Monday August 3, 2026
Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: De Parade opens its annual youth theater program, Gary Numan performs at Paradiso, and the national heat plan kicks in as temperatures reach 33 degrees.
At a glance
☀️ Weather: Hi 33°C / 91°F (7° warmer than yesterday) · Lo 20°C / 68°F · 8% chance of rain · wind E 21 km/h (11 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Great cycling weather all day.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 06:03 · Sunset 21:28 · Waning Gibbous · Moonrise 22:49 · Golden hour 20:58–21:28
🌊 Outdoors: Water 23°C / 73°F (swimmable) · Air quality: fair (AQI 28) · grass pollen moderate
💶 Markets: AEX 1,099 (+1.7%) · S&P 500 7,490 (+1.0%) · €1 = $1.15 · $1 = €0.87
🏆 Dutch sport: Tennis coach Vleeshouwers back with top player Anisimova: 'She called herself' · Heavy defeat for PSV in season opener as well: 'Draw no conclusions from it'
Fat bike restrictions improve safety feel in Vondelpark: Pedestrians report feeling noticeably safer walking through Vondelpark following recent restrictions on heavy e-bikes. The feedback comes as fat bikes face increasing regulatory scrutiny across the Netherlands.
Kylie Minogue joins Madonna at AFAS Live: Kylie Minogue made a surprise appearance alongside Madonna during a World Pride event in Amsterdam. The joint performance took place late at night in Bijlmer ArenA.
National Heat Plan triggers weather warnings across Netherlands: The public health institute RIVM is activating the National Heat Plan due to high forecast temperatures. KNMI has issued code yellow weather warnings for Monday and Tuesday nationwide.
Dutch privacy groups express concern over smart glasses: Digital rights advocates in the Netherlands are warning that Meta's new AI smart glasses feature cameras subtle enough to film people in public spaces without their consent.
Improperly discarded bike batteries trigger fires in Westpoort: An investigation found that old bicycle batteries thrown into regular trash are causing major industrial fires. Waste facilities in the Westelijk Havengebied have seen a spike in incidents due to the practice.
Low river levels threaten to drive up fuel prices: Prolonged drought has dropped water levels across major Dutch rivers, disrupting barge traffic. The resulting supply bottlenecks are expected to increase fuel costs at gas stations nationwide.
Free outdoor games start at Karel Doormanplein: Children ages five to seven can join organized outdoor sports and active play sessions in Amsterdam West. August 3, 12:00 - 15:00, Karel Doormanplein, Amsterdam West. 📅 Outdoor / Active
Zuiderzeemuseum hosts maritime week activities: Visitors can board historic vessels and learn about regional maritime history through interactive summer programs. August 3, Zuiderzeemuseum. 📅 Festival / Fair
De Parade opens its annual youth theater program in Martin Luther Kingpark: De Kinderparade at Theater Festival De Parade: Children can watch theater performances and join creative activities in the park. Running from August 3 at 14:00 at Martin Luther Kingpark. 📅 Festival / Fair
Gary Numan plays main stage at Paradiso: Electronic music artist Gary Numan returns to Amsterdam for a concert on the main stage. August 3, 20:30, Paradiso. 📅
Contemporary jazz and improvisations come to De Roode Bioscoop: Vera Morais and Hristo Goleminov join Dat&Dun for an intimate performance featuring voice, woodwinds, and modern jazz improvisation. August 3, 20:00, Theater de Roode Bioscoop. 📅
Claron McFadden performs intimate vocal program at Splendor: Soprano Claron McFadden brings a specialized vocal performance to the center stage at Splendor. August 3, 2026, 20:00, Splendor.
Cool Sound plays live jazz at Jazz Cafe Alto: Long-running venue Jazz Cafe Alto hosts Cool Sound along with a special guest for an evening of live music. August 3, 21:30, Jazz Cafe Alto.
Ajax opens stadium doors for annual training day: Football fans can watch Amsterdam's home team train during an open event at the stadium. It offers a look behind the scenes for supporters and families. August 3, 10:00, Johan Cruijff ArenA. 📅 Sports (Spectator)
Anne-Fay brings theatrical music show to De Parade: Orkater and Anne-Fay stage a production mixing soulful vocals, rhythm, and storytelling to explore diaspora and heritage. August 3, 2026, Various times, De Parade, Martin Luther Kingpark. Theater
Martin Scorsese classic screens at LAB111: Catch Martin Scorsese's iconic 1976 drama Taxi Driver back on the big screen in Oud-West. August 3, 2026, LAB111. 📅 Film
Mino performs new theater piece at De Parade: Theater group Mino brings a show exploring untruths to the annual traveling festival in Martin Luther Kingpark. August 3, 2026, Multiple times, Theaterfestival de Parade. Theater
Musical performance celebrates underdogs at De Parade: Het Agnospelkoor performs a musical and theatrical piece honoring life's losers at the traveling festival in the Rivierenbuurt. August 3, 2026, Multiple times, Theaterfestival de Parade, Rivierenbuurt. Theater
Beginner drum crash course starts in Noord: A two-day evening course offers absolute beginners private one-on-one instruction to learn basic stick technique and simple beats. August 3, 17:00, Skate Cafe, Amsterdam Noord. 📅 Workshop
Interactive class uses improv to build English fluency: This group class uses lighthearted improvisation techniques, roleplay, and games to help non-native speakers speak English more comfortably. August 3, 2026, 18:00, Language Corner, Rietwijkerstraat 10. 📅 Class
Groene Veld hosts Monday pingpong and board games: Spend a Monday evening in Amsterdam North with casual table tennis, board games, and shared food. August 3, 2026, 17:00 - 19:00, Groene Veld. 📅 Games / Hobbies
Open football tournament takes place on Kareldoormanplein: DOCK on TOUR hosts a free pickup football session in West. Anyone can drop by and join the matches without signing up with a club. August 3, 15:00–17:00, Kareldoormanplein, Amsterdam West. 📅 Sports (Active)
Central library hosts free Dutch language advice: Anyone looking to improve their Dutch can drop by for advice on study materials and local course options. August 3, 14:00 - 16:00, OBA Oosterdok. Class
Air France-KLM prepares for potential EasyJet sale: Air France-KLM leadership says the airline group is positioned to capture market share from EasyJet if the budget carrier is sold to a private equity firm. Business News
Thousands of hotels sue Amsterdam-based Booking.com: Nearly 11,000 hotels worldwide have joined legal proceedings against Amsterdam-headquartered Booking.com over its market dominance and commission requirements. Business News
Air France-KLM bids for stake in Portuguese airline: Air France-KLM submitted a bid for a minority stake in TAP Air Portugal right before the deadline. The move sets up a direct competition with Germany's Lufthansa for the carrier. Business News
Drought leads to smaller fruit and higher store prices: Persistent drought conditions across Europe will lead to smaller fruit sizes and higher prices in Dutch supermarkets, according to the Dutch Fruit Growers Organization. Shoppers can expect tighter supplies for the upcoming harvest. Business News
Amsterdam court rejects Shell claim over plastic gas prices: An Amsterdam court has dismissed a major lawsuit filed by Shell against chemical suppliers. The energy company had alleged that a group of firms illegally conspired to keep prices low for key plastic-manufacturing gases. Business News
Pop Music Industry Q&A with George O. Janssen, Free at OBA: George O. Janssen hosts a free drop-in consultation session ('spreekuur') about the pop music world at the OBA public library on July 6. Whether you're an aspiring musician, music professional, or just curious about the local scene, this is a free and accessible chance to ask questions and get advice. Seminar / Talk
Omahe Amsterdam: An Indonesian brasserie, a place we didn't quite realize we were missing in our lives until Omahe arrived on Ruysdaelkade. Our current favorite: Terong Pedas Tegal, a fried dish with spicy sambal that instantly transports you to Java. Restaurant
Café Vertigo: You'll now find Café Vertigo in the Vondelpark Pavilion in Vondelpark. This grand café offers a wide variety of options, from coffee in the morning sun to dinner and drinks. Bar / Café
Roum Café: Since this summer, you'll find Roum Café in the heart of De Pijp, where almost all the flavors of the Middle East converge, with a special focus on Lebanese cuisine. It's a delightful spot that feels like an extension of your living room, but with food you wouldn't be able to prepare yourself ;-). Bar / Café
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: House of the Dragon S3 (HBO Max), The Lego Movie (Disney+), Get Out (Prime Video), Suicide Squad (Netflix) 🎬
New on the big screen: Beautiful Thing returns Sunday 9 August to EYE, Call Me By Your Name to Studio/K, and Drive returns Friday to LAB111. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: A post asking where to find a Vondelpark dog walker to register with prompted near-unanimous warnings from commenters, who described him as hostile, handling dogs poorly, and dangerously managing too many at once.
Today’s supermarket deals: Sun machine cleaner (5 for €9.98) from Albert Heijn, BBQ (4 for €10.00) from Jumbo.
Did you know? The city removed the giant “I amsterdam” letters from Museumplein because they had become too successful as a selfie magnet.
112 years ago today: On August 3rd, 1914, war panic triggered a rush on De Nederlandsche Bank at the Oude Turfmarkt.
Adoptable pet of the day: Meet Dinges, a 10-year-old European Shorthair at Dierenopvang Amsterdam. Take a look →In tomorrow’s edition: A summer tech bootcamp for kids starts at the OBA Junior Lab, family holiday activities begin at the National Maritime Museum, and a WorldPride UNITY concert takes place across Amsterdam Zuid.
Have a great Monday.
Want to make sure you never miss a day of Essentially Amsterdam? Subscribe here.