Monday October 5, 2026
Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: the Amsterdam Marathon brings road closures across the city, an Amsterdam couple revives a slang fairy tale, and the animal shelter DOA marks 125 years.
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 20°C / 69°F (about the same as yesterday) · Lo 13°C / 55°F · 0% chance of rain · wind SW 17 km/h (9 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Good cycling all day.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 07:48 · Sunset 19:08 · Last Quarter · Golden hour 18:38 to 19:08
🌊 Outdoors: Air quality moderate (AQI 45) · grass pollen low
💶 Markets: AEX 1,117 (+1.3%) · S&P 500 7,723 (+0.7%) · €1 = $1.12 · $1 = €0.89
Amsterdam Marathon 2026: road closures and travel changes: The marathon weekend brings road closures across Amsterdam on 17 and 18 October, affecting drivers, cyclists and public transport. Ring A10 South works and a closed metro station add to Sunday’s disruption.
Amsterdam couple revives slang fairy tale: A retelling of The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats in broad Amsterdam dialect is back in city bookshops. Its makers stopped for health reasons, then printed 5,000 more copies.
Amsterdam on screen: from coffeeshop clichés to canal-side romance: A Jordaan street has been dressed for wartime scenes in the Dutch film Hanneke en Fiet. Recent productions have also used the city as a setting for romance and nostalgia.
Strandeiland social tenants get free e-bike trial: New social housing tenants on Strandeiland can ride an electric bike for two months with their own coach. Every kilometre earns 5 cents towards buying the bike.
Where Karsu first performed: the former Kilim restaurant on Ceintuurbaan: Singer Karsu Dönmez played her first concerts at her father’s restaurant Kilim at Ceintuurbaan 246. The restaurant closed in 2019, and a Japanese lunch café now uses the space.
Amsterdam animal shelter DOA turns 125: The shelter began in 1901 as a small refuge for sick and injured animals. It is now the largest in the Netherlands and takes in about 2,000 animals a year.
Energy Emergency Fund to reopen for applications in January: The national scheme accepts applications from January 4 to May 7, 2027, for households facing high energy costs. Eligible applicants could receive between €120 and €1,800.
Amsterdam’s new VU research building keeps vibrations out: Vrije Universiteit has opened a new facility for highly precise physics and biomedical research. A 26-metre-deep concrete wall and heavy basement blocks are designed to shield its labs from outside vibrations.
Warmer climate brings invasive pests to Amsterdam: Amsterdam expects 200 nests of the yellow-legged hornet this year, seven times last year’s total. Oak processionary caterpillars were also found on 29% of the city’s oaks.
Rembrandt’s paint and etching methods, shown free with museum entry: From toxic lead to red lice and pig bladders, see how Rembrandt made paint and etchings; everyone takes a print home. 5 October, 10:30 – 15:30, Museum Rembrandthuis. MUSEUM / EDUCATIONAL
Rijksmuseum Family Month, free entry for everyone under 18: Through October there’s a story game for over-8s, a weekend drawing lab for younger kids and a daily family photobooth. 5 October, 09:00 – 17:00, Rijksmuseum. MUSEUM / EDUCATIONAL
Puppets and old children’s books for Kinderboekenweek, ages four and up: Berend Boekenvreter, a KRIJT puppet show on friendship, moving house and courage, is a closed school performance with no public tickets. 5 October, 09:45, Plein Theater. FAMILY SHOW
Stories turned into artworks, for ages 8 to 12 in Osdorp: Children write their own story, poem or piece of text and then turn it into an artwork at the Osdorp library. 5 October, OBA Amsterdam. KIDS WORKSHOP
Toddler singalong with Coleta and her instruments on the Rozengracht: For children from 18 months to four, Coleta sings and plays several instruments while kids and parents dance, play and sing along. 5 October, 10:00, De Kinderboekwinkel. KIDS WORKSHOP
An hour of Bach, then apple pie, free with Stadspas: Just under an hour of Bach, including the fifth Brandenburg Concerto and the Badinerie, followed by apple pie; booking online is advised. 5 October, 10:30, Zonnehuis. DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Free sing-along of classic Dutch songs on the Marineterrein: Marlou starts with breathing and relaxation, then everyone sings classic Dutch songs like Laat me, including people convinced they can’t sing. 5 October, 19:00, Marineterrein. GAMES / HOBBIES
Two free trial rehearsals with The Space Choir at Tolhuistuin: No auditions, pop songs from Beyoncé to Caroline Polachek, rehearsals in Dutch, and two free sessions for newcomers to try it out. 5 October, 17:30, Tolhuistuin. CLASS
Et in Arcadia Ego: Daniël Belinfante’s piano music, recorded for the first time: Dimitri Malignan plays Belinfante, an Amsterdam-born composer, alongside Bach, Chopin, Schumann and Debussy, launching the CD. 5 October, 20:00, Splendor. DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Bring an instrument to the Amsterdam Jam Collective’s open session: Musicians can sit in at this late-running open jam just off Leidseplein, the venue’s Monday session before more on Tuesday and Wednesday. 5 October, 20:30, Waterhole. DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Practise public speaking in English with Taste and Toastmasters: Members give speeches, listen and offer constructive feedback over snacks and drinks; arrive from 19:15, since the door closes at half past. 5 October, 19:30 – 21:00, Marci Panis. CLASS
Watch Eva Jinek’s current-affairs talk show being recorded: Audience seating lets viewers watch Eva Jinek’s current-affairs talk show being recorded. 5 October, 19:00 – 19:55, De Hallen Studio’s. TALKS / IDEAS
Cinemanita & Fiber Factory: a movie night, free wool and a DJ: Jeffrey Babcock picks and hosts the film, the textile club works with donated yarn and borrowed needles, and a DJ follows. 5 October, 20:30, De Nieuwe Anita. FILM
Second-hand book market: one-euro plays and theatre books: Secondhand plays in Dutch and other languages and performing arts textbooks, plus short interviews with Dutch playwrights from noon to two. 5 October, 10:00, Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten. FOOD / MARKETS
Amsterdam Museum hands out birthday pastries for its 100th: Turning 100 with a 100-day festival, the museum hands every ticket holder a birthday pastry, usually at Amsterdam in Motion. 5 October, 12:00, Amsterdam Museum. ART / MUSEUMS
Abracadabra explores Jewish magicians through objects and illusions: Objects and stories trace fifteen Jewish magicians, while interactive displays let visitors try illusions including sawing someone in half. 5 October, Joods Museum. ART / MUSEUMS
Improv your Dutch, a Dutch-language improv masterclass: In Dutch, participants with at least A1 level work with scenes, role-play, scenarios and games in a one-hour session. 5 October, 18:00, Language Corner Amsterdam. CLASS
Community Dinner, soups, mains and homemade bread: VSA Amsterdam hosts a meal with two soups, two mains, homemade bread and toppings, with donations starting at €2.50. 5 October, 16:00, De Sering. FOOD / MARKETS
Sing Ramses Shaffy and Liesbeth List songs with Astrid Seriese: Ten Monday-morning singing lessons in the clubroom, working on technique and the joy of singing together, with no final performance. 5 October, 11:00 – 12:00, Ramses Shaffy Huis. CLASS
Ten weeks of beginner ukulele on Monday nights in Amsterdam West: Groups of four to eight learn basic chords, strumming patterns, chord charts and a few easy songs, one hour a week. 5 October, 21:00, Muziekacademie Amsterdam. CLASS
Practise Dutch at the Olympisch Kwartier library’s language cafe: People learning Dutch meet in the library’s reading room to practise conversation at whatever level they’re at. 5 October, 13:00, OBA Olympisch Kwartier – Leeszaal. CLASS
Weekly writing workshop for anyone, beginners welcome: Run every week by the Kantlijn foundation, the session welcomes anyone who already writes or would like to learn how. 5 October, 14:00 – 16:00, Huis van de Wijk De Horizon. WORKSHOP
Cafe Voorwaarts: Wide beer list at this brown café and gastropub in the Hamerkwartier, where you can settle in for a drink and food.
Café Atelier: Order watercolour, paint-a-pot and small canvases alongside your coffee at this De Baarsjes café where art supplies meet refreshment.
Dame aan de Kade: Bar and restaurant on the Ruysdaelkade in De Pijp where dinner transitions into dancing as the evening progresses.
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: Doing Life (Netflix), The Croods (Prime Video), Smile (SkyShowtime), The Producer (HBO Max)
New on the big screen: De Tatta’s: Daan opens Wednesday at 5 cinemas. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: A post asking for experiences living in Houthavens drew mostly positive responses praising the neighborhood’s safety, proximity to Westerpark, and community feel, though several commenters warned about water damage issues in basements and a few found the area sterile or lacking character.
Today’s supermarket deals: Ben & Jerry’s Vanilla pecan blondie (1+1 free) from Albert Heijn, All Knorr world dishes, meal mixes, risottos or pastas (2+1 free) from Jumbo.
Did you know? Amsterdam’s population grew from 50,000 in the 17th century to over 800,000 today, and in 1660, only 25% of residents were Dutch – 75% were foreign immigrants fleeing persecution or seeking opportunity.
68 years ago today: On October 5th, 1958, future ESA astronaut André Kuipers was born in Amsterdam; he later flew to the International Space Station.
Looking ahead – next week
The bigger things coming up in Amsterdam over the next seven days.
• Children’s Book Week · Wednesday 30 September to Sunday 11 October, Across Amsterdam
• 24 Hours Amsterdam-Zuid · Saturday 10 October to Sunday 11 October, Amsterdam-Zuid
• ADM Festival: Still Rolling · Saturday 10 October to Sunday 11 October, Gehele terrein Het Groene Veld
• Cinekid Festival · Saturday 10 October to Friday 16 October, Pathé Amsterdam Noord
• IJ-Hallen Flea Market · Saturday 10 October to Sunday 11 October, NDSM-werf
• The Book Market on Spui Square · Friday 9 October, Spui
In case you missed it
Our three most clicked-on items from yesterday’s newsletter.
In tomorrow’s edition: In tomorrow’s edition: KringKoor rehearses at De Kring, a tour of Ets Haim takes place at the Portugese Synagoge, and Jay Park performs with special guests LNGSHOT at AFAS Live.
Have a great Monday.
Running something in Amsterdam? Tell us about it and we will take a look.
The marathon route winds through most of the city, so check your usual paths before you head out.
Want to make sure you never miss a day of Essentially Amsterdam? Subscribe here.
![Top [count] Travel Blogs to Follow - OnToplist.com](https://www.ontoplist.com/images/ontoplist31.png?id=6a8dcf108f478)