Essentially Amsterdam – Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Wednesday October 14, 2026

Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: Henk Schiffmacher’s team tattoos a Rembrandt etching across a man’s back, the navy submarine Walrus arrives in Amsterdam for scrapping, and the new Cats at Carré moves the musical into the Rijksmuseum.

Henk Schiffmacher’s team tattoos a Rembrandt etching across a man’s back: A Rembrandt etching from 1633 is being tattooed across a volunteer’s back in about twenty hours. The project marks Schiffmacher’s two weeks of tattooing at the Rembrandthuis at the end of October.

Navy submarine Walrus arrives in Amsterdam for scrapping: The almost 70-metre Walrus was towed on a floating pontoon from Den Helder and arrived on Monday evening. It will now be dismantled, recycled and partly melted down after thirty years of service.

Regional buses strike Wednesday, Amsterdam city transport unaffected: Unions FNV and CNV are holding a nationwide strike in regional transport on 14 October after pay talks with employers broke down. City public transport in Amsterdam falls under a different agreement and keeps running.

Free clothing repairs continue at Kalverstraat repair café: A repair café above La Place on the Kalverstraat has been extended until at least the end of the year. Two Nigerian brothers mend clothes there for free and upcycle garments for a fee.

Amsterdam’s final free tree giveaway is on 7 November: De Gezonde Stad will give away 4,000 trees at the Tolhuistuin on Saturday 7 November. It is the foundation’s last event before it closes at the end of November after 14 years.

Mama Louise seeks Noord singers for Kromhouthal Christmas show: Foundation Mama Louise is recruiting singers and musicians from Noord for its programme Stemmen van de oogst. Rehearsals start on 29 October and build up to a Christmas sing-along on 20 December.

Seven-year renewal of Weesp neighbourhood to start on 19 October: Work in Hogewey-Midden starts next Monday, with paving, sewer replacement and new play and green spaces planned across the neighbourhood. The project is scheduled to finish in April 2033, with work planned street by street.

More young people take up fishing in Amsterdam: The Amsterdam Angling Association says its membership rose from 14,500 to 16,000 over the past year, with many new members young. Online fishing videos and free youth permits are helping bring more young people to the sport.

KLM moves Dutch written customer service to Manila: KLM is moving its written Dutch-language customer service to Manila, where staff will use AI translation software to answer customer messages. Internal documents describe roles being cut, while the airline says there will be no forced redundancies.

De Buurman leaves Staatsliedenbuurt after 40 years: Farouk El Sayed shut the Van Hallstraat business on October 6, ending a food shop that began as snackbar Cido in 1986. His Postjesweg location remains open.

Amsterdam duo Sarah Julia tour the US again: The sisters are opening for Liberian-American singer-songwriter Mon Rovîa on their second US tour. Their debut album, The Fear That This Is Real, was recorded near Woodstock, New York.

New Cats at Carré moves the musical into the Rijksmuseum: A new Dutch production reimagines the musical inside the Rijksmuseum, with cats emerging from The Night Watch. Nurlaila Karim plays Grizabella, whose solo Memory has been newly translated as Weemoed.

Schiphol now has the EU’s highest airport fees: A government-commissioned study ranks Schiphol as the EU’s most expensive airport for fees and levies, behind only London Heathrow. The cabinet disputes some warnings about the effects on travel and the economy.

Free garden-to-meal workshop in Jeugdland’s edible garden: Children aged six and up sow, tend, harvest, cook and taste one plant group from the edible garden; no registration is needed. 14 October, 15:00 – 17:00, Natuurspeeltuin Jeugdland Amsterdam. KIDS WORKSHOP

Free play on Amsterdam’s longest marble run: Children can play on a long marble run set up in Amstel1’s Lichtstraat during the autumn holiday; no sign-up is needed. 14 October, Amstel1 – De Lichtstraat. KIDS WORKSHOP

Pippi and the Pirates: a family theatre adventure: Pippi, Tommy and Annika travel to Taka Tuka to rescue her captured father in a family show based on Astrid Lindgren’s stories. 14 October, 13:00, Meervaart. FAMILY SHOW

A live planetarium search for water beyond Earth: Under the planetarium dome, presenters trace Earth’s water and search the solar system and distant exoplanets for other water worlds. 14 October, ARTIS-Planetarium. MUSEUM / EDUCATIONAL

Inflatable Festival: castles and obstacle courses for children: Children can jump, climb and clamber across bouncy castles and obstacle courses, with activities suited to a range of ages. 14 October, all day, Ben Goudsmithal. FESTIVAL / FAIR

Learn Professor Ben-Ali-Libi’s magic tricks step by step: Magician George Tokaya teaches children aged 10 to 12 tricks through stories and film clips; they receive a booklet and magic supplies. 14 October, 14:00 – 15:30, Joods Museum. KIDS WORKSHOP

Bryan Adams mixes album songs and familiar hits: The Canadian singer plays Roll With The Punches songs alongside earlier hits such as “Summer of ’69”. 14 October, 18:00, Ziggo Dome. POP / ROCK

Ólafur Arnalds presents Falling Apart Together on piano: Pianist and synthesizer player Ólafur Arnalds presents old and new material, with stroboscopic effects and no interval. 14 October, 20:15, The Concertgebouw. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

The New Generation Tour brings Young Thug and YSL acts: Atlanta rapper Young Thug brings his first headline tour since 2019 to Amsterdam, with five YSL-label artists listed as support. 14 October, 20:00, AFAS Live. HIP-HOP / R&B

Pub Choir teaches a room to sing in harmony: The audience learns a familiar pop song in three-part harmony, then sings it together in this Australian mass music lesson. 14 October, 20:30 – 22:00, Melkweg. CHOIR / VOCAL

Amsterdam Klezmer Band marks 30 years with a musical mix: For the band’s 30th anniversary, klezmer meets Balkan, jazz, Middle Eastern sounds and a touch of hip-hop in the concert. 14 October, 20:15, The Concertgebouw. WORLD / FOLK

Free lunch concert with International Vocal Competition singers: Mezzo-soprano Lea Shaw and pianist Jan-Paul Grijpink perform works by Massenet, Mahler, Handel and others; a free ticket is required. 14 October, 12:30, The Concertgebouw. CLASSICAL

Paris Jackson’s solo songs on her first European tour: The Los Angeles singer, guitarist and songwriter performs on her first solo European tour, following the release of her second album. 14 October, 19:30, Paradiso. SINGER-SONGWRITER

Expats Connect: free career-switch advice and networking: A recruiter-turned-coach offers career strategy advice; the first five attendees can get live CV feedback, with networking and job-search tips. 14 October, 18:30 – 20:30, Bar TWLV (Amsterdam Marriott Hotel). NETWORKING

Hasan Minhaj and Ronny Chieng debate everything from war to dating: Hasan Minhaj and Ronny Chieng debate presidents, war, food and family values, speaking over each other in a staged confrontation. 14 October, 12:00, Theater Amsterdam. COMEDY

Amsterdam Museum Festival celebrates a century of city stories: The museum’s centenary brings creative workshops, collection-centre tours, exhibitions across the city and free cake, with stories linked to 100 objects. 14 October, Amsterdam Museum. FESTIVALS

In the Mood for Love in a 4K restoration: Wong Kar-wai’s 4K restoration follows two Hong Kong neighbours who suspect their spouses are having an affair; Cantonese dialogue has English subtitles. 14 October, 16:35, Filmtheater de Uitkijk. FILM

Autumn boat rides through Amsterdamse Bos waterways: A two-hour autumn cruise winds through park and woodland waterways, boarding beside the Amsterdamse Manege’s terrace. 14 October, 13:30, Amsterdamse Bos. TOUR

Fall Edition clothing swap at The Swap Clubhouse: This women’s-clothing edition accepts up to ten used items, which are assessed for points redeemable for other goods. 14 October, 18:00, The Swap Clubhouse. FESTIVAL / FAIR

The Good, The Bad, and The Algorithm on AI life: English-language sketch comedy mixes scripted scenes, improvisation, music and technology to look at social media and AI. 14 October, 20:00, Boom Chicago. THEATER

Music is Medicine: singing, drumming and moving together: Led by percussionist Poranguí, this workshop brings everyone into a circle to sing, drum and move; no experience is needed. 14 October, 17:00 – 20:00, Pllek. WORKSHOP

Craft Club’s beginner lino printing, from block to paper: Sketch a design, carve it into soft linoleum, then ink and press the block onto different papers; tools are provided. 14 October, 18:30 – 21:00, Stretch & Fold Café. WORKSHOP

Sip & Collage: create a surrealist cut-and-paste scene: Books and magazines, all materials, and a glass of wine or juice are provided as you build a surrealist collage. 14 October, all day, Kunstuitleen Galerie Beeldend Gesproken. WORKSHOP

Make natural skincare products and take home recipes: Participants make scrubs, serums or deodorant with oils, butters and everyday ingredients, then take home a product and recipes. 14 October, 13:00, Oosterparkhuis. WORKSHOP

Connected Breath Circle turns inward for autumn: On the Buurtboot at the Workship, a guided conscious-connected breathing session uses autumn as a theme for turning inward. 14 October, 18:30, De Ceuvel. CLASS

Colourful beads become necklaces, bracelets and keychains: Choose colourful beads and make a necklace, bracelet, sunny cord or keychain; tools, materials, guidance, tea and sweets are included. 14 October, 19:30, Amsterdam House of Arts & Crafts. WORKSHOP

Tour the Houtwerf, then build a birdhouse from local wood: A guide shows how city wood is stored, sawn, dried and reused before participants make a birdhouse from fresh Amsterdam timber. 14 October, 14:00, Houtwerf, Amsterdamse Bos. TOUR

Barraca: Second location of the Brazilian grill serving rodizio meat and fish cooked tableside. Barraca brings its rotating skewer service to a new Amsterdam spot.

Bon Burger: Second location focused on smashburgers paired with natural wines. Bon Burger expands its casual burger and wine concept to a new venue.

O mai café: Vietnamese café serving bánh mì sandwiches, Vietnamese coffee, and matcha. O Mai Café offers Southeast Asian flavours and drinks in Amsterdam.

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