Tuesday September 22, 2026
Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: metro lines prepare to rebrand as M1 through M4, Schiphol shuts the Kaagbaan runway for maintenance, and a neighbourhood treasures exhibition opens at the community reuse hub.
The activities listed below are just a curated sample of what’s going on in Amsterdam. Check out our completely redesigned events calendar here.
At a glance
🌦️ Weather: Hi 21°C / 70°F (1° warmer than yesterday) · Lo 16°C / 61°F · 5% chance of rain · wind NW 10 km/h (5 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Good cycling all day.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 07:26 · Sunset 19:39 · Waxing Gibbous · Moonrise 18:18 · Golden hour 19:09 to 19:39
🌊 Outdoors: Air quality moderate (AQI 51) · grass pollen low
💶 Markets: AEX 1,102 (+0.7%) · S&P 500 7,774 (+1.6%) · €1 = $1.15 · $1 = €0.87
Amsterdam metro lines to rebrand as M1 through M4: The transport authority will introduce new line numbers and updated route colours starting in 2028. Research indicates the single-digit format will be easier for visitors and locals to navigate.
Social history institute director retires after leadership transition: Historian Leo Lucassen is retiring after six and a half years leading the International Institute of Social History. Historian Lily Knibbeler is stepping in to succeed him.
Paul Haenen steps down as voice of Bert: The Amsterdam actor announced his departure after more than 50 years with the character. His decision follows the death of longtime Ernie voice actor Wim T. Schippers.
Amsterdam to Utrecht cycle highway takes step forward: Regional transport authorities and four municipalities have agreed on the route for the forty-kilometre fast cycle link. Construction will cost at least 57 million euros and starts in 2028.
Schiphol closes Kaagbaan runway for week of maintenance: The runway is shut for annual repairs until next Tuesday, though it will reopen over the weekend. Nearby residents may experience increased noise as air traffic shifts to alternative runways.
National Ballet public class sells out immediately: A free open class on the Stopera stage was fully booked on its first working day. New ballet director Ernst Meisner wants to make the company accessible to a wider audience.
Community reuse hub opens neighbourhood treasures exhibition: Het Afvalpaleis in the Dapperstraat is hosting a new display showcasing the personal histories behind donated secondhand items. The project was created with anthropology students and the Amsterdam Museum.
Dry summer leaves Dutch chips smaller and costlier: A bone-dry summer has led to one of the smallest potato harvests on record. Snack fans will see their chips shrink in size without any drop in price.
Amsterdam Vintage Watches generated €15 million without business plan: Jasper Lijfering turned his parents’ antique shop into a high-end luxury watch dealership. The business has shifted from high volume to selling about thirty expensive pieces a month.
Olympic champion Jutta Leerdam pauses skating career: The Dutch speed skater will sit out the coming winter season after winning gold in Milan. She plans to focus on social media and other personal projects instead.
Move Lab updates mobility exhibition for children: The interactive space at Stadionplein now includes activities for younger siblings alongside its hands-on mobility stations. Tickets cost €9.50, with reduced entry available for Stadspas holders.
Modern dance classes for children with Shayenne: Children practice movement and modern dance fundamentals together in an informal studio setting led by Shayenne. 22 September, 16:00, De kids van Amsterdam. 📅 KIDS WORKSHOP
Creative digital skills for teenagers at TUMO Amsterdam: Youth aged 12 to 18 practice game design, coding, animation, or music production alongside industry mentors. 22 September, 15:30, OBA Banne TUMO-box. 📅 KIDS WORKSHOP
Rainbow science trial class at Hemlab for kids: Children put on lab coats and safety goggles to test chemical reactions with felt pens and color. 22 September, Hemlab, Wetenschap laboratorium voor kinderen. 📅 KIDS WORKSHOP
West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in the Main Hall: Daniel Barenboim leads his Middle Eastern ensemble through Wagner, Schubert’s Eighth Symphony, and Beethoven’s Third. 22 September, 20:15 – 22:10, The Concertgebouw, Main Hall. 📅 CLASSICAL
Pale Waves bring Manchester indie pop to Bitterzoet: Heather Baron-Gracie fronts the Manchester four-piece for an intimate club set organized by Paradiso. 22 September, 19:30, Bitterzoet. 📅 DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Pi’erre Bourne brings his tour to Melkweg: The American producer and rapper delivers solo tracks and mixtape selections inside the OZ room. 22 September, Melkweg. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
The Jayhawks mark forty years of roots rock at Paradiso: Four decades of vocal harmonies fill the main hall, spanning early Minneapolis classics alongside newer Bob Ezrin-produced material. 22 September, 20:30, Paradiso. 📅 DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Evanescence live in concert in Zuidoost: The American rock band brings their touring live arena show to Amsterdam for a Tuesday night date. 22 September, 20:00, Ziggo Dome. 📅 POP / ROCK
Free acoustic set and signing with Fischer-Z frontman: Concerto hosts an intimate stripped-back performance and album signing celebrating the British art-punk band’s fiftieth anniversary. 22 September, 18:00 uur, Concerto. 📅 POP / ROCK
Acoustic sets and haircuts at Witte Gei’t?: Four songwriters play short unplugged sets while Robin Food serves dinner and a barber clips hair upstairs. 22 September, De Nieuwe Anita. 📅 THEATER
Toronto singer Lilyisthatyou in the Upstairs Room: Expect raw electronic hooks and dark pop attitude from the viral Canadian artist on Paradiso’s top floor. 22 September, 22:00, Paradiso Upstairs Room. 📅 POP / ROCK
CvA Hoorn Ensemble lunch concert at De Thomas: Thirty minutes of classical horn music under Jasper de Waal, featuring works by Grieg, Strauss, and Mouret. 22 September, 12:30, De Thomas. 📅 CLASS
A talk on news pioneer M.S. Vaz Dias: Historians trace how a street cap seller built an influential Dutch press agency from scratch. 22 September, 17:00, SPUI25. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Duda Paiva Company stages Blind at Bellevue: Contemporary physical theatre blends dance and sculpted foam puppets in a solo piece exploring loss of sight. 22 September, 20:30, Theater Bellevue. 📅 THEATER
Folk storytelling and live music in Varenka en de oorlog: Violin, flutes, and mandolin accompany a spoken Russian legend about a woman surviving wartime in the woods. 22 September, Torpedo Theater. 📅 THEATER
Amsterdams Studenten Cabaret Festival finalist showcase at Theater de Richel: Three emerging performers take their competition routines on tour following the final round at De Kleine Komedie. 22 September, 20:15, Theater De Richel. 📅 COMEDY
Modern dating advice for older adults at OBA Buitenveldert: Willy van der Griendt shares practical tips on companionship and dating later in life. 22 September, 10:30, OBA Buitenveldert, Activiteitenruimte. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Daniel Marot lezing 2026 examines Roman silversmithing: Dr. Heike Zech discusses Roman goldsmith Luigi Valadier, his workshop drawings, and a monumental silver Pietà. 22 September, 19:30 – 22:00, Rijksmuseum. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
CinéDialoog: Sovereign Son and AI filmmaking debate: A documentary tracking a father living off-grid near Amsterdam uses synthetic imagery, followed by a director discussion. 22 September, 19:30, De Balie. 📅 FILM
Dutch shorts and director Q&As at Shortcutz Amsterdam: Emerging Dutch directors screen their latest short films with English subtitles, followed by filmmaker conversations upstairs. 22 September, 18:00, Sociëteit de Kring. 📅 FILM
Turning your family history into an audio documentary: Maartje Duin guides participants through pitching, shaping, and structuring personal stories across three focused workshop sessions. 22 September, 19:30, Tolhuistuin. 📅 WORKSHOP
Practise Dutch reading and conversation at Meeleesclub: Readers follow adapted texts together at beginner to intermediate levels, then unpack the story in a guided group. 22 September, 10:00, OBA Oosterdok, OBA helpt plein. 📅 CLASS
Polyglot conversations at the Language Exchange Meetup: Stickered nametags show your fluent and target tongues for casual practice sessions across dozens of languages. 22 September, 18:30 – 21:30, The Brokers Bar. 📅 SOCIAL / DRINKS
The Krater welcome back pubquiz: Trivia rounds on pop culture, cinema, and languages, with free drinks on the line for winning teams. 22 September, 19:00 – 21:00, Café de Krater. 📅 GAMES / HOBBIES
Rooftop drinks for startup founders and venture investors: Three hours of casual conversation without scheduled pitches or stage speeches, run outdoors by Nodo Events. 22 September, 19:00, Hugo de Grootplein 6. 📅 NETWORKING
Design presentations and drinks at 27Ⓐ Edition 3: Four independent design practices discuss their recent work before an informal mixer capped at one hundred guests. 22 September, 17:00, 27b (Lood6 / 27b Office). 📅 SEMINAR / TALK
Vondelpark morning walking and coffee for female entrepreneurs: An hour of steady park walking alongside other self-employed women, wrapping up over drinks at an outdoor terrace. 22 September, 09:00, De Vondeltuin. 📅 NETWORKING
Hands-on bot building at Grok Bot Meetup Amsterdam: Bring a laptop and use supplied credits to construct bots and watch community demos in Amsterdam-West. 22 September, 18:30, Dealroom. 📅 NETWORKING
Enterprise AI strategies and networking at HumanX Amsterdam: Over two hundred speakers, an expo floor, and curated sessions on artificial intelligence governance and deployment. 22 September, RAI Amsterdam. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
HumanX EMEA 2026 gathers global AI leaders: Thousands of industry practitioners assemble to discuss responsible adoption, featuring speakers from across Europe, Asia, and America. 22 September, 09:00 – 17:00, RAI Amsterdam. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
The Things Conference 2026 brings thousands together for IoT: Over a hundred speakers, hardware demos, and technical sessions examining edge computing, LoRaWAN, and connected devices across two halls. 22 September, 09:00, De Kromhouthal. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Otemba Gyoza Amsterdam: This compact De Pijp spot is a sister location to Otemba, dedicated to gyoza and Japanese bites. Guests can stop in for Tatsuta chicken, cauliflower snacks, and chicken yakitori.
Oocker: This sommelier-run wine bar on Frederiksplein serves a French-Italian dinner menu. Guests can explore an extensive cellar list featuring more than 350 different wines.
Kaia: Situated on the edge of the Rivierenbuurt, this restaurant serves high-end Greek fusion dishes. The kitchen updates ancient recipes into modern plates, offering classic Greek salads, carpaccio, and elevated mains.
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: Last Seen (Apple TV), Ted 2 (Netflix), Fired Up! (HBO Max), Evil Never Sleeps (Prime Video)
New on the big screen: Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is now showing at 5 cinemas, and The Match at 5 cinemas. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: A thread about plans to renumber the Amsterdam metro lines drew criticism from riders who called the rebranding an expensive waste of money, while others warned that the accompanying route changes would eliminate direct trips and force extra transfers for commuters traveling between Zuidoost and the west.
Today’s supermarket deals: Perla House Blends Aroma coffee beans (2e halve prijs) from Albert Heijn, All Pampers (2 for €18.99) from Jumbo.
Did you know? The 1928 Amsterdam Olympics were also the first Games where women competed in athletics events.
385 years ago today: On September 22nd, 1641, Titus van Rijn, Rembrandt’s son and frequent model, was born in Amsterdam.
In case you missed it
Our three most clicked-on items from yesterday’s newsletter.
In tomorrow’s edition: Seong-Jin Cho plays Tchaikovsky with the Concertgebouw Orchestra at The Concertgebouw, Amadou & Mariam perform at Melkweg, and the International Van Wassenaer Competition holds a free lunchtime concert in the Recital Hall.
Have a great Tuesday.
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