Essentially Amsterdam – Sunday, October 18, 2026

Sunday October 18, 2026

Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: Hulvey cancels a sold-out concert over explicit images at Club Annie, IDFA says rising hotel taxes are forcing it to cut events, and Sananda Maitreya, once known as Terence Trent D’Arby, plays Paradiso.

New centres planned for Amsterdam West and Nieuw-West: Amsterdam is investing €2.5 million in meeting places across five districts, including West and Nieuw-West. Two planned locations are in a former school and beside Dijkgraafplein.

Amsterdam’s Rietje Dijkman, 87, targets world record at 100: Rietje Dijkman trains on the athletics track in Watergraafsmeer several times a week despite having two new hips. She recently set a Dutch long jump record and now wants a 100-metre world record when she turns 100.

Staff doubt VUmc in Zuid will last until 2040: The VUmc hospital is due to close by 2040, ending a merger with the AMC that began fifteen years ago. Staff expect departures to force an earlier date, possibly within about seven years.

Hulvey cancels sold-out Amsterdam concert over explicit images at Club Annie: Christian rapper Hulvey cancelled his sold-out show an hour before it was due to start at Melkweg’s new Club Annie. He said explicit images and sexual objects in the venue made him unwilling to perform for young fans.

Amsterdam charity short of funds for free baby kits: The city can pay towards 370 of the roughly 700 baby starter kits needed in Amsterdam this year. Stichting Babyspullen is asking for donations to cover the gap.

US-requested server seizure in Amsterdam alarms cloud sector: Police seized a server belonging to an Italian activist internet provider at Amsterdam Science Park. The Dutch cloud industry wants to know whether the US request had any independent Dutch legal review.

IDFA says rising hotel taxes are forcing it to cut events: IDFA says rising hotel costs and Amsterdam’s planned tourist-tax increases are making it harder to bring filmmakers and industry guests to its documentary festival. The director warns that fewer guests could mean fewer events.

Coworking and child care come together on IJburg: Coffee & Kids has introduced Cowork & Nanny, where parents can work or take a break while a childcare worker supervises children nearby. The small-scale setup is aimed at local families.

Tarantula turns Saint-Saëns’s animals into a Dutch-language children’s concert: A spider discovers she can make animals dance as orchestra members perform Saint-Saëns; the Dutch-language show is for ages six and up. 18 October, 13:00, The Concertgebouw. FAMILY SHOW

The Bookshop Kids theatre hunt opens normally closed doors: A guide leads children through normally closed doors, with games and tasks introducing the theatre’s history and the work of acting. 18 October, 10:30, Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, Rabozaal. MUSEUM / EDUCATIONAL

Music and simple instruments for babies and toddlers: Children aged zero to four sing, move, listen and play simple instruments with one or two parents in these music sessions. 18 October, 10:15 – 11:15, De Hallen. KIDS WORKSHOP

Peer Gynt told, sung and danced with twelve cellos: Frank Groothof tells, sings and dances Ibsen’s story to Grieg’s music, accompanied by twelve cellos in arrangements by Monique Heidema. 18 October, 11:00, Kamermuziek in de Koningszaal (KAMUKOZA). FAMILY SHOW

Free Circus Kristal brings Sunday fun for children: This week’s circus programme is part of a free Sunday activity for children aged four to twelve, with drop-in participation. 18 October, 13:00, Pllek. FAMILY SHOW

One-kilometre Mini Marathons for children across Amsterdam: Children aged four to twelve run a one-kilometre course, with music, bouncy castles, athletics activities and prizes at each location. 18 October, 12:40 warming-up / 12:50 start, De Borcht (onder Amstelpark); Galileïplantsoen/Radioweg; Olympiaplein. SPORTS (ACTIVE)

Sananda Maitreya, once known as Terence Trent D’Arby, at Paradiso: The singer who had his first hits as Terence Trent D’Arby plays old and new songs across rock, soul and pop with The Sugar Plum Pharaohs. Doors 19:00. 18 October, 20:30, Paradiso. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with violinist Noa Wildschut: Noa Wildschut plays Vivaldi’s four violin concertos with the chamber orchestra, alongside Mozart, in a concert recommended for ages ten and up. 18 October, 11:00, The Concertgebouw. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Beethoven’s Eighth and Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto: Mahler’s Blumine, Shostakovich’s First Cello Concerto and Beethoven’s Eighth make up a programme with an interval; drinks are included. 18 October, 14:15, The Concertgebouw. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

SANAM blends Arabic poetry with experimental rock: The six-piece Beirut band combines Arabic poetry and tarab traditions with experimental rock, psychedelia and free improvisation. 18 October, 20:30, Bimhuis. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Sam Tompkins sings soulful pop on his Are We Gonna Sing? tour: The Brighton singer-songwriter’s soulful, big-voiced pop features on his Are We Gonna Sing? tour, though the concert is sold out. 18 October, 19:30, Melkweg. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

The Bigi Sranan Poku Show, Surinamese kaseko on stage: Surinamese kaseko and Bigi Poku music anchor this musical-theatre tribute, with a second set and food and clothing stalls during the interval. 18 October, 16:00, Meervaart. THEATER

Free Orchestre Partout Jam invites musicians to improvise: Musicians and audience share an open stage, improvising across Middle Eastern and Western traditions; bring an instrument or voice, and admission is free. 18 October, 20:00 – 23:00, Mezrab. WORLD / FOLK

Free Race of the Classics brings eleven ships into Amsterdam: Eleven classic sailing ships arrive after five days at sea, finishing a race sailed by young professionals with experienced crews. 18 October, 12:30 – 15:00, IJ-zijde achter het Centraal Station. OUTDOOR / ACTIVE

Free Vinyl Countdown record fair fills De Hallen: Dealers from the Netherlands, Belgium and Japan sell new and used records, with DJs, local releases and a raffle; entry is free. 18 October, 11:00 – 17:00, De Hallen. FESTIVAL / FAIR

Sunday Night Live builds English improv from stories and songs: In English, the cast builds new scenes, stories and songs from a story prompt and one another in a 75-minute performance. 18 October, 19:00, Boom Chicago. COMEDY

Jörgen Raymann’s birthday-year cabaret follows Mister Lasmibalsingh: Mister Lasmibalsingh returns to his birthplace in this birthday-year story about a Dutch Surinamese man who feels out of place there. 18 October, 15:00, DeLaMar Theater. COMEDY

Día de Muertos calavera-making for autumn holiday visitors: During autumn break, visitors make tin calaveras, colourful skull decorations, while learning about the Mexican tradition of welcoming deceased relatives. 18 October, 12:00 – 16:00, Wereldmuseum. FESTIVALS

Streetfood Comfort Sunday serves Moluccan and Indonesian favourites: Order Moluccan and Indonesian comfort food at the kiosk, then eat upstairs or in the garden; takeaway is also available. 18 October, 16:00 – 22:00, Kokomo Amsterdam. FOOD / MARKETS

Annie, Are You OK? with Margriet van der Linden: Drawing on her orthodox-Christian upbringing, editorial career and place as a lesbian talk-show host, she weighs ideals against reality with humour. 18 October, 20:15, De Kleine Komedie. COMEDY

Free wild-plant mini-safari for children at De Ceuvel: Guide Yola Galinsky introduces children aged around five to fourteen to edible plants and their winter survival; parents remain responsible. 18 October, 11:00, De Ceuvel. TOUR

Life Drawing Weekend Intensive studies one live model: Across four three-hour lessons, participants draw the same live model while a tutor covers composition, anatomy and shading; materials and refreshments are included. 18 October, 16:00, 4bid Gallery. WORKSHOP

English and Dutch clay modelling at Treehouse NDSM: In English and Dutch, make a clay project with guidance, whether you’re a beginner or developing existing skills. 18 October, 14:00, Treehouse NDSM. WORKSHOP

Papiamentu/o creative writing, from shared history to personal memory: Nicole Römer leads writing exercises from shared history to personal memories, following an introduction to Papiamentu/o’s history; the workshop is sold out. 18 October, 14:30, De Nieuwe Liefde. WORKSHOP

Make two scented soap bars with natural ingredients: Choose scents, colours and moulds to make two melt-and-pour soap bars, using essential oils and natural, fair-trade ingredients. 18 October, 11:00, Heart-Garden Waffles & Coffee. WORKSHOP

Draw insects in ink and watercolour in one day: Participants use Indian ink and watercolour to draw insects, with all materials, refreshments and museum admission included in the fee. 18 October, 10:00 tot 16:30, Amsterdam Art Zoo Museum. WORKSHOP

Raised canvas textures with paste and acrylic paint: The host demonstrates ways to build raised forms with texture paste and acrylic; materials, canvas, personal guidance, tea and coffee are provided. 18 October, 15:00, Valeriusstraat 217. WORKSHOP

Uki Uki Asia Food: Korean and Japanese comfort food near Nieuwmarkt, from sukiyaki cooked at the table to Korean fried chicken and gimbap.

Monty’s Toasties Amsterdam: Specialises in sourdough toasties.

Bar Vergist: New wine and beer bar in Bos en Lommer, with small-importer European wines, Amsterdam and European beers, and a seasonal kitchen from former Kaagman & Kortekaas head chef Marieke Quist.

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