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Essentially Amsterdam - Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Essentially Amsterdam
Tuesday August 11, 2026
Good morning, Amsterdam. Pllek is hosting an open-air film screening on the beach tonight, and Bosfest brings theater and music to the Amsterdamse Bos.
At a glance
Weather: Hi 23°C / 73°F (1° cooler than yesterday) · Lo 16°C / 61°F · 0% chance of rain · wind NE 19 km/h (10 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Great cycling weather all day.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 06:16 · Sunset 21:13 · New Moon · Moonrise 03:57 · Golden hour 20:43–21:13
🌊 Outdoors: Water 22°C / 72°F (swimmable) · Air quality: good (AQI 14) · Swimming discouraged at Amsterdamse Bos and Spaarnwoude; warnings at Het Twiske and Strand De Hoge Dijk. The other 6 Amsterdam spots are clear.
💶 Markets: AEX 1,113 (+0.1%) · S&P 500 7,753 (+2.0%) · €1 = $1.16 · $1 = €0.87
🏆 Dutch sport: In athletics, Jessica Schilder won her third consecutive European title in the shot put with Jorinde van Klinken taking silver, the Dutch mixed relay team claimed bronze at the European Athletics Championships, and in football, FC Volendam suffered a defeat to Jong PSV in their Eerste Divisie return.
News
Bol removes unsafe solar eclipse glasses ahead of celestial event: Webshop Bol has pulled dozens of solar eclipse glasses that failed safety requirements, days before Wednesday’s eclipse.
Booking.com scams on the rise according to fraud reports: Fraud reports around Booking.com are climbing, with scammers posing as hotels and the platform itself to lure travelers into fake payments.
IJshoeve Sloten named best ice cream shop in Amsterdam again: The annual ice cream rankings from Mokum Magazine awarded top honors to IJshoeve in Sloten for the fourth time. Spots in the Jordaan and Oost also took high spots on this year’s list.
Brief midweek dip makes way for returning 30°C heat: Temperatures in Amsterdam will briefly drop early in the week before rising rapidly starting Wednesday. A heavy warm spell is expected to bring summer heat back across the city.
ProRail plans major track rebuild at Amsterdam Centraal station: Infrastructure manager ProRail has announced plans to rebuild tracks 11 and 13 at Amsterdam Centraal. The work is part of the long-term, comprehensive layout overhaul taking place across the transit hub.
Fake TikTok rental ads trigger massive rise in housing fraud: National fraud watchdogs report a huge spike in rental scams, driven largely by fake student housing listings on TikTok. The warning comes as students search for homes ahead of the academic year in Amsterdam.
Spaarndammertunnel closes citybound lanes due to speaker failure: The Spaarndammertunnel in Amsterdam is closed to eastbound traffic heading into the city because of a broken public address system. Westbound lanes remain open while technicians fix the issue.
KLM will drop free snacks and drinks on European flights: Starting in October, KLM passengers flying within Europe will no longer receive complimentary drinks or cheese sandwiches. The airline is shifting to a buy-on-board menu called Grand Café KLM.
Dutch military intelligence chief reveals home address via popular fitness app: The head of the Netherlands military intelligence service maintained a public Strava profile for years. The open account mapped his regular running routes, inadvertently exposing his home address online.
Family / Children
Rijksmuseum offers Toy Story scavenger hunt for kids: Children aged six and up can explore the museum through an interactive treasure hunt featuring Toy Story characters like Woody, Buzz, and Jessie. August 11, Rijksmuseum. 📅 Museum / Educational
Free kids activity day brings BMX and raft building to West: Children ages 8 to 12 can spend the afternoon riding BMX tracks, constructing rafts, and building rope bridges in Amsterdam West. August 11, 12:00–16:30, Blue Tower Hotel area, Amsterdam West. 📅 Outdoor / Active
Procamp hosts youth soccer summer camp at Olympic Stadium: Children can take part in a multi-day soccer summer camp held on the grounds of the Olympic Stadium. August 11, 08:00, Olympisch Stadion. 📅 Outdoor / Active
OBA hosts creative summer crafting session for youth: Children and teenagers can drop in for an afternoon crafting workshop held as part of the library’s TUMO summer activities. August 11, 13:00, OBA. 📅 Kids Workshop
Music
Current Joys plays lo-fi indie set at Paradiso: Nick Rattigan brings his indie solo project Current Joys to Amsterdam, playing songs from his recent albums Voyager and East My Love. August 11, Doors: 19:00, Main program: 20:30, Paradiso.
Fernanda Santanna Trio plays Elis Regina tribute at De Ceuvel: Brazilian singer Fernanda Santanna honors vocalist Elis Regina in a performance on the veranda stage, joined by local flutist Floor Polder. August 11, 21:30, De Ceuvel. 📅
Jazz collaboration plays ARTIS-Groote Museum for Grachtenfestival: The Matthias van den Brande Trio teams up with pianist Bram de Looze for a modern jazz set inside the museum hall. August 11, 20:00 – 21:00, ARTIS-Groote Museum. 📅
Duo Leora plays Grachtenfestival concert in Zuidas: Soprano and guitar duo Leora performs a lunchtime concert set around themes of life and gratitude. August 11, 12:00–13:00, Goede Doelen Loterijen. 📅
Summer organ concert series comes to Dam Square: The summer organ concert series continues at De Nieuwe Kerk on Dam Square, offering a chance to hear live music inside the historic venue. August 11, 20:00, De Nieuwe Kerk, Dam Square. 📅
Experimental jazz quartet plays intimate Roode Bioscoop set: Musicians Johanna Monk, Nora Mulder, Nico Chientaroli, and Aaron Lumley perform an evening of improvised and experimental jazz at the Roode Bioscoop theater. August 11, 20:30, Theater de Roode Bioscoop. 📅
Events: Watch
Pllek hosts open-air beach screening of ‘The Mastermind’: Films With A View returns to the beach at Pllek with headphone audio and city skyline views for a screening of the 2025 film ‘The Mastermind’. August 11, 21:45, Pllek. 📅 Film
Bosfest brings theater and music to Amsterdamse Bos: The open-air forest theater hosts Bosfest, a multi-day evening festival featuring live theater performances and music. August 11 to August 22, 18:00–00:00, Amsterdamse Bostheater, Amstelveen. 📅 Festivals
Outdoor physical theater play runs in Amsterdam Forest: Schippers&VanGucht presents EENIEDEREEN, an immersive physical theater performance staged beneath the trees of the forest. August 11, 18:30, Amsterdamse Bostheater. 📅 Theater
De Leedbewakers stages outdoor theater piece Noodkeet: This intimate theatrical performance explores themes of vulnerability and protection set within a custom outdoor installation. August 11, 19:20, Amsterdamse Bostheater. 📅 Theater
Poetry Circle presents spoken word performance in Amsterdamse Bos: The Poetry Circle collective brings an evening of spoken word and lyrical performance to the open-air forest stage. August 11, 19:30, Het Amsterdamse Bostheater. 📅 Theater
Anne Suurendonk’s dance piece Spiral comes to Bostheater: Choreographer Anne Suurendonk and Theater de Krakeling bring their expressive dance performance Spiral to the forest amphitheater. August 11, Amsterdamse Bostheater. 📅 Dance / Performance
Alma Mathijsen discusses her work at LAB111: Author Alma Mathijsen talks with host Alexander Bartels about her upcoming novel and the movie scenes that influenced her career. Note that this event is in Dutch. August 11, 20:00, LAB111. 📅 Talks / Ideas
Collectief Ludvik performs outdoor theater in Amsterdam Forest: Theater group Collectief Ludvik staging their production Requiem in an open-air forest setting. August 11, 19:30, Amsterdamse Bostheater. 📅 Theater
Ferhat Kaplan presents outdoor theater in Amsterdamse Bos: Ferhat Kaplan performs ‘De Laatste Minuten’ (The Last Minutes), a theatrical production staged by Theater RAST. August 11, 21:00, Het Amsterdamse Bostheater. 📅 Theater
Weekly neighborhood market returns to Osdorp Tussenmeer: Browse stalls selling fresh food, produce, clothing, and household items at this regular neighborhood market in Nieuw-West. August 11, 09:00–17:00, Tussen Meer, Amsterdam Nieuw-West. 📅 Food / Markets
Events: Do
Vuurtoreneiland excursion offers historic boat trip and island tour: Board a classic heritage ferry for a trip to the historic lighthouse island, followed by a guided walking tour covering its military and natural history. August 11, 13:00, Lloydplein, Amsterdam. 📅 Tour
Comrades & Co hosts board game night in Jordan: Join locals and internationals for an evening of tabletop games at De Twee Klaveren, a traditional Dutch game café that has been open for over 30 years. August 11, 18:45, De Twee Klaveren. 📅 Games / Hobbies
Monk hosts bouldering and social session in Noord: Climb routes set for all experience levels, from beginners to advanced climbers, before heading to the gym’s bar for drinks with the group. August 11, 19:30, Monk Bouldergym, Aambeeldstraat 26. 📅 Sports (Active)
De Pijp pub hosts casual Tuesday pool night: O’Donnell’s Irish Pub hosts a weekly social evening featuring pool games and outdoor drinks. There is no entry fee, making it a simple option to meet locals and expats. August 11, 19:30, O’Donnell’s Irish Pub. 📅 Games / Hobbies
Effective Altruism group meets for monthly social evening: The local Effective Altruism community gathers in East Amsterdam for a relaxed social evening to discuss evidence-based ideas for positive social impact. August 11, 19:30, Celebesstraat 58A. 📅
Work / Business
Tether co-founder Jan van der Velde becomes richest Dutch citizen: Arnhem-born Ludovicus Jan van der Velde, co-founder of cryptocurrency issuer Tether, is now estimated to be the wealthiest Dutch citizen in history, with a net worth surpassing €26 billion. Business News
Amsterdam bar group 3WO faces cash squeeze after expansion: Popular hospitality group 3WO, behind many neighborhood pubs across Amsterdam, has seen its balance sheet strained by recent expansion into Leiden. The owners had to put in personal capital to satisfy bank requirements. Business News
Dutch shoppers cut Shein and Temu orders after EU tariff: About half of Dutch consumers report buying less from cheap overseas platforms like Shein and Temu since the EU introduced new import tariffs on small packages in July. Business News
Rabobank commits €2 billion to upgrade IT and AI systems: Rabobank plans to invest €2 billion over the coming years to modernize its data infrastructure and expand artificial intelligence across its customer services and operations. Business News
Mondays dominate Dutch e-commerce shipping schedules: Data from shipping platform Wuunder shows Dutch warehouses pack 38% of their weekly online orders on Mondays. Tuesdays follow at 17%, while the rest of the week sees steady, lower volume. Business News
Gold fraud victims win right to sue banks: A Dutch court has allowed the Collectief FGS Foundation to represent victims of a major gold fraud scheme in a lawsuit against ING and Bunq over alleged breaches in duty of care. Business News
Study shows Dutch homes are not unusually large: Researchers Friso de Zeeuw and Geurt Keers have challenged claims that Dutch residents live in oversized homes, finding that housing space per person aligns with European standards. Business News
Amsterdam founders raise funding to digitize high-net-worth portfolios: Dutch founders Cece de Boon and Paddy Natte are raising €400,000 for their startup, Bonafi. The company is developing software to replace spreadsheet-based asset management for ultra-high-net-worth portfolios. Business News
Low southern river levels pinch Dutch national supply chains: While northern waterways remain open, businesses across the Netherlands are starting to experience supply bottlenecks. Dry southern rivers are making it difficult to ship raw materials northward. Business News
Former Dutch international’s Amstelveen home faces forced auction: Ex-national team footballer Gregory van der Wiel is facing the forced sale of his luxury villa in Amstelveen after court appeals failed to block the process. An auction notice is now posted at the property. Business News
Openings & Closings
Race Planet Amsterdam closes permanently this November after 30 years: The indoor karting destination in Nieuw-West has announced it will shut down permanently on November 1. Operated by the Bleekemolen family for over three decades, the location has been a staple for local racing fans and group events. Venue / Space
Erik’s Delicatessen expands with new takeaway kitchen on Beukenplein: The team behind Erik’s Delicatessen is opening Erik’s Keuken right next door on Beukenplein in Amsterdam Oost, offering fresh takeaway meals, casual bites, and drinks. Restaurant
V&A Bar Bistro Amsterdam: V&A Bar Bistro Juno Amsterdam Where Van ‘t Spit used to be located on Frans Halsstraat, you can now find Juno Restaurant AmsterdamSame owners, but a new concept. A fire in the kitchen some time ago proved the perfect opportunity to change course. The starting point? Bar / Café
Esra: You don’t often find a place like Esra. It’s the kind of restaurant where everything comes together and seems to be perfect: from the decor to the food and atmosphere, with excellent service as the icing on the cake. Restaurant
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: The Brutalist (Netflix), Special Ops: Lioness S3 (SkyShowtime), Trying S5 (Apple TV+), The Agency S2 (SkyShowtime) 🎬
New on the big screen: Rivals of Amziah King opens Thursday at 12 cinemas, Batwara 1947 opens Friday at Pathé Amsterdam Noord and Pathé Arena, and The Magic Faraway Tree at Filmhallen and Pathé Amsterdam Noord. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: Residents of Amsterdam-Zuidoost have filed around two hundred objections against a planned Equinix datacenter, with commenters split between backing them on grid congestion and housing grounds, and dismissing the campaign as misdirected compared to meat production’s water use.
Today’s supermarket deals:  Perla Huisblends koffiepads (2 for €5.79) from Albert Heijn, Johma salads (2 for €4.50) from Jumbo.
Did you know? The Van Gogh Museum’s 2023 Pokémon collaboration turned museum merchandise into a collector frenzy around Pikachu in a Van Gogh-style hat.
85 years ago today: On August 11th, 1941, FEBO traces its birthday to an Amsterdam bakery on the Amstelveenseweg, long before the wall-snack fame.
Adoptable pet of the dayAdoptable pet of the day: Meet Flakey, a cross groot at Dierenopvang Amsterdam. Take a look →
In tomorrow’s edition: free summer activities for kids across the city with MidzomerMokum, the Martin Parr photography exhibition at FOAM, and a chance to watch the solar eclipse from the NEMO roof terrace.
Have a great Tuesday, and enjoy the sun while the mild weather lasts.
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