Recent editions

Click on an image below to see that day's edition of Essentially Amsterdam.

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Thursday, July 16: The Weeknd at the ArenA, 20% tourist tax, direct train to London Plus: film scores at the Concertgebouw, Bakkerij Mama opens, Tanabata festival & more JUL 16, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Wednesday, July 15: Hayato Sumino at Concertgebouw, tawny owls returning, free teen paddleboarding Plus: Miles Davis film at Kompaszaal, The Terminator at Pllek, World Press Photo tour, Chef Centraal opens in West, and more. JUL 15, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Tuesday, July 14: Goudstikker painting found in trash, Tuschinski ceiling restored, Yebba at Paradiso tonight Plus: heat and storms ahead, Mississippi River Brass Band in Vondelpark, free laser tag, water party at Oosterdok, and more. JUL 14, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Monday, July 13: Amsterdam ice cream rankings out, free puppet theater at ARTIS, Sharon Eyal in Amsterdam Plus: denim summer school, Vietnamese pop-up at NDSM, Ilana Glazer at Meervaart, edible forest in Noord, and more. JUL 13, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Sunday, July 12: Bulgarian choir at Concertgebouw, Pure Markt returns, free puppet theater at ARTIS Plus: open beekeeping in Oost, E.T. at EYE, Roda de Samba at Bimhuis, new Airbnb rules, and much more. JUL 12, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Saturday, July 11: Free puppet theatre at ARTIS, Julidans final weekend, Luke Combs at the ArenA Plus: Amsterdam's first chess festival, NGHIA Vietnamese pop-up at NDSM, Roxeanne Hazes at the Concertgebouw, and ferry delays to know about. JUL 11, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Friday, July 10: Museumplein paddling pool returns, free Vondelpark shows open, Unicorn Boat Parade at Sloterplas Plus: Canal vocal feast at Mediamatic, accordion revival at Westerkerk, new ramen bar opens, Noord WWII bomb sites become public art. JUL 10, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Thursday, July 9: free rooftop gig at NEMO, Julidans ignites, kids ride free Plus: asbestos toy monkey recall, Jewish bakery heritage in Oost, Latin nights return to Westergas, and a full city of events. JUL 9, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Wednesday, July 8: third heatwave looming, Canal Parade turns 30, Reggie Watts tonight Plus: no-swimming advisory citywide, Sloterdijk–Zaandam tunnel fault, Kevin Morby at Paradiso, free kids tech lab, and more. JUL 8, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Tuesday, July 7: heatwave returns, Madness live at AFAS, city tackles illegal rents Plus: Dvořák at the Concertgebouw, World Cup on the big screen, Julidans at Bijlmer, southbound trains back, and more. JUL 7, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Monday, July 6: Amsterdam cracks down on empty homes, Couple evicted after owning seven apartments while in social housing, Free energy coaches available for Amsterdam renters Plus: Paid internships to become a legal right for all Dutch students, Author and cabaret legend Marjan Berk dies at 93, Buyers under 25 taking out more mortgages across the Netherlands & more. JUL 6, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Sunday, July 5: Daley Blind in talks for Ajax return, Bruno Mars at the ArenA, free family Sunday Plus: Osdorp power outage, road tunnels closing more often, €1 oysters, Tanabata Festival, Shakespeare outdoors & more. JUL 5, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Saturday, July 4: major road closures stack up, Ajax sign ter Stegen, traffic fines ruled unlawful Plus: Schiphol warns of 5-hr waits, avoid open water til Wednesday, Bruno Mars tonight, MidzomerMokum kicks off. JUL 4, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Thursday, July 2: tropical summer warning, Eurostar cancels Amsterdam trains, Julidans opens tonight Plus: drought alert, summer train pass flying off shelves, fireworks ban confirmed, Bruno Mars, free rooftop music & more. JUL 2, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Wednesday, July 1: heat wave continues, Oranje knocked out by Morocco, Ajax signs Caio Henrique Plus: Schiphol noise data controversy, €17.5M for sports, two Amsterdam terraces in national top 100, and tons to do tonight. JUL 1, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Tuesday, June 30: train disruptions continue, July 1 law changes, Chef'Special at Concertgebouw Plus: HiCondo rent battle, new homes in Noord, Brediusbad closed Friday, Ajax director out, Ali Wong live, and more. JUN 30, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Monday, June 29: Lightning, heat warnings & where to cool off Plus: open water swimming advisory, Oost budget meeting tonight, FOAM Talent opens, and more. JUN 29, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Sunday, June 28: Storm hits Amsterdam hard Plus: Bruno Mars afterparty at Jimmy Woo, Japan Festival at Handelsplein, and a garbage barge nobody can move. JUN 28, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Saturday, June 27: Amsterdam hits 38.2°C — a new record Plus: Spaarndammertunnel closes 10 days, IJ-Hallen flea market, Dancehall Queen at Tolhuistuin, and more. JUN 27, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Friday, June 26: First-ever Code Red heat warning Plus: free outdoor swimming, Bright Eyes in the Bos, Martin Parr at FOAM, and a new aperitivo bar in De Pijp. JUN 26, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Thursday, June 25: Orange heat alert: where to cool down Plus: WorldPride kicks off, new beach at Gaasperplas, Keti Koti festivities, two baby elephants at ARTIS, and more. JUN 25, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Wednesday, June 24: Amsterdam opens cooling stations Plus: where to swim in West, a De Pijp attic book, Hildur Guðnadóttir live, and a Japanese pub in Ten Katestraat. JUN 24, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Tuesday, June 23: The wonder plant is back at Hortus Plus: transit strike June 24, Grachtenfestival tickets, ENTR's VR museum opens, and a hot week ahead. JUN 23, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Monday, June 22: Amsterdam's longest day, explained Plus: Toy Story 5 kids day, Ben Harper at Paradiso, Transvaal neighborhood festival, and a flea circus in the Jordaan. JUN 22, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Sunday, June 21: Storm warning for Amsterdam tonight Plus: beavers spotted on the outskirts, Gregory Porter at Olympisch Stadion, and a packed midsummer weekend. JUN 21, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Friday, June 19: City Hall's new market hall opens Plus: heat plan activated, 800 euros per bed, Open Garden Days, opera in the park, and a big AI hub. JUN 19, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Thursday, June 18: The Rijksmuseum puts you in the picture Plus: free passport delivery, Vondelpark fatbike ban results, Snail Mail at Paradiso, and a new AI hub opens. JUN 18, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Wednesday, June 17: Emperor's Visit Closes Dam Square Plus: heat wave incoming, free passport home delivery, bike depot secrets, and Cypress Hill tonight. JUN 17, 2026

☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Tuesday, June 16: An otter in Amsterdam. First time in 60 years Plus: car-free Damrak floated, a heat wave incoming Thursday, and new Amsterdam–Ruhr trains eyed for 2028. JUN 16, 2026