Essentially Amsterdam – Saturday, November 14, 2026

Saturday November 14, 2026

Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: a two-year street closure near the Dam worries businesses, teenagers’ Matisse windows join the Amsterdam Light Festival, and family-run wine shop Pasteuning in Zuid looks for a successor.

🧩 The Daily 4sterdam #1: Sixteen Amsterdam words, four hidden groups. Can you find them? Play today’s puzzle

Two-year street closure near the Dam worries businesses: The Rokin is closed and gas pipe work has made the Damstraat hard to pass, probably until early December. From January, Oude Hoogstraat, Oude Doelenstraat and bridge 251 close for two years. The owner of bookshop Antiquariaat Kok says he fears for its survival.

Schiphol gives 29 retired electric buses to Ukraine: The electric buses, which until now carried landed passengers from plane to gate, have been handed to the Ukrainian embassy with four charging stations. In Ukraine they will take children to and from school and serve as city transport, loaded with generators from a Dutch aid foundation.

Blues bar Maloe Melo loses its lease after 42 years: Maloe Melo, the blues bar that has been open since 1984, must close at the end of December after the landlord ended its lease over rent arrears built up during two years of shrinking crowds. Ten young Amsterdammers hope to take it over, pay off the debt and keep the name.

Sinterklaas sails into Amsterdam Sunday: His steamboat sails down the Amstel from De Omval around 10:15 and docks at Het Scheepvaartmuseum at about 11:30. The parade then leaves the Stopera at 13:00 and reaches Leidseplein around 14:15. Organisers call the times a guide, with closures and diversions along the route all day.

Four planets line up over Amsterdam before dawn: Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter appear side by side in the morning sky from today until Sunday 22 November, bright enough to see without a telescope or binoculars. An astronomy website suggests going out around 7.00 before sunrise, facing east to southeast. Mercury sits low but will be higher around Friday 20 November.

Family-run Zuid wine shop Pasteuning seeks a successor: Pasteuning on Willemsparkweg traces its roots to an 1876 soap business registered by owner Erik Muller’s great-great-grandfather. Muller, the fifth generation, and his wife Marjolijn Blom now focus on premium wine and other drinks. Wine turnover fell about 10% last year, and with no children or interested relatives, they will need a successor.

Teenagers’ Matisse windows join Amsterdam Light Festival: More than 120 Amsterdam children aged 12 to 14 have made ninety coloured windows inspired by Henri Matisse, designed as one installation by scenographer Tessa Verbei. The work lights up on Thursday 26 November, when the festival’s fifteenth edition opens, on the Nieuwe Herengracht beside H’ART Museum.

AI folk singer Kopere Koos gives newcomers an Amsterdam lesson: Stan van de Hare, 21, has released Inburgeringscursus, the debut single of his AI alter ego, on streaming services. Begun as a Hogeschool van Amsterdam assignment, it blends traditional Amsterdam sing-along songs with rap, and its chorus reminds newcomers that buying a house does not buy the city.

Brands to design Bijenkorf’s window displays from 2027: This festive season’s What’s Cooking windows on the Damrak are the last the department store will design itself. From 1 January 2027, retail and brand partners will come up with the concepts at all seven branches. What happens to its window dressers is unclear, and their jobs may change or disappear.

Nûby baby spoons recalled over hormone-disrupting chemical: Tests found bisphenol AF leaching from the three-pack heat-sensitive spoons for babies from three months above the legal limit; the substance can harm fertility and disrupt hormones. Batches M2C18Z, M2D28Z, M2E26Z and M2F18Z, sold since August 2025, can go back to the shop for a full refund, no receipt needed.

Microsoft outage threatened Oranje fans’ tickets at Friday’s match: A worldwide Microsoft outage on Friday threatened to leave supporters unable to reach their tickets, parking passes or KNVB Oranje app verification codes for the 20.45 Nations League match against Greece at the Johan Cruijff Arena. The KNVB put extra staff on the stadium service desk. Most Amsterdam municipal staff also had trouble logging into email.

KPop Demon Hunters live tour coming to Amsterdam: HUNTR/X, the animated group from the Netflix film, will play the Ziggo Dome on 8 and 9 September, and tickets go on sale on 20 November. The venue says new stage technology will bring Rumi, Mira and Zoey to life, with songs from the film, choreography and stunts.

Amsterdam buys NS land for 2,100 Amstelvoorde homes: The deal puts much of the 6,200-home district between Duivendrecht station, the Johan Cruijff Arena and the A2 in city hands, which the alderman says lets building start sooner. The price is not being disclosed, and the first permanent homes are expected in 2028.

Amsterdam tops desirability ranking but lags on wellbeing: An annual comparison of the 50 largest Dutch municipalities ranks Amsterdam first for desirability, measured partly through house prices, ahead of Amstelveen, Leiden and Utrecht. On quality of life it fell from 39th to 42nd, scoring poorly on safety, health and work-life balance, while neighbouring Amstelveen came tenth.

Myanmar resistance film opened IDFA in Amsterdam: The 39th edition of IDFA, the world’s biggest nonfiction film festival, is underway in Amsterdam. The festival opened on Friday evening with the world premiere of White Tiger Column, directed by Robert Mentov, Dwight Jantzi and Bryan Dickie. The film is set among the resistance fighting Myanmar’s military-led regime.

Amsterdam festival calendar drops No Art and Zamna: For the first time, an independent expert committee ranked organisers’ plans for scarce event sites in 2027, and those that missed out are off the calendar. No Art’s organiser gets two days in Flevopark for its house party Wavy, while Zamna’s organiser returns to the RAI on King’s Day.

Low Rhine sends Amsterdam freight to Germany by rail: German operator HSL has run trains between Amsterdam and the Rhine-Neckar region around Mannheim since late October, carrying coal, fuels and petroleum products usually sent by barge. Coal trains haul up to 4,000 tonnes each. The service is planned for three months, with three more possible if water stays low.

Capri Enoteca e Cucina (Lindengracht 63): Toscanini’s new sister spot is an Italian wine bar serving home-style dishes like spaghetti and meatballs.

Dinamo Pizza: Walk-in pizzeria on Elandsgracht selling whole sourdough pizzas and pizza by the slice, open from 10 October 2026.

Le Niche: South Amsterdam snack bar putting a twist on classic Dutch snacks: smash burgers and loaded fries topped with fresh truffle.

 

Beaujolais Nouveau in Amsterdam: The new Beaujolais is traditionally uncorked on the third Thursday of November, and more Amsterdam spots join in every year: Roest (19 November, a French three-course menu with Beaujolais for €45), Zuiver Bar, Bar Kaat and The Lobby Nesplein (all 19 November), Stretch & Fold (20 November) and Dame aan de Kade (22 November, a late French lunch with a glass of Beaujolais for €49). Read more

 

Vintage Markt door Block Market: De Hallen, 10:00 – 17:00.

Kusum: Creatieve Markt: Kunstuitleen Galerie Beeldend Gesproken, 13:00 – 17:00.

Daily markets open today: Markt Buikslotermeerplein, Markt Ganzenhoef Bijlmer and Markt Plein 40-45. See all markets open today

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Sinterklaas arrives in Amstelveen with a musical parade: This morning the parade leaves Sportlaan at 10:15, passes through the Oude Dorp, and ends on Handelsplein, where the mayor welcomes Sint at 12:30. Today (Saturday 14 November), 10:15, Sportlaan to Handelsplein. FAMILY SHOW

A Sinterklaas treasure hunt in a hidden attic church, ages 4 to 8: Called Sint op Solder, the family hunt comes with songs, colouring, peppernuts, hot chocolate and a shoe set by the stove. 14 November, 10:00 – 11:30, Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder. MUSEUM / EDUCATIONAL

Visit Sinterklaas’s bedroom and present room at Muiderslot castle: Children see the Sint’s present room and bedroom, practise Piet skills and do crafts, and at weekends he greets them in person. 14 November, 10:00 – 17:00, Rijksmuseum Muiderslot. MUSEUM / EDUCATIONAL

DJ-Piet, dance groups and Sinterklaas on Amstelveen’s Handelsplein: From 10:45 the Handelsplein has DJ-Piet, then dancers from Dansschool Buenting and De Schakel, while the procession makes its way in. 14 November, 10:15 – 13:15, Handelsplein. FESTIVAL / FAIR

Paint a tiny mouse door, ladder and letterbox, no booking needed: Drop in without booking, paint a little mouse door, ladder and letterbox, and finish with stickers, with help in English or Dutch. 14 November, 10:00 – 17:00, Het Muizenhuis Mini Museum. KIDS WORKSHOP

MINIVROG toddler trampoline mornings near Waterlooplein, ages 2 to 5: Parents jump with their two- to five-year-olds in a big urban sports hall, €10.50 for the pair, trampoline socks required. 14 November, 09:30 – 11:30, VROG Urban Movement. SPORTS (ACTIVE)

Herman Brood at 80, a rock party with the Wild Romance songs: Romanza Brava plays the Wild Romance hits, his longtime saxophonist Boris van der Lek guests, and DJ Bas Sjerruf closes. 14 November, Q-Factory Amsterdam. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Edsilia Rombley’s 30-year anniversary concert, in a seated hall: Three decades of songs, from her 1996 Soundmixshow breakthrough to her Eurovision years, sung with the whole hall seated. 14 November, 19:00 – 22:45, AFAS Live. POP / ROCK

Live jazz at six stops on Jazzfest’s 15th-birthday walk through the Indische Buurt: From Makassarplein to Batjanstraat, guides tell the area’s music history between sets by young makers from Iran, Russia and Spain. 14 November, 13:30, Buurthuis De Archipel. JAZZ / BLUES

Five sculptures turned into songs for soprano, cello and flute: Artist Othilia Verdurmen first explains her sculptures about male identity, then Ilse van de Kasteelen sings five musical portraits of them. 14 November, 20:00, Splendor. CLASSICAL

Beethoven’s Fourth Piano Concerto with Alice Sara Ott, then Respighi’s Rome: Roberto González-Monjas conducts the Netherlands Philharmonic, Respighi’s two Rome tone poems follow the interval, and drinks are included in the price. 14 November, 20:15, The Concertgebouw. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Freya Skye’s Stars Align Tour, with Alex Sampson opening: The British singer who played Nova Bright in Disney’s Zombies 4 is on at 20:30, after Canadian singer-songwriter Alex Sampson at 19:30. 14 November, 18:30 – 21:45, Gashouder. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Totoro, Spirited Away and more Miyazaki film music in the Zuiderkerk: Mystery Ensemble plays an hour of Joe Hisaishi’s scores for Miyazaki’s films, plus pieces by other composers inspired by them. 14 November, 20:00, Zuiderkerk. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Executive MBA Open Day at RSM, with a faculty-led masterclass: Aimed at people with four-plus years’ work experience weighing a part-time MBA, it pairs a leadership case with alumni on juggling workload. 14 November, 09:30 – 14:00, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam. TALKS / IDEAS

Second Saturdays Dance: Intimate Portraits through personal choreography: Personal stories, political statements and thematic choreography lead into an interview with the performers. 14 November, 20:30, De Hallen.

Handel’s Agrippina in concert, Magdalena Kožená in the title role: Julia Lezhneva sings Poppea and Thibault Noally leads baroque orchestra Les Accents in the 1709 opera that gave Handel his first big triumph. 14 November, 13:00, The Concertgebouw. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Work by six student winners of the Buning Brongers Prizes 2026: Chosen from 120 nominated art-school students, the six winners show work until 28 November; students get in free, others pay €5. 14 November, Arti et Amicitiae. ART / MUSEUMS

Free vintage market in De Hallen, Block Market’s first there: Young traders fill the Passage with secondhand clothes for all ages, plus comics, furniture, art, jewellery, CDs and records. 14 November, 11:00 – 18:00, De Hallen. FOOD / MARKETS

IDFA 2026, eleven days of documentaries with Tatiana Huezo as guest of honour: Alongside the films come climate talks, a William Greaves spotlight, DocLab’s new-media projects and a ticket card for groups of friends. 14 November. FILM

Palindroom Festival, a night of live acts from the eastern Netherlands: Droom Dit, IGO Electric, Min Taka, Banji and others play until 03:00; two weeks later the festival flips and heads to Enschede. 14 November, 21:30 – 03:00, Skatecafe. FESTIVALS

IDFA in Carré, world premieres and festival favourites for three days: Films include Mijke de Jong’s year with mayor Femke Halsema, a portrait of Elon Musk and Ava DuVernay’s Fourteenth Amendment film. 14 November, 09:45, Koninklijk Theater Carré. FILM

Pick up litter on IJburg’s Pampuslaan for a €20 shop voucher: The Samen voor Pampus clean-up opens alongside Hanna Rudner’s portraits of the street’s shopkeepers, with more sessions in November and December. 14 November, 12:00 – 14:00 (14 november); 1, Factor IJ. VOLUNTEERING

Stoom Goes Deeper: breathwork, sound and sauna on a 1911 ship at NDSM: You lie down while DJ and breathwork guide Joep Mencke leads the session, then use the saunas; bring swimwear, robe and towel. 14 November, 19:30 – 23:00, Stoom (aan boord van de Kapitein Anna). CLASS

Open garden day in Osdorp’s Piet Wiedijkbuurt, with free coffee and lunch: Residents have kept these gardens for over 40 years; come for the cutting swap, some pruning, or the 13:00 neighbourhood tour. 14 November, 10:00 – 14:00, Openbare Eastontuinen. TOUR

How plants survive a changing climate, in a four-part Hortus course: Each lecture ends with a walk through the collection, including the renovated Climate Greenhouse; €125 covers all four sessions and entry. 14 November, 13:30 – 16:00, Hortus Botanicus Amsterdam. CLASS

Half’Rox, a half-distance Hyrox race, free for AmstelGym members: Eight 500-metre runs alternate with SkiErg, sled push and pull, rowing, wall balls and the other stations, solo or in pairs. 14 November, 15:00 – 18:30, AmstelGym. SPORTS

Walk the winter Amsterdamse Bos with a forest ranger: Ninety minutes on foot with a ranger who explains the winter woods, with more walks on 28 November and 13 December. 14 November, 13.30 – 15.00, De Boswinkel. TOUR

Mouse Mansion’s walk-in door painting on Muntplein, with help in English: Children from four put on a Sam & Julia apron for half an hour of painting, and entry to the museum is free. 14 November, 10:00 – 17:00, Het Muizenhuis Mini Museum. KIDS WORKSHOP

Global Brand Manager: Tony’s Chocolonely, Amsterdam, EUR 58,000 – 76,500 a year – Lead global campaigns, product launches and content for Tony’s brand across markets, working with creative and local marketing teams.

Senior iOS Developer: TicketSwap, Amsterdam, EUR 53,000 – 97,500 a year – Build and improve TicketSwap’s iOS app for millions of fans as part of a cross-functional product team.

Senior Product Manager: MatchWornShirt, Amsterdam, EUR 78,000 – 105,000 a year – Define and deliver the Resale product roadmap with engineering, design and business stakeholders, building a scalable and profitable business model.

Reporting Specialist: Athora Netherlands, Amsterdam, EUR 3,821 – 5,781 a month – Prepare and improve financial, regulatory and investment reports for Athora Netherlands’ Reporting team, analyzing key movements and ensuring data quality.

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Looking ahead: Sinterklaas Intocht Amsterdam (Sun 15 November), Museum Market (Sun 15 November) and Amsterdam Art Week (from Wed 18 November). See the week ahead →

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