Saturday August 15, 2026
Good morning, Amsterdam. Erasmus Culinair fills Erasmuspark with food trucks, live music and workshops across the whole weekend, Reggae Lake Festival returns to Gaasperplas, and the West End musical The Little Big Things opens at Carré.
At a glance
🌧️ Weather: Hi 24°C / 75°F (11° cooler than yesterday) · Lo 20°C / 68°F · 75% chance of rain · wind NE 22 km/h (12 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Good cycling until 06:00; rain likely after that.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 06:21 · Sunset 21:07 · Waxing Crescent · Moonrise 08:30 · Golden hour 20:37–21:07
🌊 Outdoors: Water 23°C / 73°F (swimmable) · Air quality: moderate (AQI 46) · Swimming discouraged at Spaarnwoude; warnings at Het Twiske and Strand De Hoge Dijk. The other 7 Amsterdam spots are clear.
💶 Markets: AEX 1,118 (+0.4%) · S&P 500 7,784 (+0.3%) · €1 = $1.16 · $1 = €0.86
City postpones Spiegelgracht redesign due to high costs: The city has acknowledged the chaotic traffic layout at the Spiegelgracht canal corner, which remains frustrating for cyclists and pedestrians. A complete redesign of the intersection is currently on hold due to budget constraints.
Vondelkerk launches activities to fund post-fire restoration: Following a damaging New Year's Day fire, the iconic Vondelkerk is hosting exhibitions, walking tours, and public lectures. The events aim to share progress and raise funds for the ongoing restoration of the church.
Water authorities impose daytime canal bans during drought: Persistent dry weather has prompted local water authorities to ban daytime water extraction from canals and rivers. City officials have also introduced strict park barbecuing rules to reduce fire risks.
Amsterdam fitness centers double while exercise rates stall: Data shows that the number of gyms and boutique studios in Amsterdam has doubled since 2017. Despite the surge in available facilities, overall exercise rates among residents have remained flat.
17th-century Amsterdam action game launches this August: A new dark fantasy action game set in historic Amsterdam has set its release date for August. Created by the developer behind Assassin's Creed, the title lets players explore a detailed recreation of the 17th-century capital.
Delta warns Schiphol caps could cost 142,000 visitors: A study commissioned by Delta Air Lines warns that flight caps and higher taxes at Schiphol Airport could redirect transatlantic flights away from the Netherlands, potentially losing up to 142,000 American tourists annually.
Erasmus Culinair brings food, music and workshops to Erasmuspark: Two days of live music, workshops and a great deal of very good food, with stalls from Joe's Kitchen, Trunkfood, Shut up and Eat and Los Costeños, plus creative workshops and children's activities. Sunday closes with salsa from Septeto Trio Los Dos. August 15–16, Terrasmus, Erasmuspark. Festival / Fair
Robin Hood production staged outdoors in the Amsterdamse Bos: Catch a family-friendly Dutch-language performance of Robin Hood set under the trees of the local forest theater. August 15, Multiple showtimes, Amsterdamse Bostheater. Family Show
Free Techlab workshop lets kids build robots at Marineterrein: Children can build robots, program minicomputers, and experiment with a 3D printer at this hands-on workshop. August 15, 13:00 - 17:00, Marineterrein. Kids Workshop
Tolhuistuin hosts neighborhood festival and mural unveiling: This community event features 25 market stalls, dance workshops, activities for kids, and the unveiling of a new mural designed by local children. August 15, 12:00, Tolhuistuin. Festival / Fair
Nieuw-West holds street football tournament series: Kids and teens can show off their football skills, join one-on-one matches, and take on athletic challenges across the area. Through September 6, Various locations, Amsterdam Nieuw-West. Outdoor / Active
National Youth Jazz Orchestra performs with Reinier Baas: Young jazz musicians team up with guitarist Reinier Baas for a live performance at the Grachtenfestival. August 15, starting at 17:00, H'ART Museum.
Epic film scores played live at the Concertgebouw: An orchestral evening of music from Lord of the Rings, Inception and other cinema scores in the Main Hall. August 15, 20:00, Concertgebouw (Main Hall).
Curaçaoan jazz on the Muziekgebouw terrace: Singer Izaline Calister performs with guitarist Ed Verhoeff and trumpeter Ellister van der Molen, mixing jazz with Afro-Caribbean and Curaçaoan music on the waterside terrace. Sold out. August 15, 20:00 - 21:00, Terras Muziekgebouw.
Reinier Zonneveld headlines single-artist techno event at Spaarnwoude: Techno DJ Reinier Zonneveld takes over Spaarnwoude for a full day of live sets and drone shows organized by Free Your Mind. August 15, Spaarnwoude.
West End musical The Little Big Things opens at Carré: The hit musical based on Henry Fraser's autobiography arrives in Amsterdam for an evening stage run. August 15, 20:00, Koninklijk Theater Carré. Theater
Reggae Lake Festival returns to Gaasperplas: A two-day outdoor music festival dedicated to reggae, dub, and dancehall takes place along the water in Amsterdam-Zuidoost across several stages. August 15–16, 13:00 - 23:00, Gaasperplas. Festivals
Three-person improv battle takes place at Badhuistheater: Teams of three comedians face off in a fast-moving, unscripted competition during the second annual edition of this local comedy tournament. August 15, 20:00, Badhuistheater. Comedy
Vondelpark Openluchttheater hosts stand-up comedy: Comedians Alina Sharipova, Marie Koet, and Luuk Weggemans bring live stand-up comedy to the open-air stage. August 15, starting at 20:30, Vondelpark Openluchttheater. Comedy
Urban herbology walk finds edible plants in Park Frankendael: Discover the unexpected edible and medicinal plants growing wild in the city, led by an urban herbologist. August 15, 10:00 - 12:00, Huize Frankendael. Tour
Free food tour explores Dutch kitchen traditions: A guided walk through Dutch food traditions, tasting local snacks along the way. August 15, 10:30 - 12:30, location provided after booking. Tasting
Learn hands-on pasta making at the Smeg showroom: Learn the traditional techniques of making fresh Italian pasta from scratch in a hands-on culinary workshop. August 15, 10:30 - 12:30, Eerste Weteringplantsoen 2C. Workshop
Rijksmuseum tour combines art history and sketching: Explore the Rijksmuseum collection while practicing basic drawing skills in a class led by paintings conservator Liz Hébert. August 15, 11:00, Museumplein - Cobra Cafe. Tour
Sip and paint in the H'ART Museum courtyard garden: A creative afternoon in the museum's courtyard garden, painting under professional guidance. August 15, 12:00 - 15:00, H'ART Museum, Amstel 51. Workshop
International potluck picnic gathers in a city park: Bring a blanket, your favourite drinks and a dish to share for an afternoon of outdoor socialising. August 15, 12:00 - 14:00, park location revealed to attendees. Social
Internationals meet on the Marina I-Dock terrace: Connect with fellow expats and international residents on the waterfront terrace at IJdok. August 15, 19:00 - 21:00, Marina I-Dock, IJdok 4. Social
Saturday night darts, cocktails and bites for the 35+ crowd: A social evening of friendly dart match-ups, drinks and snacks designed for the over-35s. August 15, 19:30 - 21:30, Amsterdam. Games / Hobbies
Grid congestion leaves hundreds of Amsterdam businesses waiting for power: Nearly 500 companies in Amsterdam are stuck on waiting lists for new or expanded electricity connections. Severe grid overload is delaying business expansion plans and holding back green energy projects. Business News
SoulKitchen: A Mediterranean restaurant, cocktail bar and nightlife venue in the centre, with kitchen, cocktails and music under one roof. Bar / Café
The Bab Pocha: A Korean pocha-style bar and eatery. Restaurant
Tannay: A Burgundy-inspired French restaurant on Realeneiland, from the Caron family of restaurants. Restaurant
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: X-Men '97 S2 (Disney+), Ted Lasso S4 (Apple TV+), Fight Club (Prime Video), The Meg (Netflix) 🎬
Overheard on Reddit: Someone asking about a stolen bike near the university got the verlorenofgevonden.nl depot link several times, plus a philosophical comment about Amsterdam's endless cycle of bikes passing between owners.
Today’s supermarket deals: BBQ salmon skewers (2 for €5.99) from Albert Heijn, Chio chips (2 for €3.00) from Jumbo.
Did you know? Amsterdam hosted Eurovision in 1970 partly because the previous year had ended in a chaotic four-way tie.
23 years ago today: On August 15th, 2003, Pluk de Nacht began in Amsterdam, bringing unreleased indie films and open-air cinema nights to the city.
In tomorrow’s edition: Erasmus Culinair runs a second day in Erasmuspark, Grachtenfestival performances continue across the city, and Disney Hits Live plays the Main Hall at the Concertgebouw.
Enjoy your Saturday.
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