Essentially Amsterdam – Sunday, November 15, 2026

Sunday November 15, 2026

Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: Sinterklaas arrives in the city, Ajax legends face Barcelona, and BK49 opens 24 workspaces in a former Oost school for its open studios.

🧩 The Daily 4sterdam #2: Sixteen Amsterdam words, four hidden groups. Can you find them? Play today’s puzzle

Sinterklaas arrives in Amsterdam today: His steamboat reaches De Omval around 10:15 today and docks at Het Scheepvaartmuseum at about 11:30. The parade leaves the Stopera on Waterlooplein at 13:00 and reaches Leidseplein around 14:15, where the square’s programme runs until 15:30. Organisers say times are a guide, and expect road closures along the route all day.

Car beats train and bikes in Amsterdam race: Four reporters raced from Science Park to Sloterdijk during the morning rush on 28 October: the car came first, the train second, the electric cargo bike third and the regular bike last. Clear roads and sunshine helped the driver, while parking cost more than three euros for the first hour.

Amsterdam pays its best-known animal shelter to take in reptiles: The city has granted DOA €11,000 for emergency reptile care. It has funded the 125-year-old shelter’s work with dogs and cats for years, but this is the first time it is paying it to take in snakes and lizards.

Handmade momos hide in De Baarsjes supermarket freezers: Food writer Emma de Thouars named the momos at Himalaya Supermarkt on Admiraal de Ruijterweg the best dumplings in Amsterdam. The Nepalese owner says his wife makes them by hand, and 20 vegetable momos cost €14. The shop, open about 23 years, also stocks Bengali fish, goat, lamb and kulfi.

Amsterdam digs up 180 elms to test soil: Eight years ago, 180 identical elms went into 15 soil mixes in the port area to learn which grows big, shady trees fastest. Some mixes the city has used for 25 years produced smaller root balls. A report is due in spring, and most elms will likely move to parks.

Amsterdam diner ate 28 Spaghetteria pastas for €75: Spaghetteria’s six Amsterdam branches launched a €75 monthly pass in October, ahead of the chain’s 15th anniversary in February. It gets you one pasta a day. Kawing Tang ate there 28 days running and says he had nearly €500 of pasta, plus about €200 on drinks. Passes are capped at 750, and new ones become available on 1 December.

International design contest for new Kraaiennest library: The new OBA Next library will share its site with about 300 starter homes, a youth centre and brass band rehearsal space. Three design teams, each with a young local intern, will compete, though some residents say they had not heard of the plans. A jury including locals picks the winner, expected July 2027.

Amsterdam biotech VectorY raises €74.5 million for ALS therapy: The Science Park company, founded in 2020, develops one-time antibody treatments delivered by virus straight to the brain and nervous system. Most of the money goes to its ALS trial, which in September grew from 12 to 36 participants. The round also backs its Huntington’s disease programme.

Former ‘t Smalle manager now repairs Amsterdam mobility scooters: Dennis Dekker, who once managed ‘t Smalle in the Jordaan, now drives an electric van to repair wheelchairs, mobility scooters and handbikes for Medipoint, seeing about ten Amsterdam clients a day. Some people he visits have not spoken to anyone for weeks, he says, and he once stayed for coffee and a chat.

Ajax legends face Barcelona in Amsterdam: Danny Blind coaches an Ajax Legends side including Edwin van der Sar, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael van der Vaart against the FC Barcelona Legends today at 14.30 at the Johan Cruijff Arena. Proceeds go to the Johan Cruyff Foundation, which builds Cruyff Courts and funds children’s sports projects. Ziggo Sport shows it live.

Indische Buurt children exhibit dream homes at Javaplein library: Children from Het BuurtAtelier designed houses, houseboats and a tiled map of the neighbourhood’s future after workshops, a walk with urban planners and a visit to architect Sander Mirck’s office. Their work is shown alongside pieces by Mirck and artist Mirjam van Klink from 20 November to 23 January.

Race Planet Amsterdam auctions trophies for about €5 each: The family-owned karting, bowling and laser game centre in Westpoort closed on 1 November because making its building sustainable did not pay. Karts, petrol pumps, hundreds of tables and a 1960s British double-decker bus, currently bid at €1,300, are up for online auction until 21 November.

Surprise party for Jordaan sweet shop owner Mariska: Friends, family and neighbourhood children greeted Mariska Schaefer with banners, balloons, an organ and champagne to mark 25 years of Het Oud-Hollandsch Snoepwinkeltje, which she opened in 2001. She says personal contact matters more than mass appeal, and that children learn manners and how to count their own money there.

Chateau Amsterdam (Johan van Hasseltweg): Europe’s largest urban winery imports grapes from Italy and France, matures them on the IJ River in Amsterdam-Noord, and serves Italian dishes alongside its own wines.

Krush: Julia and Janek serve szarlotka, a warm Polish apple pie in a bowl with vanilla custard, at their new baking pop-up on Jacob van Lennepstraat.

The Foodwalk Winter: Walk five kilometres through Amsterdam’s lit city centre, stopping at five restaurants for a bite at each, Fridays and Saturdays from November 13 through January 23.

 

Museum Market: Museumplein, 10:00 – 18:00.

Boekenmarkt Beth Hamidrasj – 15 november, 12:00-16:00: Beth Hamidrasj, 12:00 – 16:00.

Daily markets open today: Art Amsterdam Spui and Nieuwmarkt. See all markets open today

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Sing, move and play simple instruments with your baby or toddler: Hanna Matthijsse leads an hour of singing, moving and simple instruments for under-fives, with one or two parents joining in. 15 November, 11:30 – 12:30, De Hallen. KIDS WORKSHOP

Fake news and a chaotic TV talk show, for kids six and up: In Alle kinderen stinken, the audience sits inside a talk show recording where two hosts invent ever wilder stories to keep viewers watching. 15 November, 14:30, Zaantheater, Kleine Zaal. FAMILY SHOW

Sinterklaas sails into Amsterdam along the Amstel: From the Amstel the Sint sails past Carré to the Maritime Museum, where the deputy mayor and children’s mayor greet him. 15 November, 10:30 – 15:00, Amstel bij de Omval. FESTIVAL / FAIR

Road closures from 08:00 as the Sinterklaasintocht crosses the city: Closures begin at 08:00 along the Weesperzijde, Utrechtsestraat, Weteringschans and Marnixstraat, and the city is clear again by 17:00. 15 November, 10:00 – 17:00, Route Sinterklaasintocht: Vrijheidslaan – Amstel – Scheepvaartmuseum, daarna Waterlooplein – Leidseplein. FESTIVAL / FAIR

Wave at the Sinterklaas steamboat from the Amstel bridges: The steamboat passes the Berlagebrug and the Amstel locks by Carré before docking at the Maritime Museum around 11:30. 15 November, 10:15 – 15:30, De Omval, Het Scheepvaartmuseum en Leidseplein. FESTIVAL / FAIR

Music and dancing on the Leidseplein to end the Sinterklaasintocht: Riding his horse Ozosnel, the Sint leads the procession from the Stopera at 13:00 and speaks to the children on arrival. 15 November, 10:15 – 15:30, Het Scheepvaartmuseum. FESTIVAL / FAIR

Two grand pianos for Evgeny Kissin and András Schiff: Two pianists share the stage of the Main Hall for Mozart’s two-piano sonata, Schumann, Smetana’s Vltava and Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances, drinks included. 15 November, 20:15, The Concertgebouw. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Hatsune Miku Expo, a projected Japanese pop star with a live band: Japan’s synthesised singing voice appears on stage as an animated projection, backed by real musicians, on a steampunk-themed European tour. 15 November, 20:00 – 22:00, AFAS Live. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Peter Dugan in the Recital Hall: Their programme runs through Beethoven’s Spring sonata, Ravel’s Sonata in G, Bach’s Chaconne and Saint-Saëns’ first sonata, drinks included. 15 November, 14:15, The Concertgebouw. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Alice Sara Ott plays Beethoven’s Fourth with the Netherlands Philharmonic: Roberto González-Monjas makes his debut with the orchestra in this Sunday matinee, pairing the concerto with Respighi’s Fountains and Pines of Rome. 15 November, 14:15, The Concertgebouw. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

I Snuck Off the Slave Ship, Lonnie Holley’s film among carved church pews: His directorial debut, shot in Georgia with his own improvised score, sits in a room of salvaged pews and hanging wire sculptures. 14 November, 15:00 – 16:30, Stedelijk Museum. ART / MUSEUMS

Moroccan singer Oum at the UD Festival, with ud and percussion: Songs from her album Dialddar, sung in Darija, Amazigh, French, English and Spanish, with three backing singers and no interval. 15 November, 20:15, The Concertgebouw. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Coltrane-inspired alto sax from Lakecia Benjamin and her quartet: Spiritual jazz meets soul, funk and R&B from the New York saxophonist, whose album Phoenix earned three Grammy nominations. 15 November, 20:30 – 22:00, Bimhuis. DANCE / PERFORMANCE

Networking over coffee and a private Yayoi Kusama tour at the Stedelijk: Up to 15 people get the guided tour, coffee and something sweet, with a dress code of polka dots or colour. 15 November, 10:00 – 12:30, Stedelijk Museum. NETWORKING

BK49 open studios, 24 workspaces in a former Oost school: Painters, jewellers, furniture makers and photographers show their workspaces, with workshops, course information and a wall of art priced up to €200. 15 November, afternoon until dark, BK49 (Vereniging BoerhaaveKunst 49). ART / MUSEUMS

Neighbourhood talent night with music, dance and poetry in De Hallen: Locals who live, work or rehearse around De Hallen take turns on stage with music, dance, poetry and theatre. 15 November, 19:00 – 20:30, De Hallen. THEATER

A Sunday service of word and prayer in the Buitenveldert cemetery chapel: Twice a month, usually on the second and fourth Sundays, a service of readings and prayer is held in the cemetery chapel. 11 October, 10:30, Kapel van Begraafplaats Buitenveldert. TALKS / IDEAS

Ajax Legends v Barca Legends, with Kluivert, Litmanen and Sneijder: All proceeds go to the Ajax Foundation, and former players including the De Boer twins, Van der Sar and Vertonghen will be there. 15 November, 14:30, Johan Cruijff ArenA. SPORTS

Mire Lee’s Vomit My Blessing, moving silicone and steel in the Oude Kerk: The South Korean artist builds motorised, almost living structures from silicone, steel and fluids that call to mind the human body. 14 November, Oude Kerk. ART / MUSEUMS

Free afternoon of crafts as a gate made of rubbish is unveiled in Noord: Children, artists and neighbours spent six weeks building it from old umbrellas, cardboard and plastic, and there’s crafting, music and snacks. 15 November, 14:30 – 17:00, NDSM LOODS. ART / MUSEUMS

Museum Market, designer stalls on Museumplein with free entry: The season’s first edition of this designer market sets up beside the ice rink, between the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Stedelijk. 15 November, 10:00 – 18:00, Museum Market. FOOD / MARKETS

Paint your own ceramics in a canal house on the Lijnbaansgracht: Pick a piece, paint it with guidance over a drink, and collect it glazed and kiln-fired three or four weeks later. 15 November, 15:00 – 17:00, Lila Amsterdam. WORKSHOP

Inside the Scheepvaarthuis, an Amsterdam School monument turned hotel: Ninety minutes through the 1916 shipping headquarters’ maritime sculpture and stained glass, led in Dutch with some English, then soup and sandwiches. 15 November, 11:30 – 14:00, Scheepvaarthuis (Grand Hotel Amrâth Amsterdam). TOUR

3D Sunday: Make a Thing to Fix a Thing: An afternoon 3D printing workshop at the hackerspace on Louwesweg, built around printing a part to repair something broken. 15 November, 13:00, Technologia Incognita. WORKSHOP

Vinyasa flow on the beach at Pllek, looking out over the IJ: Bianka Duka’s all-levels class moves from meditation into poses, chanting and breathwork, heading indoors if the weather turns, with mats provided. 15 November, 10:30, Pllek. SPORTS (ACTIVE)

Free willow walk for kids in Noord, with weaving to finish: Willow weaver Daan Goppel shows children aged 5 to 14 how willows grow and makes something from willow with them, in Dutch. 15 November, 11:00, De Ceuvel. TOUR

Hands-on sushi class for four, from rice to temaki: You cook sushi rice and rolled omelette, then make hosomaki, uramaki, futomaki and temaki yourself, guided by a Japanese host. 15 November, 17:00 – 19:00, Wa Table Amsterdam. CLASS

Technisch Specialist AOG: Transavia, Schiphol, EUR 3,856 – 5,786 a month – Analyze complex aircraft faults, coordinate AOG responses and help prevent disruptions for the Maintenance Control Centre.

Growth Lead: Altura, Amsterdam, EUR 70,000 – 90,000 a year – Lead marketing strategy and end-to-end demand generation for an AI-native bid management platform, working with Sales and other teams.

Analyst/Sr. Analyst, Investment Support: Wilshire Advisors, Amsterdam, EUR 60,000 – 80,000 a year – You will support research, due diligence, investment analysis and monitoring of European private market investments for the global Private Markets team.

Analytics Engineer – Client Reporting: Studytube, Amsterdam, EUR 60,000 – 80,000 a year – Build dbt models and Looker reports for the Client Reporting team, helping customers understand learning outcomes and migrating reporting to Databricks.

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Looking ahead: Community Cuisine (Mon 16 November), Volkskeuken (Mon 16 November) and Amsterdam Art Week (from Wed 18 November). See the week ahead →

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