Essentially Amsterdam — Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Wednesday July 22, 2026

Good morning, Amsterdam. A teen puppeteer is keeping the Jan Klaassen tradition alive on Dam Square, High Heels Hurray opens at HART Museum, and there’s outdoor toddler theater in the Amsterdamse Bos.

Teen puppeteer keeps Jan Klaassen tradition on Dam Square: A 17-year-old is stepping up to run the traditional Dutch Jan Klaassen puppet theater that has long entertained crowds on Dam Square, helping keep the street-performance custom going.

Court blocks Airbnb rental despite HOA approval: A judge has barred an Amsterdam apartment owner from listing on Airbnb even though the homeowners association had approved the rental three to one. A single dissenting neighbor took the case to court and won.

Rental homes face D energy rating rule by 2029: A draft law before the Dutch government would require landlords to bring all rental properties up to at least a D energy rating by 2029. The aim is better sustainability and lower energy bills for tenants.

Studio Steenhuis marks 40 years of brainteasers: Amsterdam-based Studio Steenhuis has spent four decades crafting intricate puzzles and brainteasers. For thousands of people across the country, the puzzles have become a daily ritual.

Class rank shapes secondary school advice for Dutch pupils: A new study finds primary school pupils with identical test scores often receive different secondary school recommendations. The advice can depend on how their classmates performed.

Expats must declare foreign savings under Box 3: If you live in the Netherlands but keep savings in high-yield accounts abroad, Dutch wealth tax still applies to your global assets. Foreign accounts need to be declared on your annual tax return.

Heat drives insect surge across North Holland: Warm summer temperatures have accelerated insect reproduction across the province. Pest control services report a sharp rise in calls as colonies of ants, moths, and flies expand.

De Parade returns to Martin Luther Kingpark: Amsterdam’s traveling theater festival is preparing to set up its tents again in South Amsterdam. The artistic circus tends to draw both praise and criticism as a neighborhood fixture.

Amsterdam expands panhandling ban to 17 more areas: The city has added 17 zones to its ban on aggressive panhandling, including Westerstraat, Rozengracht, Javastraat, and the Zuidas. Following or grabbing passersby can bring a €110 fine, though support services are still offered first to unhoused people.

Central Station bike conveyor fails nearly six times a week: The bicycle conveyor belt at Amsterdam Centraal’s main storage facility broke down 239 times over six months, nearly six times a week. The city is working with supplier Schindler to fix the issues before the maintenance contract expires in 2026.

Outdoor toddler theater in the Amsterdamse Bos: Just the Way You Are is a gentle outdoor theater performance made for toddlers and young children aged 2 and up. July 22–30, at various times, Het Amsterdamse Bostheater. Family Show

Toy Story drawing studio for kids at the Rijksmuseum: Kids aged 6 and up can explore animation and drawing in a special Toy Story corner that looks at how Woody and Buzz came to life. July 22, Rijksmuseum. 📅 Kids Workshop

Free greenhouse tote-bag workshop at Hortus Botanicus: Kids can design a miniature greenhouse on a tote bag at this free drop-in craft session among the plants, with no reservation needed. July 22, Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam. 📅 Kids Workshop

Kids design badges and tote bags at Museum Cobra: Children can make their own badge or print a linen tote bag at the Pop Art Factory workshop, a hands-on creative stop at the museum. July 22, Museum Cobra, Amstelveen. 📅 Kids Workshop

Pathé Kids Festival pairs films with a toy prize: Pathé’s summer Kids Festival is back with family film screenings. After your visit, you could win one free minute of grabbing toys in a store. July 22, Pathé cinemas. 📅 Festival / Fair

Children’s storytelling studio at the OBA: Bring kids aged five and up to the Amsterdam Public Library for an afternoon of live storytelling. July 22, 15:30, OBA. 📅 Story / Reading

Kids explore bamboo at Wereldmuseum makerspace: Wereldmuseum Amsterdam invites kids into its makerspace to learn about bamboo, what it is, where it comes from, and what you can build with it. July 22, Wereldmuseum Amsterdam. 📅 Kids Workshop

Kids make their own art at KiMu museum: At KiMu, Amsterdam’s children’s art museum, kids get space to experiment and develop their own creative work rather than only looking at art. July 22, KiMu Kinderkunstmuseum. 📅 Museum / Educational

Kids discovery route at Joods Museum Junior: Kids aged 10 and up can explore Jewish history, culture, and traditions through a self-guided discovery route at Joods Museum Junior. July 22, Joods Museum Junior. 📅 Museum / Educational

Animal scavenger hunt at the Zuiderzeemuseum: Kids search for eight different animals in a summer scavenger hunt spread through the museum grounds. It is set up as an interactive outing for families. July 22, Zuiderzeemuseum. 📅 Museum / Educational

GLU plays Paradiso’s Upstairs Room: Michael Shuman’s solo project GLU mixes hip-hop, pop, and experimental electronic music in the intimate Upstairs Room. July 22, doors 19:30, show 20:00, Paradiso.

Benjamin Herman plays jazz at De Kring: Dutch saxophonist Benjamin Herman, a long-time figure in Amsterdam’s jazz scene, performs at the historic members’ club on the Herengracht. July 22, 21:00, De Kring. 📅

Oyster happy hour at Mossel & Gin: Mossel & Gin is serving fresh oysters for €1.50 each during its weekly Wednesday happy hour in Westerpark. July 22, 17:00–18:00, Mossel & Gin, Westerpark. 📅 Food / Markets

High Heels Hurray opens at HART Museum: COC Amsterdam’s Shakespeare Club stages the opening performance of High Heels Hurray! at HART Museum, pairing heels and theater energy with a museum setting. July 22, 14:30, HART Museum. 📅 Dance / Performance

De Appel opens its arts archive to the public: During public open hours you can browse de Appel’s arts library, including historic art documentations, physical archives, and other unique records. July 22, 14:00, de Appel. 📅 Art / Museums

Musical theater revue at CREA: CREA, Amsterdam’s university cultural center, presents Revue voor U, a live musical theater show in its regular performance program. July 22, 12:00, CREA. 📅 Theater

Shakespeare club evening at HART Museum: COC runs a theater-style Shakespeare club at HART Museum, a low-key evening of reading and performance set inside the museum. July 22, HART Museum. 📅 Theater

Rajasthani cooking workshop with Saheli Women: Learn traditional Rajasthani dishes in an interactive cooking session, then sit down to dinner hosted by the Saheli Women. July 22 at 19:00, Moustaqbel Amsterdam, Bloemgracht. 📅 Tasting

Beginner watercolor and wine workshop in the Jordaan: Learn the basics of watercolor painting in a Jordaan studio while sipping wine or tea and chatting with others as you finish a piece. July 22 at 19:45, Jordaan Art Studio, Marnixstraat. 📅 Workshop

Silent writing hour at the OBA central library: Bring a laptop, notebook, or current project for an hour of quiet writing with others on the 7th floor, followed by a casual chat. July 22 at 10:30, Openbare Bibliotheek Amsterdam (OBA). 📅 Games / Hobbies

Guided tour inside De Nederlandsche Bank: A 90-minute public tour offers a look behind the scenes at the Dutch central bank, a building most people only pass from the outside. July 22, 10:00–11:30, De Nederlandsche Bank. 📅 Tour

Soap-making workshop on the Bloemgracht: Learn the traditional process of blending natural ingredients and leave with your own custom soap in this hands-on craft session. July 22, 10:30–12:30, Moustaqbel Amsterdam, Bloemgracht. 📅 Workshop

Free papercutting workshop at Galerie KunstRuim: Try the delicate art of papercutting at this free afternoon creative session in East Amsterdam. July 22, 13:00–16:00, Galerie KunstRuim. 📅 Workshop

Open stage storytelling night at Mezrab: Anyone can take the stage and share a story, no preparation required and no theme imposed. July 22, 20:00, Mezrab, Veemkade 576. 📅

Van Gogh color workshop at Steigerplek: Experiment with bold color palettes in a hands-on painting workshop inspired by Vincent van Gogh. July 22, 14:00–16:00, Steigerplek. 📅 Workshop

Strategy board game night at Roode Remise: An evening of Euro strategy games like Ticket to Ride, Concordia, and Catan, plus social games such as Codenames. Organizers are on hand to explain the rules. July 22 at 19:00, Roode Remise. 📅 Games / Hobbies

Indoor volleyball training and games at Blauw Wit: A structured indoor volleyball session with warm-up, organized games using a 5:1 rotation divided by skill level, and cool-down. Suited to players who already have a solid foundation. July 22 at 20:30, Sporthal Blauw Wit. 📅 Sports (Active)

AI builders meetup with demos and pizza: AI developers, product managers, and founders gather for live demos from local and Silicon Valley builders, then pizza, drinks, and networking. July 22 at 17:30, StartDock Coworking, Prins Hendrikkade. 📅 Networking

Dutch gasoline prices near historic highs: Pump prices are approaching record levels as crude oil rises. Consumer platform UnitedConsumers says gasoline in the Netherlands is unlikely to fall below two euros again. Business News

Career-switch networking event for expats: Professionals can meet others at a networking session aimed at expats navigating a career change in Amsterdam. July 22, 18:30–20:30, The College Hotel and Marina I-Dock. 📅 Networking

Losing bidders challenge Schiphol ground-handling deal: Menzies, Aviapartner, and Swissport are going to court over Schiphol’s €2.6 billion ground-handling tender. The firms are challenging the results after missing out on the contract award. Business News

European gas prices climb back toward March highs: Wholesale natural gas prices in Europe are rising sharply after LNG supply disruptions in Texas and the Middle East. Lower-than-expected storage levels are adding further pressure on prices. Business News

Cécilia Gross named Dutch chief government architect: The 47-year-old architect behind the Paris Olympic swimming venue has been appointed Rijksbouwmeester. She will serve as the state’s lead advisor on housing design and national infrastructure. Business News

Trump prepares new tariffs targeting the EU: US President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing import tariffs on dozens of countries, including the European Union. Dutch exporters and business leaders are bracing for a challenging economic autumn. Business News

Dutch venture firms hand leadership to younger partners: Major Dutch venture capital firms such as Newion and Peak are passing leadership to a younger generation of managing partners. The handovers mark a shift in who runs these funds. Business News

Coaches networking meetup at Werkplaats Volkshotel: Life, career, and executive coaches can connect at this informal gathering for networking, sharing challenges, and exchanging insights over drinks. July 22 at 18:00, Werkplaats Volkshotel. 📅 Networking

AkzoNobel-Axalta merger gains proxy advisory support: Proxy advisory firms have backed the proposed merger between Dutch paint company AkzoNobel and competitor Axalta. The support comes ahead of the shareholder vote on August 5. Business News

Dubble listening cafe opens in Oud-West: A new cafe in Oud-West puts high-fidelity sound first, with a relaxed atmosphere built around careful listening rather than background noise. Bar / Café

Corendon opens travel boutique in Amsterdam-Zuid: Dutch travel brand Corendon will open its first Travel Boutique on Cornelis Schuytstraat in Amsterdam-Zuid at the end of August. It brings in-person holiday booking and travel services to the neighborhood. Shop / Store

Scarpetta restaurant opens in Amsterdam: Scarpetta is a new restaurant that has opened in Amsterdam. The name suggests it is likely Italian, though further details remain limited. Restaurant

New stadscafé opens in Amsterdam West: A neighborhood city cafe has opened in Amsterdam West with a warm, relaxed atmosphere that suits younger residents as well as older ones. It is meant as a local spot where people can settle in comfortably. Restaurant

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