Essentially Amsterdam — Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Tuesday July 14, 2026

Good morning, Amsterdam. A Goudstikker painting turned up in the trash, the Tuschinski ceiling has its original patterns again, and tonight Yebba plays Paradiso, plus a full slate of summer things to do with kids.

Goudstikker painting found in trash: A local resident picked up a painting from a bulk trash pile at Prinsengracht and Reguliersgracht years ago, thinking it might be worth checking. It has now been identified as a lost work from the looted Jacques Goudstikker collection in Amsterdam.

Tuschinski ceiling gets its patterns back: The main hall at Pathé Tuschinski is being updated with new seating and LED lighting, while restorers repaint the original art deco ceiling patterns from the cinema’s 1921 opening. The work is based on historical designs, so the old hall look is coming back in a careful way.

Heat and storms expected this week: Amsterdam is set for tropical temperatures over the next few days, so it’ll be a warm week by local standards. Thunderstorms are also expected toward the end of the week, so it may be worth keeping an eye on the forecast.

2030 emission-free car zone dropped: Amsterdam has shelved its plan for a zero-emission zone for petrol and diesel passenger cars by 2030. City Alderperson Dirk-Jan Heinhuis said the timeline no longer works without national legislation backing the ban.

The Seven Countries Houses on Roemer Visscherstraat: The Zevenlandenhuizen on Roemer Visscherstraat are a set of seven houses, each styled after a different European country. They’re in the Vondelparkbuurt, and it’s an unusual stretch of architecture to pass if you’re nearby.

Housing scams hit international students: A new report looks at how newly arriving international students in the Netherlands are being targeted by rental scams and pushed into poor housing conditions. The Amsterdam housing market is part of that wider pressure.

Belgium plans a new road vignette: The Belgian government plans to introduce a mandatory road vignette starting next year. If you drive to Belgium from Amsterdam for weekends or holidays, you’ll need to factor that in before using the country’s roads. Belgium

Bijdendijk and Vjeze Fur publish cookbook: Joris Bijdendijk and Vjeze Fur have put out a collaborative cookbook built around food and their friendship. The project brings together a chef from RIJKS and a rapper from De Jeugd van Tegenwoordig.

Why a local bank still matters: People using neobanks in Amsterdam can still run into payment problems if they don’t also have a Dutch local bank account. The issue is tied to local pin system compatibility, which can matter in day-to-day payments here.

Dog rescued from hot car in garage: Amsterdam police rescued a dog left for over 40 minutes in a hot car with the windows closed inside a parking garage. They opened the vehicle without damage and reminded pet owners that even underground garages can get dangerously hot in warm weather. Amsterdam

Summer bootcamp for young builders: Kids aged 8 to 12 will spend five days designing, building, and programming robots with LEGO robotics kits. The program is bilingual in English and Dutch, with discounts for Stadspas holders. July 13–17, 10:00 – 14:00, OBA Oosterdok 📅 Kids Workshop

Free laser tag for kids: West Beweegt is hosting a free laser tag session for children aged 8 to 12, with an outdoor, active format that should keep them moving and meeting others in the neighborhood. July 14, 12:00 – 15:30, Blue Tower Hotel, Amsterdam 📅 Outdoor / Active

Water party for kids at Oosterdok: This summer camp session focuses on water play and active games for kids aged 8 and up near Amsterdam Central. It’s a straightforward outdoor activity for a warm day. July 14, 13:00, OBA Oosterdok 📅 Outdoor / Active

Story adventure for kids at OBA: This interactive storytelling show brings tales to life for children aged 5 and up. It’s a theatrical program rather than a quiet read-aloud. July 14, 11:00, OBA 📅 Family Show

Bake Judy Chicago cookies at JCK: Kids can bake cookies inspired by Judy Chicago’s art at the Jewish Cultural Quarter. It’s a hands-on workshop that mixes food with a simple introduction to contemporary art. July 14, Joods Cultureel Kwartier 📅 Kids Workshop

Crafternoon for kids and teens: This afternoon crafting session is part of the library’s TUMO summer program. It’s aimed at kids and teens who want to make something while they’re there. July 14, 13:00, OBA 📅 Kids Workshop

Make a Judy plate with kids: Children can make their own ceramic-style Judy plate in this hands-on workshop at the Jewish Cultural Quarter. It’s a simple creative activity tied to the same art reference as the exhibition theme. July 14, 12:00, Joods Cultureel Kwartier 📅 Kids Workshop

TUMO comes to OBA Osdorp: Teenagers can work on tech and digital design skills in this interactive creative lab at OBA Osdorp. The session is set up as an educational workshop series. July 14, 15:30, OBA Osdorp 📅 Museum / Educational

Reading poses with Saul: This workshop at the public library is aimed at children aged 6 and up and mixes reading with active, playful exercises. Saul leads the session. July 14, 10:00, OBA 📅 Kids Workshop

Free sports and games on Ten Kateplein: DOCK on Tour brings free playground sports and summer games to Ten Kateplein for neighborhood kids and residents. It’s an afternoon outdoor activity with room for families to drop in. July 14, 13:00–18:00, Ten Kateplein, Amsterdam 📅 Outdoor / Active

Mahler and Mozart at the Concertgebouw: Principal conductor Tung-Chieh Chuang leads the Bochumer Symphoniker in Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, with Mozart’s Piano Concert No. 17 and pianist Ronald Brautigam on the program. July 14, 20:00, Het Concertgebouw 📅

Yebba plays Paradiso tonight: Grammy-winning singer Yebba brings her soul set to Paradiso Main Hall, with doors at 19:00 and the show at 20:30. The Amsterdam date is sold out but there’s a waiting list. July 14, Doors 19:00, show 20:30, Paradiso Main Hall

Mississippi River Brass Band in Vondelpark: The Mississippi River Brass Band plays an open-air set at the Vondelpark Openluchttheater tonight. It’s a live performance in the park, so weather will matter. July 14, 20:00, Vondelpark Openluchttheater 📅

Big-band jazz at ZOJazz Stage: Curtis Wilson Alumni Big Band plays alongside the Amsterdam UMC Big Band in a double bill at ZOJazz Stage. It’s an evening of live big-band jazz. July 14, 20:00, ZOJazz Stage 📅

The Fours play Jazz Cafe Alto: The Fours play an evening set at Jazz Cafe Alto on Leidseplein. The room is small, and the setting usually makes for an intimate night of live jazz. July 14, 21:30, Jazz Cafe Alto 📅

Baroque harpsichord in Amstelveen: Harpsichordist Noriko Amano van Baaren performs European Baroque music in Amstelveen. The program runs for just over an hour in the Grote zaal of APGEN. July 14, 20:15–21:30, Grote zaal van APGEN (Amstelveen-Noord) 📅

Free organ concert at Nieuwe Kerk: The Nieuwe Kerk’s organ concert series continues on Dam Square, with the church’s organ played in one of Amsterdam’s oldest buildings. Check the venue website for the program and times. July 14, Nieuwe Kerk, Dam 12 📅

Vita Pagie plays Paper Songs: Singer-songwriter Vita Pagie performs Paper Songs at Theater de Roode Bioscoop, one of Amsterdam’s smaller theaters. It’s an intimate evening of live music. July 14, 19:30, Theater de Roode Bioscoop 📅

Madam’s rooftop Skyline Sessions: Madam’s Skyline Sessions bring live music to the rooftop, with the city as the backdrop. The lineup details are limited, so it may be worth checking closer to the date. July 14, 21:00, Madam 📅

GIULS at Bourbon Street: Soul singer GIULS performs live at Bourbon Street, the long-running blues and soul venue on the Amsterdam nightlife circuit. The show starts late. July 14, 23:00, Bourbon Street 📅

The Terminator screens at Pllek: James Cameron’s 1984 sci-fi film screens outdoors at Pllek on the IJ waterfront as part of the Films With A View summer series. July 14, 22:20, Pllek 📅 Film

France and Spain on the megascreen: WestWeelde at Westergas is showing the World Cup semi-final between France and Spain on a large outdoor screen. July 14, 19:30, WestWeelde, Westergas 📅 Sports (Spectator)

Disclosure Day at LAB111: This film festival brings multiple screenings to LAB111 in Oud-West. The program runs with various times across the day. July 14, Various times, LAB111 (Oudwest) Film

Arthouse screening of All We Imagine as Light: This group screening at The Movies is for people who want to watch All We Imagine as Light together and then stay for drinks afterward. It’s a straightforward cinema meetup. July 14, 18:00, The Movies 📅 Film

French national day meetup at Coco’s: People are gathering at Coco’s Outback to mark Bastille Day and watch France in the football semifinals. It’s aimed at the local French expat community. July 14, 21:00, Coco’s Outback 📅 Sports (Spectator)

Hockney lecture at Vrije Academie: This lecture looks at David Hockney’s career from his early paintings to his iPad drawings. It’s a straightforward way to get an overview of his work in central Amsterdam. July 14, Vrije Academie, Herengracht 368 📅 Talks / Ideas

Tourette’s drama at De Omval: This theater piece follows a young man pushed out of school and away from his family at a time when Gilles de la Tourette was barely understood. It’s an empathetic production at Theater de Omval. July 14, 15:00, Theater de Omval, Ouddiemerlaan 104 📅 Theater

Open Amsterdam at the city archives: This interactive lobby installation shows creative work at the Amsterdam City Archives and stays open through the summer. Admission is free. June 19–October 4, Stadsarchief Amsterdam 📅 Art / Museums

Sukkwan Island at Theater de Omval: This adaptation follows 13-year-old Roy as he joins his father on a remote island in Alaska, hoping to reconnect. It’s an intimate, tense piece at Theater de Omval. July 14, 20:00, Theater de Omval, Ouddiemerlaan 104 📅 Theater

Roze Filmdagen shorts with intro talk: House of B gives an intro talk before a shorts program from the Roze Filmdagen festival at Bijlmer Park Theater. It’s a film evening with a short spoken introduction first. July 14, 18:30, Bijlmer Park Theater 📅 Film

Board games in 2 Klaveren basement: Comrades & Co host an evening of board games, social deduction, and pancakes in the basement of 2 Klaveren. Solo arrivals are welcome, and newcomers are meant to get pulled into a game quickly. July 14, 18:45, 2 Klaveren, De Clercqstraat 136 📅 Games / Hobbies

Language exchange at Marina I-Dock: This meetup brings expats and locals together for a low-key language exchange over drinks. You get a sticker with your name, the languages you speak, and what you want to practice, then mingle with people speaking English, Dutch, and others. July 14, 18:30, Marina I-Dock, IJdok 4 📅

Sketch and cake at Mediamatic: Artist Juliana Erazo leads an evening of sketching, drawing, and cake eating in a waterside setting. It’s set up for both beginners and more experienced sketchers. July 14, 18:00, Mediamatic 📅 Workshop

Discuss Wallen restaurant rules: Residents, business owners, and building owners are invited to a co-design session on hospitality rules in the Wallen. The meeting is set up to gather proposals on how restaurant and bar rules there should work. July 14, 10:00–12:00, Café ‘Skek 📅

Van Gogh workshop looks to Japan: This painting and sketching workshop looks at the influence of Japanese art on Vincent van Gogh. It’s a hands-on way to explore one part of his visual language. July 14, 11:00–13:00, Post Oost 📅 Workshop

Alternative Amsterdam walking tour: This walking tour looks at Amsterdam’s counter-cultural history, including hippie culture, houseboats, and local laws that shaped the city’s alternative side. It starts at Dam Square. July 14, 13:30, National Monument, Dam Square 📅 Tour

Social bouldering night at Monk: A group climb at Monk Bouldergym where beginners are welcome and shoes can be rented on-site. After about 90 minutes on the wall, people usually stay for drinks and snacks at the gym bar. July 14, 19:30, Monk Bouldergym, Aambeeldstraat 26 📅 Sports (Active)

Board game night at Stayokay Vondelpark: A relaxed board game night in the bar at Stayokay Vondelpark, open to people coming with friends or on their own. It’s a simple way to spend an evening around a table instead of a screen. July 14, 18:00, Stayokay Vondelpark 📅 Games / Hobbies

Sewing course with Rasa Gaspers: This beginner-friendly sewing course covers designing, cutting, and sewing your own garments and accessories. A tailor guides the pace, so participants can work through the basics step by step. July 14, 19:00, Amsterdam House of Arts & Crafts 📅 Workshop

Adult swimming lessons for expats: Small-group swimming lessons for adults at Zuiderbad, aimed at expats who want more confidence in and around water. Registration is required before you go. July 14, 20:00, Zuiderbad, Hobbemastraat 26 📅 Sports (Active)

Founders meetup comes to Amsterdam: BERLIndians x Amsterdam is a casual networking meetup for startup founders, operators, and investors, with no pitching required. It’s open to everyone. July 14, 16:00, Amsterdam 📅 Networking

Pitch ideas at Side Quest Bar: This networking evening includes five live pitches, themed tables, and three hours of conversation with founders and entrepreneurs. If you’re developing an idea, it gives you a structured room to talk it through with people who have built businesses. July 14, 18:00, Side Quest Bar, Ceintuurbaan 📅 Pitch / Demo

Vita Lente opens in Amsterdam: Vita Lente is a new café-bar in Amsterdam, with a name that points to a slower, Italian-influenced feel. It adds another place in the city for drinks and a relaxed stop-in. Amsterdam Bar / Café

New bottleshop opens in Oost: A dedicated bottleshop has opened in Amsterdam Oost for wine, beer, or spirits. It gives locals another place to buy drinks close to home. Amsterdam Oost Shop / Store

Bon Burger Bar opens in Amsterdam: Bon Burger Bar is a new burger spot in Amsterdam. It looks set up as a casual bar-restaurant for people wanting a straightforward burger meal. Amsterdam Restaurant

24 uur Nieuw-West: The June 20th edition of "24 uur" focused on Amsterdam’s largest neighborhood, Nieuw-West, highlighting a variety of new local openings and hidden gems. Restaurant