear stories told aloud in English, making this a straightforward storytelling session for people who want English-language tales. 29 September, 10:00, OBA. 📅 STORY / READING
Baby movement and shared discoveries with a therapist: A psychomotor therapist introduces free-movement theory for baby development, while caregivers share experiences and explore confidence, kindness and connection. 29 September, 09:30, Hygiëastraat 8. 📅 KIDS WORKSHOP
Maakplaats | Kunst en techniek | Kraak de code: A Maakplaats session pairs art and technology with code-cracking, the activity named in the listing. 29 September, 14:45, OBA Javaplein – Maakplaats. 📅 WORKSHOP
Make a time capsule, Maakplaats | Kunst en techniek | Maak een tijdcapsule: At this Maakplaats session, art and technology frame a hands-on activity: making a time capsule. 29 September, 15:00, OBA Staatsliedenbuurt – Maakplaats. 📅 WORKSHOP
Game On, playable videogames and gaming history: Game On traces videogames from Super Nintendo and Atari 2600 to PlayStation 5, with consoles visitors can play themselves. 29 September, NEMO Science Museum. 📅 MUSEUM / EDUCATIONAL
Modern dance lessons for young movers with Shayenne: Shayenne’s modern dance lessons are for children who want to learn dance or simply move, with space to develop their talent. 29 September, 16:00 – 17:00, De kids van Amsterdam. 📅 CLASS
Music
Anastacia brings her European tour to the stage: American singer Anastacia performs pop hits including “I’m Outta Love” as part of a European tour marking her debut album’s 25th anniversary. 29 September, 18:30 – 22:15, AFAS Live. 📅 DANCE / PERFORMANCE
CAKE, American alt-rockers working on a ninth album: American band CAKE brings its long-running catalogue to a live concert, while currently working on its ninth studio album. 29 September, 20:30, Paradiso – Main Hall. 📅 DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Alison Moyet in a live concert performance: Alison Moyet performs a live concert, a straightforward chance to hear the singer on stage. 29 September, 20:00, Koninklijk Theater Carré. 📅 DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Dutch Jazz Heritage: ode aan Gerry Mulligan: The Jazz Orchestra of the Concertgebouw pays tribute to Gerry Mulligan, with baritone saxophonist Jan Menu as guest soloist. 29 September, 20:15, Het Concertgebouw, Kleine Zaal. 📅 DANCE / PERFORMANCE
FORAGER, Brooklyn trio mixing rock, jazz and folk: Brooklyn trio FORAGER blends rock, jazz and folk into what its members describe as kaleidoscopic pop. 29 September, 22:00, Paradiso, Upstairs Room. 📅 DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Herfstconcert Kamerkoor Victoria: Autumn leaves: Kamerkoor Victoria sings an autumn-themed programme spanning classical composers, with mezzo-soprano Lieke Coenraad and pianist Richte van Ginniken also performing. 29 September, 15:00 – 16:15, Van Houtenkerk. 📅 DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Tzara the Machine, a single release show: Tzara the Machine launches a single with a lineup featuring vocals, guitars, synths and drums, combining sampled acoustic instruments with electronics. 29 September, 20:00, Theater de Roode Bioscoop. 📅 DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Vrij Spel + Timm Knipt!, songs, open mic and haircuts: Songwriters test original work, with four scheduled performers and six open-mic places; in-house haircuts are offered for donations from €40. 29 September, 20:00, De Nieuwe Anita. 📅 DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Work / Business
The AI Coding Adoption Ladder & The MCP Wire: The meetup covers organizational adoption of AI coding and platform bottlenecks, alongside patterns for building MCP servers with sandboxed code execution. 29 September, 18:00, Studytube. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Pitch & Pizza, brief startup pitches over slices: Founders get five minutes each to pitch early-stage startup ideas, then receive questions and feedback from investors and other attendees over pizza. 29 September, 17:30 – 19:30, Achmea Impact Ventures. 📅 NETWORKING
Tech Founders & Investors: Pitch & Connect I Amsterdam: AI and tech founders, investors and professionals meet for curated networking, selected-founder pitches, then more conversation afterward. 29 September, 18:00, Café CHA CHA. 📅 NETWORKING
Startup Valley’s tech networking night and pitches: Startup Valley’s three-hour in-person night combines casual networking, short startup pitches to investors and experts, and structured conversations before and after. 29 September, 18:00, I Dock. 📅 NETWORKING
Amsterdam Tech Startup & VC, rooftop networking: Founders, investors and startup operators meet on a rooftop for informal networking, with no scheduled pitches or elevator speeches. 29 September, 19:00, Hugo de Grootplein 6. 📅 NETWORKING
Events: Watch
Gezonde ontmoeting: Goed oud worden bij Vaste Prik: A specialist in older people’s medicine discusses ageing and surroundings, while a coach covers how food and movement support healthy ageing. 29 September, 14:00, buurtzorgcafé Vaste Prik. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Films With A View: A Big Bold Beautiful Journey outdoors: An English-language film with Dutch subtitles is screened outdoors, weather permitting, with a 15-minute break. 29 September, 19:55, Pllek. 📅 FILM
Funny Vidi Vici Presents: Fresh Takes: Six Amsterdam comedians perform established material and new jokes, with Rami Nima hosting; dinner beforehand is available by reservation. 29 September, 20:15 – 21:30, droog. 📅 THEATER
L’histoire du soldat, Salzburger Marionettentheater, Dominique Horwitz + Isabelle Faust: Marionette theatre and music are brought together in a staged performance with Dominique Horwitz and Isabelle Faust. 29 September, 20:15, Muziekgebouw. 📅 THEATER
Pubquiz Café Struis, team questions with pizza and beer: Teams tackle questions at Café Struis’s regular pub quiz, with entry including a glass of IJbier, pizza and quiz access. 29 September, 19:00, Café Struis. 📅 GAMES / HOBBIES
25 young artists feature in SBK Sprouts exhibition: The exhibition brings together work by artists who graduated from Dutch art academies this year, selected during their final-year shows. It opens at Loods 6 on September 30, with two talent prizes to be awarded.
Cinema Literair: The Social Network on screen: Cinema Literair puts The Social Network on screen for an evening centred on the film itself. 29 September, 19:00, OBA. 📅 FILM
Who Gets to Grow Old Well? With Didier Eribon: Philosopher Didier Eribon discusses class, ageing and inequality through his book on an older working-class woman, alongside philosopher Hans-Georg Eilenberger. 29 September, 20:00, De Balie. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Events: Do
Double Skin / Double Mind, open dance classes: These English-language open classes explore breathing, jumping, expanding and reducing through the Double Skin / Double Mind method, and welcome all ages and fitness levels. 29 September, 19:00, Space for Dance Art (Westbeat). 📅 CLASS
Rock ’n Roll Dansles met Gel, lessons followed by dancing: Gel teaches 1950s rock ’n roll at different levels, and each lesson is followed by a social dance. 29 September, 19:30, KZ – Kompaszaal. 📅 CLASS
TAALCAFE, Dutch conversation practice in small groups: Small conversation groups let learners practise spoken Dutch; dinner is available, and fluent speakers can help in exchange for a meal. 29 September, 19:00 – 21:00, De Sering. 📅 CLASS
Build a mini-ecosystem to take home: Participants build a terrarium from plants, soil and stones, learning about balance and climate before taking their mini-ecosystem home. 29 September, 13:30, FLOOR Cultureel Platform, Wibauthuis 3b. 📅 WORKSHOP
Life Drawing practice with an online sign-up: A life-drawing session offers a stretch of drawing practice, with sign-up handled through the event’s Meetup link. 29 September, 18:30 – 20:00, OT301 (4bid Gallery). 📅 WORKSHOP
Painting & Drawing Course with Selanna Holleman: Selanna Holleman’s ongoing course covers drawing basics and acrylic painting, with paper, paints, brushes and mediums included. 29 September, 19:00 – 22:00, Amsterdam House of Arts & Crafts. 📅 CLASS
Sketching in a Life Drawing drop-in with the 4bid crew: The 4bid crew organises a life-drawing drop-in, with online signup and participants meeting before heading inside. 29 September, 16:30, 4bid Gallery, OT301. 📅 WORKSHOP
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: The Mummy Returns (Netflix), Klara (HBO Max), Tuner (Prime Video), MobLand (SkyShowtime)
New on the big screen: Palestine 36 is now showing at 9 cinemas, and Resident Evil at 9 cinemas. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: A post informing readers that the KLM Health clinic no longer serves the general public prompted discussion about alternative sources for travel vaccines and flu shots, with replies pointing to the GGD, university travel clinics, and individual GPs as options, though people disagreed about whether non-risk groups could access free flu shots through their huisarts or would need to pay out of pocket.
Today’s supermarket deals: Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate fudge brownie (1+1 free) from Albert Heijn, Chicken fillet steaks natural (1+1 free​) from Jumbo.
Did you know? An annual event called Amsterdam City Swim allows people to swim in specially cleared and tested sections of the canals to raise money for ALS research.
10 years ago today: On September 29th, 2016, the O|2 Lab Building on the Zuidas officially opened, bringing UvA, VU and VUmc researchers together around shared life-sciences research themes.
Adoptable pet of the dayAdoptable pet of the day: Meet Toetske, a cat at De Poezenboot. Take a look →
Looking ahead – next week
The bigger things coming up in Amsterdam over the next seven days.
•  Amsterdam BANGS Festival · Monday 21 September to Saturday 3 October, Vrankrijk
•  Afrovibes Festival · Thursday 1 October to Saturday 3 October, Brakke Grond
•  PINT Bockbierfestival · Friday 2 October to Saturday 3 October, De Hallen Studio’s
•  Weekend van de Wetenschap · Saturday 3 October, Weekend van de Wetenschap
•  CABINET Curated Curiosa & Design Weekend Market · Saturday 3 October to Sunday 13 December, Centrale Markthal
•  Cinekid Film & Media Festival · Monday 5 October, Cinekid Festival
In case you missed it
Our three most clicked-on items from yesterday’s newsletter.
In tomorrow’s edition: An Amsterdam JUG OTel Workshop takes place at Dash0, the Google Cloud user Group meets for its September edition at Xebia Amsterdam, and a sold-out documentary screening of De strijd om de Nieuwmarkt happens at Huis De Pinto.
Have a great Tuesday.
Running something in Amsterdam? Tell us about it and we will take a look.
The rain arrives just as the season turns.
Essentially Amsterdam
Want to make sure you never miss a day of Essentially Amsterdam? Subscribe here.
Read more
Top [count] Travel Blogs to Follow - OnToplist.com