Essentially Amsterdam – Thursday, October 29, 2026

Thursday October 29, 2026

Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: a stuffed crocodile on the Silodam jetty startles IJ swimmers, controversial au pair agency Nina Care is declared bankrupt, and a court backs Booking’s two-day office rule in Amsterdam.

Fatbike ban stays in Vondelpark but won’t spread: A city evaluation found fatbike riders breaking the Vondelpark ban fell from over a hundred to between six and fourteen per count, yet visitors’ safety rating slipped from 6.7 to 6.1 because of other fast e-bikes. Amsterdam will await national rules, while fatbike traffic on Koninginneweg rose 53%.

Amsterdam coffeeshops must still close at 01:00: Mayor Femke Halsema has fixed coffeeshop hours at 07:00 to 01:00, even as the new citywide zoning plan lets other bars on the same streets stay open later. The city cites public order, saying customers coming and going add pressure on residents. The rule took effect on 20 October.

Court backs Booking’s two-day office rule in Amsterdam: The judge sided with Booking.com over its works council, which said a mandatory 40% office rule would hurt work-life balance and add to commuting time and travel costs. A six-month transition period applies, and just over a quarter of its 7,000 staff currently come in twice a week.

Flevopark volunteers crowdfund new community centre after fire: Parknest, the neighbourhood centre in Oost’s Flevopark that burned down this summer, has been running from a tent every day while its organisers raise money for a permanent building. Regulars, including nearby care home residents, say the tent is getting cold, and whether a permit will be granted is uncertain.

Amstel beer redesign borrows from Amsterdam canal bridges: Amstel’s new bottles and cans carry a custom typeface drawn from the lettering on Amsterdam’s historic bridge signs, plus a wave pattern based on the Amstel River. The redesign, which won a Red Dot award, is rolling out in 11 markets, with the rest following by the end of 2027.

Siya Kolisi trains with Amsterdam student rugby club: South Africa’s two-time world champion captain trained with ASRV Ascrum at De Eendracht sports park in Nieuw-West while spending his rest period in Amsterdam. Coach Michael Maytham, a former colleague at the Stormers in Cape Town, arranged it. Some 75 members played and around 300 people watched.

Amy Winehouse’s lost Paradiso concert released in full: The complete show Winehouse played in Amsterdam on 8 February 2007 is part of a 20th anniversary edition of Back to Black, out since 23 October. The 14-song set is streaming for the first time in the digital deluxe edition, alongside four previously unreleased demos and rare B-sides.

Stuffed crocodile on Silodam jetty startles IJ swimmers: A crocodile spotted lying on a jetty by the Silodam on the IJ turned out to be stuffed, not alive. Local swimmer Elly Waaijer says she first saw it about a year ago with friends, and a neighbour apparently left it there to give swimmers a fright.

Controversial au pair agency Nina Care declared bankrupt: The Haarlem court ruling follows a dispute with a former employee owed tens of thousands of euros in wages. The agency lost its immigration permit after reports of poorly screened au pairs. Founders Jasmijn and Lyla Kok say they aim to restart and repay all affected parents.

Foundation risk could cut what NHG buyers can borrow: From January 2027, lenders must assess foundation risk with a fixed method for buyers seeking a mortgage backed by the NHG guarantee. Where risk is high, lenders must factor in repair costs, so buyers may be able to borrow less. Regulator AFM says nearly 220,000 homes are at high risk.

Woman’s mini car pushed into Oudezijds Voorburgwal canal: A 25-year-old woman from the city centre had her small car pushed into the water, and a dive team and the city’s nautical supervision team hauled it out. One worker said he has recovered four such cars in a short time. Quick removal prevents boats from hitting them.

Report nuisance on Amsterdam public transport by WhatsApp: From 2 November, passengers who face nuisance or feel unsafe on a tram, bus or metro can send a WhatsApp or text message to 088 234 5654. The two-year trial aims to pinpoint problem spots, for example to deploy enforcement officers there. It is not an emergency line: call 112.

Dog-sitting lifts seniors’ mood, Amsterdam foundation’s survey finds: A PwC survey of 688 older members of Stichting Oopoeh, which pairs over-55s with dog owners needing a sitter, found 83% felt in a better mood while sitting and 94% of regular sitters reported more social contact. Owners outnumber available sitters, so the foundation is welcoming new volunteers.

2G shutdown threatens tens of thousands of emergency buttons: Between 30,000 and 80,000 mobile alarm systems for older people, such as emergency buttons and alarm watches, run on 2G, which KPN switches off at the end of 2027. Seniors’ group ANBO-PCOB urges users to check their device and contact the supplier if unsure.

Landlords offer some tenants over €100,000 to leave: More than half of private investors try to buy out tenants before selling, says property firm Proranje Vastgoed. Tenants on low rents with open-ended contracts often refuse, so owners sell with them in place. The firm saw over 31% more sale requests last quarter, blaming box 3 tax uncertainty.

Fire-making and compass skills in an outdoor club for kids: Children from eight with swimming diploma A learn survival skills with an outdoor expert, in a winter series of eight Thursday sessions. 29 October, Natuurspeeltuin Jeugdland Amsterdam. OUTDOOR / ACTIVE

Mahjong, Mario and a 4,600-year-old board game at the Wereldmuseum: The Speel! pop-up traces how games like chess travelled with trade and migration, and visitors are invited to play each other. 29 October, Wereldmuseum. ART / MUSEUMS

A snowstorm, Sinterklaas and flying Pieten in a family film: The Pieten have to save Sinterklaas’s present-giving evening when a huge snowstorm brings the Netherlands to a standstill, a family film. 29 October, Vue. FAMILY SHOW

Robots, Scratch and 3D printing for kids in Molenwijk: An eight-week series for ages 8 to 12 that moves from small robots like the Ozobot to Scratch and finally their own 3D prints. 29 October, 14:30, OBA Molenwijk – Maakplaats. KIDS WORKSHOP

Baby’s First Halloween, a costume hour for under-ones: Families with babies under one get spooky snacks, a Halloween story for the little ones and the play area, costumes encouraged. 29 October, 14:30 – 15:30, Papote Cafe. FAMILY SHOW

Djembé drumming lessons for children aged eight and up: Two weekly groups of about forty minutes each, led by Rutger van der Ree of a drumming school in Amsterdam. 29 October, 17:00, studio PXP. CLASS

Mel C, back on the dance floor with pop and DJ sets: Sporty Spice now pairs pop singing with DJing, and Sophie and the Giants open. 29 October, 19:30, Melkweg. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Cat Power plays The Greatest in full, twenty years on: The anniversary set runs through the whole record in the main hall, following her covers EP Redux, with takes on Prince and James Brown. 29 October, 20:30, Paradiso. SINGER-SONGWRITER

Brahms’s two early piano sonatas from the 2025 Van Cliburn winner: His Amsterdam debut sets both sonatas between Bach and Chopin preludes in the Kleine Zaal, with drinks included in the ticket. 29 October, 20:15, The Concertgebouw. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Joep Beving x EINDER for ADE, piano beneath a moving installation: Beving and his band play from his new album Liminal while Boris Acket’s kinetic installation shifts with light and air overhead. 29 October, 20:00, Centrale Markthal. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Brazilian pop star Marina Sena in the Max hall: Funk, samba, brega and reggae feed the bubblegum pop of a Minas Gerais singer whose Por Supuesto was among Brazil’s most-streamed songs. 29 October, 19:00, Melkweg. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Ella Eyre’s new-album show in Noord: The voice on Rudimental’s Waiting All Night brings r&b and soul from her second album, with a half-seated, half-standing room. 29 October, 19:30 doors, 19:45 support, 20, ‘t Zonnehuis. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Shifting Borders opens with Raphaela Gromes, Abel Selaocoe and Amsterdam Sinfonietta: An early-evening orchestral concert that opens the programme, with both soloists playing alongside the Amsterdam ensemble. 29 October, 18:30, Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ. CLASSICAL

Fran Lebowitz in conversation, in English, at the Meervaart: Twan Huys interviews the New York humorist for ninety minutes, then the audience asks questions and she signs books on the spot. 29 October, 20:15, Meervaart. TALKS / IDEAS

Fish, algae and birds in Amsterdam’s canals, a talk at Artis: Landscape architects and the head of the ARTIS aquarium treat the city as a living water system, from micro-organisms to birds. 29 October, 20:00, ARTIS-Groote Museum. TALKS / IDEAS

Best shorts of 2026 from the Final Girls Berlin Film Fest: A single programme of short films selected from this year’s edition of the Berlin festival, shown on the big screen. 29 October, 20:30, Filmhuis Cavia. FILM

Disco vampires in a 1981 Egyptian musical horror for Halloween: Two lovers stumble into a nightclub of dancing vampires in Mohammed Shebl’s film, shown in Arabic with English subtitles at Ventilator Cinema. 29 October, 18:30, 4bid Gallery. FILM

An evening with writer Gerbrand Bakker in a neighbourhood bookshop: A bookshop evening built around the Dutch writer Gerbrand Bakker, for readers who like hearing an author up close. 29 October, 20:00, Boekhandel van Pampus. TALKS / IDEAS

Free look inside Huize Merkelbach, an artists’ house on Keizersgracht: Stadsherstel opens the canal house Clemens Merkelbach gave over to artists’ homes and studios, with a short neighbourhood walk. 29 October, 14:30 – 15:30, Huize Merkelbach. TOUR

A Living Library on the Flock Theatre stage: An evening programme on the Flock Theatre stage, going by the name A Living Library, open to the public. 29 October, 19:30, Flock Theatre. THEATER

Halloween bar crawl The Fright Crawl, now cancelled: The organisers have called off this 18+ wristband crawl through four or more bars from Rembrandtplein, so there’s nothing to go to. 29 October, 19:30 – 02:00, Hans im Glück – Amsterdam Rembrandtplein. TOUR

Bake Mexican pan de muerto for Día de Muertos: Brenda of MESAPARAOCHO teaches the bread from scratch and the meaning of its shape, over hot chocolate and wine. 29 October, 17:30, Amsterdam. WORKSHOP

Build a mini terrarium with The Offline Club at Mediamatic: For club members only, an evening of building a small terrarium to take home, with talking either side. 29 October, 18:30, Mediamatic Biotoop. WORKSHOP

Free English escape room at a language school in Zuid: Each player holds a secret clue card, so teams of five must talk their way out in English, A2 level and up. 29 October, 14:30 – 15:30, Language Corner. GAMES / HOBBIES

Find your colours at a free styling evening in Amstelveen: Sustainable stylist Victorien helps you work out which colours suit you, and you leave with your own set of base colours. 29 October, 19:00 – 21:00, Free Fashion Store. WORKSHOP

Fabric paint, velvet and ribbons for old clothes, €2 a session: Bring a sweatshirt, denim, a bag or a cap and Suus helps you rework it, no experience needed, cash only. 29 October, 19:00, Atelier 77. WORKSHOP

Screen printing for beginners in the OBA Oosterdok makerspace: A short group bootcamp on pushing ink through a screen onto paper or fabric, then your own practice piece, for adults only. 29 October, 14:00, OBA Oosterdok – OBA helpt plein. WORKSHOP

•  Gifu: Chef-driven ramen and izakaya dishes with sake and Japanese natural wine, open for lunch weekends and dinner daily, with walk-in bar seating available.

•  Fermént: Artisan fermented products including kimchi, koji and kombucha made with traditional fermentation knowledge and culinary creativity in Amsterdam-West.

•  Drippy’s Burger: Burger restaurant from Kan Gorgels now open on Ferdinand Bolstraat, serving daily from noon with extended hours Thursday to Saturday.

Daily markets open today: Markt Plein 40-45, Nieuwmarkt, Dappermarkt, Albert Cuyp (De Pijp) and Ten Kate (Oud-West).

Staff Software Engineer: ServiceNow, Amsterdam – Lead the Enterprise Integration team in building scalable ServiceNow applications and integrations, including its analytical product, and guide technical initiatives.

Tech Talent Acquisition Business Partner (1 Year Fixed-Term Contract): Mollie, Amsterdam – Own end-to-end hiring for Mollie’s Engineering team, partnering with stakeholders to shape hiring strategy and improve recruiting processes.

Mechanic Internal Rework: KLM, Schiphol – Repair APU parts and aircraft components for EPCOR, carrying out metalwork and inspections while following safety and quality procedures.

AI for Science Residency – Computational Chemistry: Microsoft, Amsterdam – Generate chemically diverse molecular structure data for Skala with Microsoft Research AI for Science’s quantum chemistry and machine-learning team.

More international jobs in Amsterdam: see the full list or get them in your inbox every day.

Looking ahead: IJ-Hallen Flea Market (from Sat 31 October), PAN Amsterdam Art Fair (from Sat 31 October) and Imagine Film Festival (from Sat 31 October). See the week ahead →

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