Essentially Amsterdam – Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Tuesday October 13, 2026

Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: Albert Heijn shelves may empty after a cyber incident, the Tolhuistuin garden in Noord closes over ongoing nuisance, and the Amsterdamse Bos ferry Ome Piet has probably made its last crossing after 16 years.

Albert Heijn shelves may empty after cyber incident: Several Albert Heijn distribution centres have stopped work after a digital security incident at the chain. Stores show last week’s offer prices, and personal discounts are not working.

Amsterdamse Bos ferry Ome Piet probably made its last crossing after 16 years: Two volunteer skippers took their small ferry across the Ringvaart for what was probably the last time on Sunday. Nobody has come forward to take over the route.

Oost food-waste dinners turn solo diners into friends: Every Monday, BuurtBuik Amsterdam-Oost serves sixty to seventy people a meal cooked from food that would otherwise be thrown away. Anyone can join, and about 80% of guests come back each week.

Tolhuistuin garden in Noord closes over ongoing nuisance: The garden at the Noord cultural centre is now shut during the day as well as at night. The director says she can no longer guarantee the safety of visitors and staff.

Cabinet plans to raise Schiphol noise limits to keep housing plans alive: The cabinet plans to raise noise limits around Schiphol on paper so that planned housing can go ahead. As a result, 29% of residents in the zone would officially face serious noise nuisance.

Fire at Johan Huizingalaan test hall could delay Zuidasdok: A hall on the Johan Huizingalaan destroyed by fire last week was being used to test systems for the new Schinkelbrug. The city is now looking at how the fire affects the Zuidasdok schedule.

Rabobank to base mortgage limits on pension income from age 52: Rabobank will use expected pension income to calculate mortgage limits for customers from age 52. Experts say the change could particularly affect self-employed borrowers and women.

How 1996 helped shape the Amsterdam we know today: The year brought the first Canal Parade and Amsterdam Dance Event, alongside major building plans and new businesses. Coffeecompany, Bagels & Beans and Waag Futurelab reflected a city gaining confidence.

Amsterdam flight puts father and daughter in cockpit: The family did not know their schedules would overlap. Since graduating from flight school, De Bruijn has flown with her father five times and her mother once.

Stuntman: music theatre about courage and beginning again: Professor BOEM’s experiments turn dangerous, leaving the stuntman vulnerable; this music-theatre story for ages four and up also has a foyer pre-show. 13 October, 14:30, Theater De Krakeling. FAMILY SHOW

Free family adventure STORM mixes football and dance: Greg dreams of professional football, then travels with his friend Draak through football, dance and surprises in this free Dutch-language family show. 13 October, 14:30, Mike’s Badhuistheater. FAMILY SHOW

The Knight Without a Butt: a 40-minute children’s show: Based on the picture book, this 40-minute show follows a knight whose backside is bitten off by a dragon before his journey onward. 13 October, all day, Bijlmer Parktheater. FAMILY SHOW

Mr B and the Big Bubble Show turns dishes into fantasy: The interactive all-ages show starts with dishes and bubbles, then sends Captain Bellenbaard searching for treasure, followed by a soap-bubble performance. 13 October, 14:30 – 15:30, Amstelveens Poppentheater. FAMILY SHOW

Toddler Festival: climbing, bouncing and play for ages two to six: Children aged two to six climb, jump and scramble through courses, inflatables and a trampoline; parents and guardians enter free. 13 October, all day, Beweegbox. FESTIVAL / FAIR

Studio ARTIS: artists make work inspired by nature: Artists make new work live in a dedicated studio, explaining their connections to nature; Anouk Griffioen opens the four-artist series. 13 October, ARTIS-Groote Museum. MUSEUM / EDUCATIONAL

Ruel on the Kicking & Screaming UK and EU tour: Australian pop singer Ruel plays as part of his Kicking & Screaming UK and EU tour, with Sadie Jean opening. 13 October, 19:00, Melkweg. POP / ROCK

Moliy’s Amsterdam concert has been cancelled: The Ghanaian-American artist’s concert has been cancelled; ticket holders are due to receive an email about refunds. 13 October, Bitterzoet. POP / ROCK

DeVotchKa revisits Little Miss Sunshine on anniversary tour: Denver’s DeVotchKa blends indie rock with Eastern European, mariachi and gypsy-punk influences, revisiting music from Little Miss Sunshine. 13 October, 19:30, Melkweg. WORLD / FOLK

Free organ lunch concert with Miloš Stevanović: Conservatorium student Miloš Stevanović plays the 1734 Müller organ; admission is free, with optional donations supporting its upkeep. 13 October, 12:00, De Waalse Kerk. CLASSICAL

Inside a public rehearsal of Beethoven, Mahler and Shostakovich: The Nederlands Kamerorkest rehearses Beethoven, Mahler and Shostakovich under violinist Gordan Nikolić; the exact piece is announced that day. 13 October, 12:00, NedPhO-Koepel. CLASSICAL

Lucie Horsch and the Eighteenth-Century Orchestra play Baroque works: Recorder player Lucie Horsch leads the ensemble through works by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi and contemporary Dutch composer Reza Namavar. 13 October, 20:00, De Waalse Kerk. CLASSICAL

The 100 Connections Challenge builds new-city networks: The evening brings Phoebe Dodds, Hannah Rinne and Carly Valancy together for connection, interaction and discussion about building networks. 13 October, 18:00, The Social Hub Amsterdam West. NETWORKING

KNAW’s 2026 Nobel Prize Evening unpacks the new awards: Dutch scientists examine the newly awarded Nobel Prizes, including neutrino physicist Aart Heijboer’s discussion of Francis Halzen’s IceCube detector. 13 October, 19:00, Trippenhuis. TALKS / IDEAS

Off the Page puts live storytelling ahead of books: English-language storytellers recast literary works live, while Dad makes soup; entry is by donation. 13 October, 20:00 – 22:30, Mezrab. STORY / READING

Free Shortcutz Amsterdam shorts and English-language filmmaker Q&As: Free screenings of emerging Dutch filmmakers’ shorts are followed by creator Q&As and industry insights, all conducted in English. 13 October, 20:00, Societeit De Kring. FILM

Tuindorp Watergraafsmeer: Amsterdam’s early green social housing: Photos, drawings, maps and aerial images trace Betondorp’s early social housing and green design; the exhibition is free. 13 October, 12:00 – 17:00, Betondorp Museum. ART / MUSEUMS

Human Water: portraits on mastectomy and body sovereignty: Diana Zuican’s portraits explore bodily autonomy and vulnerability among women navigating mastectomy; the exhibition opening is free. 13 October, 18:30, Arti et Amicitiae. ART / MUSEUMS

Vincent Geyskens on painting, collage and poetry: Brussels-based painter, collage artist and poet Vincent Geyskens discusses his practice; he has published three poetry collections and teaches at KASK. 13 October, 17:00, de ateliers. TALKS / IDEAS

Human Pendulum Paint turns children’s swings into canvases: Children aged four to twelve paint from a swinging, ceiling-suspended cloth after an aerial-acrobatics warm-up; the activity is free. 13 October, 13:00, Museum Cobra. WORKSHOP

Make an A5 leather journal cover by hand: Choose leather, colour and finishing details, then cut, punch and assemble an A5 journal cover; tools and materials are included. 13 October, 13:00, Amsterdam House of Arts & Crafts. WORKSHOP

Heineken Hoek Bistro: Leidseplein has a new bistro concept: Heineken Hoek Bistro. No menu or prices have been announced yet.

Lucia’s Streetfood & Bar: Amsterdam West is getting a new street food spot. Lucia’s Streetfood & Bar is opening there, and it combines street food with a bar.

Barraca Rodizio Grill & Bar: At Barraca Rodizio Grill & Bar, meat and fish come straight from the grill to your table. The restaurant has now opened its second location.

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