Essentially Amsterdam – Friday, November 13, 2026

Friday November 13, 2026

Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: Amsterdam swaps more than 120,000 pavement tiles for green, acclaimed film director Yorgos Lanthimos announces photo show at Foam, and the Sint Maarten parade lit up the Indische Buurt.

Cheaper GVB monthly pass as Amsterdam fares rise: From 1 January, a single public transport trip will cost about 4.4% more, with the boarding fare up five cents and each kilometre up one cent. The unlimited GVB monthly pass drops from €129 to €126, and new passes arrive: weekends for €42 and weekdays for €95.

Oud-West cinema LAB111 loses bid for late bar: The country’s highest administrative court upheld a 2023 limit after eight neighbours complained about groups leaving noisily around midnight, rattling bike locks. LAB111 had sought hours until 3am at weekends to show more late films, but the court noted it already closed at midnight in practice.

Temporary Strandeiland solar park to power 700 households: A field of 4,200 solar panels has been built on Strandeiland, the newest part of IJburg, where the land will stay empty for years. After thirteen years the panels will be removed to make way for housing and given away to Amsterdammers and community organisations.

Amsterdam and golf course owners in Noord are €40 million apart: The city hopes to buy the driving range of Golf Waterland, just north of the A10, first for an electricity substation, and later perhaps for sports fields. The owners are asking about €40 million more for the whole course than Amsterdam will pay. The city says expropriation is legally possible but not on the table for now.

Amsterdam swaps more than 120,000 pavement tiles for green: The haul placed Amsterdam 18th of 23 large municipalities in the national tile-lifting contest, the same spot as last year, when about 155,000 tiles came up. Organisers estimate the freed ground, over 11,000 square metres, can absorb over 9 million litres of rain a year. The contest returns in 2027.

Amsterdam maps where wheelchair users cannot go: The city, working with Almere and several organisations, is charting steps, ramps, crossings and usable pavement width across Amsterdam. The aim is to get major navigation apps such as Google Maps to offer wheelchair routes, but providers say the data must first be available at scale in a standard format.

Craft chain pipoos has opened shop on Gelderlandplein: Craft supplies chain pipoos opened a new shop on the Gelderlandplein in Buitenveldert on Saturday 7 November. It sells materials for DIY projects inspired by social media, and staff who are crafters themselves give advice. The range includes Het Muizenhuis miniatures, a popular miniature world that originated in Amsterdam.

Eurostar queues at Amsterdam Centraal to get e-gates: A majority in the House of Representatives backed automated passport gates at the station’s border control, replacing checks by two Marechaussee officers. Two-thirds of departing Eurostar trains leave late because of the queue. No installation date has been set, and passengers’ association Rover wants the cabinet to hurry.

Camiel Fortgens: the Amsterdam label reworking classics by hand: The unisex brand, founded in 2014, presented twice on the official Paris Fashion Week calendar this year and showed its spring/summer 2027 collection inside an Albert Heijn at Amsterdam Fashion Week. Its first sneaker collaboration, a reworked ASICS, launched in September and sells for 250 euros.

Acclaimed film director Yorgos Lanthimos announces photo show at Foam: A photography museum on the Keizersgracht will show four series by the Oscar-nominated Greek director from 12 February to 6 June 2027. Three were shot around his film sets, including Poor Things and Bugonia; the fourth, no word for blue, is a new black-and-white series made in Greece.

Building starts on 180 mostly social homes in Amsterdam-Zuid: Housing corporation de Alliantie has begun construction on the Havenstraat site in Amsterdam-Zuid. Of the 180 homes planned, 175 will be social rental homes and the other five will be mid-priced.

Former mapmaker becomes Oost’s cargo bike handyman: Willem van den Goorbergh was a cartographer until 2021 and now does small jobs in homes around the Amstelkwartier, such as replacing taps, hanging lamps and assembling cupboards. He only takes work within a 15-minute ride, ideally one to three hours long, and refers complicated jobs to specialists.

Amsterdam robot footballers take on Hamburg in Italy: Robot footballers from Amsterdam are out to conquer the world. The Dutch robot team has played a side from Hamburg in Italy.

Amsterdam-Utrecht fast bike route gets €1.8 million: The roughly 40-kilometre route from Utrecht’s Dom Tower to Dam Square was first planned in 1990 and will largely follow the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal, with construction expected from 2028. The national money covers only part of an estimated €57 million cost, and the Demka Bridge may eventually need replacing.

Sint Maarten parade lit up the Indische Buurt: The Sint Maarten Parade went through the Indische Buurt in Oost again, with large lit-up lanterns, puppets, cheerfully dressed people and music for young and old.

Sinterklaas parade closes Amsterdam roads on Sunday: Streets along the route of Sinterklaas’s arrival will close to motor traffic in stages between 08:00 and 16:30 on 15 November, including Blauwbrug, Weteringschans and Marnixstraat. Public transport will run changed routes and times around Leidseplein and Waterlooplein, and metro line 53 will not run all weekend.

Kade Noord: A 1,000-square-metre industrial food hall opens 6 November in Noord beside the water, with smash burgers, New York pizza, tacos, and a cheese bar.

Combo: Mediterranean-inspired restaurant at Overtoom 495-497 serves seasonal small plates and salads to share, with a serious European wine program and bar snacks.

081 Coffee: Neighbourhood coffee spot on Tonia Stieltjesplein serves sfogliatella and other pastries from Naples, open Monday to Sunday with a living-room feel.

 

Daily markets open today: Van der Pekmarkt (Van der Pekstraat), Versmarkt Amstel1 (Stopera) and Waterlooplein Market. See all markets open today

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Skate beneath Rembrandt’s statue on the Rembrandtplein ice rink: Opening night is Disco on Ice, on an open-air rink beneath the Rembrandt statue, with gloves required and glühwein chalets around it. 13 November, 18:00, IJsbaan Rembrandtplein. OUTDOOR / ACTIVE

The President’s Cake, one girl’s hunt for Saddam’s birthday cake: Hasan Hadi’s drama follows nine-year-old Lamia across 1990s Iraq, hunting cake ingredients in wartime shortages. It starts with no trailers. 13 November, 20:00, Theater Vrijburcht. FILM

Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, retold in Dutch for ages eight and up: OperaRebels tour Hans & Grietje op de vlucht with four singers, a narrator and thirteen musicians. Amsterdam is one of twelve stops. 16 October, varies by date, Theaters door heel Nederland. FAMILY SHOW

Drop-in art studio in Amstelveen for anyone 16 and over: No experience or booking needed, just a museum ticket; walk in before three, staff help you start, and work until four. 13 November, 13:00 – 16:00, Museum Cobra. KIDS WORKSHOP

Twenty-five Eurovision acts sing their own songs in Ziggo Dome: Het Grote Songfestivalfeest brings Käärijä, Baby Lasagna, Alexander Rybak, Johnny Logan and others back to sing the songs they took to Eurovision. 13 November, 20:00, Ziggo Dome. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

EYRA: piano, cello, harp and voice in an old church: Seventy-five minutes without a break, live strings and vocals blended with electronic soundscapes while visuals transform the old church around you. 13 November, 20:00, Keizersgrachtkerk. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

EYRA moves from quiet to full sound in the Keizersgrachtkerk: Piano, violin, cello and voice move from quiet into fuller sound as the lighting shifts, no classical knowledge needed. 13 November, Keizersgrachtkerk. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Phones away for EYRA, harp and cello in a lit-up church: A phone-free 75 minutes of piano, harp, cello and voice, with an optional free portrait by the house photographer before it starts. 13 November, 20:00 – 21:15, Keizersgrachtkerk. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Tuareg desert rhythms meet rock guitar with Bombino in Noord: Self-taught Niger guitarist Goumour Almoctar, born in a nomadic camp near Agadez, plays Tuareg rhythms through rock; his album Deran was Grammy-nominated. 13 November, 20:30, Tolhuistuin. WORLD / FOLK

Montell Fish brings The Nest Tour to the Gashouder: The American singer mixes R&B, gospel roots and electronics into tender love songs, with a new EP, Nest, due this autumn. 13 November, 20:00 – 22:00, Gashouder. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Free, in English: ten years of the Talitha Koum Conference: Three days of faith sessions for women, hosted by Prophetess Dorcas Boateng in Zuidoost, with Sunday’s session at a second address. 13 November, 18:00, Schepenbergweg 13. CONFERENCE

19th European CME Forum, three mornings near Schiphol: An in-person meeting for people working in continuing medical education, with pre- and post-meeting materials and free parking at the hotel. 13 November, 09:00 – 12:30, Van der Valk Hotel Schiphol. CONFERENCE

Bring your own work: IAS NEXT co-working for early-career researchers: A third-floor office reached through the IAS Library, where emerging academics from different fields work side by side and plan future sessions. 13 November, 09:00 – 17:00, Institute for Advanced Study (IAS). NETWORKING

Old medicine, colonial collections and consent on a Museum Vrolik tour: An hour in the collection on how doctors once thought, covering human remains in museums, repatriation and historical ideas about mental health. 3 October, 14:00 – 15:00, Museum Vrolik. TOUR

Eleven days of international documentaries as IDFA begins: International documentaries, new media work and industry talks, with Tatiana Huezo as guest of honour and a William Greaves spotlight. 13 November, IDFA Festival. FILM

Netherlands v Greece in the Nations League at the ArenA: The Dutch national team takes on Greece, with the stadium opening two hours before kick-off and a carpool scheme to cut emissions. 13 November, 20:45, Johan Cruijff ArenA. SPORTS (SPECTATOR)

Documentary Pavilion, William Greaves and Tatiana Huezo at IDFA 2026: The festival’s meeting place is the Documentary Pavilion, and the programme spotlights American pioneer William Greaves alongside guest of honour Tatiana Huezo. 13 November, 20:00. FILM

IDFA DocLab: Shared Realities, free VR and interactive art: More than twenty interactive works, games, VR, AR, installations and performances fill the rooms; book a free day ticket and walk in anytime. 13 November, 11:30, Vlaams Cultuurhuis de Brakke Grond. FILM

North by Northwest restored in 4K, crop-duster chase and all: Cary Grant, in his last film for Hitchcock, plays an ad man mistaken for a spy, with Eva Marie Saint and a finale on Mount Rushmore. 13 November, LAB111. FILM

El Hizjra Festival opens with a Night of Arabic Literature: Egyptian writer Abdelrahman ElGendy and Marrakech singer Dalal Barnoussi headline the start of two and a half weeks of events in Nieuw-West. 13 November, Leonardo Hotel Rembrandtpark (opening) en verschillende locaties in Nieuw-West. FESTIVALS

No Border Breakfast: bring a book or recipe, eat free in Oost: Neighbours and hostel guests share long tables in the restaurant, aimed especially at newcomers and international students still finding their feet. 13 November, 07:30 – 10:00, Stayokay Amsterdam Oost. SOCIAL / DRINKS

Le Foodwalk Winter, five bites along lit-up canals: A self-guided walk of over five kilometres, one bite and one stamp at each of five restaurants, with a vegetarian ticket available. 13 November, 17:00 – 22:00, Vermeers Wijnkamer (startpunt Le Foodwalk Winter). TOUR

Advanced 5-on-5 pick-up basketball in Nieuw-West: Three teams of six on the wooden centre court where national teams train, for players who know a motion offence, not beginners. 13 November, 20:30 – 22:00, Sportcentrum Ookmeer. SPORTS

Zuidas Socials, Friday drinks for Asian, African and Middle Eastern Amsterdammers: Expats, students, professionals and long-time residents chat over drinks, with no presentations or formal networking, and everyone over 18 is welcome. 30 October, 19:00 – 23:59, Dickys Grand Café. SOCIAL / DRINKS

Heartfire: Vocal Freedom Weekend, three days of group singing in Oosterkerk: Singing-circle leader Uria Tsur works on improvisation, stage fright and singing together, the groundwork for his new international circle concept. 13 November, vr 15:00, za 10:30, zo 14:00, Oosterkerk. WORKSHOP

Fix your own bike for free at De Standaard’s bike kitchen in Noord: Tools, space and help from a De Standaard mechanic are free under a covered spot, with reused parts for a donation. 23 October, 12:00 – 18:00, De Ceuvel. WORKSHOP

Doka Culture x The Better Move, a house class before the club night: The Better Move teaches house steps in Doka’s small underground sound bar, and the ticket covers the club night afterwards. 13 November, 22:30, Doka. CLASS

Customer Support Agent – Dutch speaking: Fastned, Amsterdam, EUR 34,000 – 37,000 a year – Support customers of Fastned’s charging services by answering questions across phone, email, WhatsApp and app, and sharing feedback with internal teams.

Monteur Gereedschappen Technische Dienst: Transavia, Schiphol, EUR 3,097 – 4,196 a month – Maintain, repair, calibrate and certify tools and equipment for the Fleet & Technical Services team, supporting aircraft maintenance and the A320neo and A321neo fleets.

Head of Data Platform: Loop Earplugs, Amsterdam, EUR 100,000 – 140,000 a year – Lead Loop’s Data Platform team to build a reliable, governed data foundation across engineering, analytics and SAP integrations, and turn company priorities into a deliverable roadmap.

Associate, Investment Support: Wilshire Advisors, Amsterdam, EUR 74,000 – 97,000 a year – Evaluate, select and monitor private markets investments across Europe as part of the global Private Markets team.

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Looking ahead: Palindroom Festival (from Sat 14 November), Deepavali Festival (Sat 14 November) and Vintage Market by Block Market (Sat 14 November). See the week ahead →

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