Essentially Amsterdam – Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Tuesday October 20, 2026

Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: low-income parents face a €10 a month childcare rise, Wibautstraat closes to cars day and night until Friday 23 October, and PJ Morton sings at Paradiso with DJ Mad opening.

Around 350 bikes a day confiscated in Amsterdam: One reason is a rule that bikes may not stay in the same spot for more than six weeks. In De Pijp, enforcers mark parked bikes and take away those left untouched.

Low-income parents face €10 a month childcare rise: More childcare providers charge above the hourly rate the government uses to calculate its allowance. Families on the lowest incomes pay the whole difference, and prices are expected to rise further in 2027.

Amsterdam asks residents to help shape housing plan: The city is updating its plan for affordable, sustainable homes and wants views on issues such as social housing priority. An online questionnaire, also available in English, is open until 9 November.

Wibautstraat closed to cars day and night for maintenance until Friday 23 October: Cars are barred near the Ringdijk as crews renew the road surface and work on ageing traffic installations. The changes are intended to make the junction safer for all road users.

Regional bus strike on Thursday 22 October means fewer buses in Amsterdam Noord and Zuid: Regional transport staff are due to stop work for a full day on Thursday as unions continue their campaign for a new collective agreement. Connexxion and EBS routes will be affected, while GVB is not joining the strike.

Amsterdam museum seeks funds to restore historic steamship: The six-week campaign aims to raise €75,000 toward work on the 126-year-old vessel. The museum says the full restoration will cost more than €3 million and requires specialist skills.

Sign in Landelijk Noord points the way to Raasdorp instead of Ransdorp: A sign on Schellingwouderdijk names Raasdorp instead of Ransdorp, though the places are nearly 25 kilometres apart by car. Rijkswaterstaat is investigating the error and when the sign can be changed.

Schiphol border police will not publish e-gate probe: An IT malfunction disabled all 78 automatic passport gates at Schiphol, forcing manual checks for passengers travelling outside the Schengen area. Hundreds missed flights, while some passengers waited up to an hour and a half.

Rijksmuseum Family Month offers free entry for children: Families can pick up a challenge-filled route booklet as they explore; children up to 18 enter free, while adults pay €25. 20 October, Rijksmuseum. MUSEUM / EDUCATIONAL

Abracadabra: try magic tricks and explore illusionists’ history: The exhibition traces illusionists from Houdini to Hans Klok, with historical context and opportunities to look behind the scenes and try tricks. 20 October, Joods Museum. ART / MUSEUMS

Amsterdam’s Birthday brings free activities to the City Archives: A city birthday celebration offers free activities at the archive, though the available listing gives no programme details. 20 October, Stadsarchief Amsterdam – De Bazel. MUSEUM / EDUCATIONAL

A concert experience for babies, built around sound, colour and movement: This concert experience is designed for babies aged zero to eighteen months, with sounds, colours and movement for the youngest listeners. 20 October, Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ. FAMILY SHOW

Solve museum puzzles together in The Story Savers game: Families with children aged eight and up solve puzzles and follow story-based challenges among the museum’s artworks, in English or Dutch. 20 October, Rijksmuseum. GAMES / HOBBIES

Animated family film about a grumpy fish, spoken in Dutch: Ninety minutes of animation in Dutch, following a grumpy fish and a hyperactive sea dragon after a fish that grants one wish. 20 October, In The Air. FILM

PJ Morton sings at Paradiso with DJ Mad opening: The New Orleans singer, songwriter and producer performs, with DJ Mad listed as the support act. 20 October, 19:00 doors, 20:30 main progra, Paradiso. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos, played on period instruments: Bach Collegium Japan, led by Masato Suzuki, plays four Brandenburg concertos on instruments from Bach’s time, with an interval. 20 October, 20:15 – 22:00, The Concertgebouw. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Close-up: Concertgebouw musicians revisit Europe’s old world: Concertgebouw Orchestra musicians perform Korngold, Varèse, Toch and Eisler in a chamber programme about European composers who moved to America. 20 October, 20:15, The Concertgebouw. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Total Music #2 brings three improvisational sets to OCCII: Fred Frith, Tim Hodgkinson and Liz Allbee improvise as a trio, alongside Amsterdam duo Lukraak and US musician Joshua Burkett. 20 October, 20:00 (doors) – 20:30 (showtim, OCCII. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Rock ’n’ roll dance lessons with Gel and a social dance: The 1950s-style classes are taught at several levels, followed by a social dance where people can practise their moves and have a drink. 20 October, 19:30, KZ – Kompaszaal. CLASS

John Craigie brings folk songs and stories to Paradiso: The folk singer-songwriter and storyteller performs as part of Sugar Mountain, drawing on his album I Swam Here. 20 October, 19:15, Paradiso. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Free Techno Tuesday: Icey Planet at Melkweg: Resident DJ Dexon curates three artists for a raw techno night; entry is free, with admission on a first-come basis until capacity is reached. 20 October, 23:30, Melkweg. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Dark Horses: career stories followed by networking: Four storytellers speak during the first hour; the second is for networking over drinks and snacks, though tickets are sold out. 20 October, 18:00, BounceSpace Coffee & Coworking. NETWORKING

Ravioli and Tortelli Workshop: make pasta, then eat together: Participants make ravioli and tortelli, dress them with Sicilian sauces and eat together; the session is listed as sold out. 20 October, 18:00 – 21:00, La Bottega by Chiara’s Food. WORKSHOP

Amsterdam Dance Elderly brings generations together through music and dancing: Father and daughter Paul and Laura Meester provide the music, alongside guilty pleasures bingo, a meeting activity and time to dance. 20 October, 14:00 – 17:00, DB55. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Hannah Black on video, text and performance: The visual artist, critic and writer discusses her work, which includes video, text and performance, in an artist talk. 20 October, 17:00 – 18:00, de ateliers. TALKS / IDEAS

Science & Cocktails: How Our Money Can Make Everyone Happy: Economist Rens van Tilburg discusses money and wellbeing, with cocktails and a live set from Dutch trio Mood Bored. 20 October, 19:00 – 20:30, Tolhuistuin. TALKS / IDEAS

Fraude Film Festival screens Ruin, the story behind FTX: The documentary follows the collapse of crypto exchange FTX and the fraud involving its founder, Sam Bankman-Fried. 20 October, 19:30, De Nieuwe Schatkamer. FILM

Samizdat: personal stories about political struggle, with soup: In English, storytellers bring personal accounts of wars, revolutions and small moments of liberation, while Dad makes soup. 20 October, 20:00 – 22:30, Mezrab. STORY / READING

Simply Plants: cookbook talk, audience questions and signing: Dietician and Pick Up Limes creator Sadia Badiei presents her plant-based cookbook, answers questions and signs copies afterwards. 20 October, 19:00, The American Book Center. TALKS / IDEAS

Marleen Stikker on her life, work and Amsterdam: The Waag Futurelab founder is interviewed by journalist Natasja Gibbs about her work and relationship with the city. 20 October, 20:00, Pakhuis de Zwijger. TALKS / IDEAS

XL Craft Club pairs paper projects with live piano: Two Flow Magazine-led paper activities include writing a letter to yourself and making a personal notebook; the listing says tickets are sold out. 20 October, 19:00 – 22:00, Posthoornkerk. WORKSHOP

Make a personalised herbal tea at this healing workshop: Participants learn about traditional herbal remedies for sleep, calming down or menstrual pain, then blend their own tea with provided materials. 20 October, 19:00, Kokopelli. WORKSHOP

Cyanotype prints made with plants, feathers and lace: Participants arrange dried plants, feathers, lace or negatives on light-sensitive paper, then leave with six blue prints. 20 October, 14:00 tot 17:00, Vrije Academie. WORKSHOP

Free matcha workshop: whisk and taste Japanese green tea: Students hear about Japanese tea traditions, then use a bamboo whisk to prepare and taste a bowl of matcha. 20 October, 16:00 – 17:30, FLOOR Cultureel Platform, Wibauthuis 3b. WORKSHOP

Small-canvas painting in English at the Tiny Canvas Club, Oud-West: Up to twelve women and non-binary people aged 25 to 40 paint mini canvases, with materials, one drink and no experience needed. 20 October, 19:00, Kanarie Club. WORKSHOP

Millie Vanillie: Sourdough bakery selling baked sweets and serving coffee.

Fifty Döner: Döner served in sandwiches, wraps, Turkish pizza, boxes and plates.

Tuku: Indonesian specialty coffee.

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