Sunday July 26, 2026
Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine plays the Concertgebouw, and Mario Kart players gather on Museumplein.
At a glance
🌦️ Weather: Hi 22°C / 72°F · Lo 18°C / 64°F · 50% chance of rain · wind SW 31 km/h (17 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Good cycling until 09:00; rain likely after that.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 05:51 · Sunset 21:41 · Waxing Gibbous · Moonrise 20:26 · Golden hour 21:11–21:41
🌊 Outdoors: Water 21°C / 70°F (swimmable) · Air quality: fair (AQI 22)
💶 Markets: AEX 1,090 · S&P 500 7,412 (-0.6%) · €1 = $1.14 · $1 = €0.88
🏆 Dutch sport: In darts, Gian van Veen and Dirk van Duijvenbode both missed out on the final at the World Matchplay following defeats to Luke Littler, while in cycling, Lorena Wiebes sprinted to her second stage victory at the Tour of Poland.
Hoogte Kadijk residents face major disruption from power grid expansion: Plans for new power substations on Hoogte Kadijk have raised concerns among local residents. The long-term construction projects are expected to generate significant noise and reduce available street parking in the neighborhood.
Johan Cruijff Arena trials cashierless AI snack kiosks: Visitors can soon purchase snacks and drinks without waiting in line at a register in the Johan Cruyff Arena. The system scans phones at the entrance gates and uses tracking cameras to charge accounts automatically when people leave.
Local lore traces patatje oorlog back to Amsterdam-Noord: Neighborhood history links the invention of fries with mayonnaise, satay sauce, and raw onions to Snackbar 2000 on Zonneplein in 1976. A resident recalls a cook declaring the chaotic combination looked like war.
Summer warmth returns after a varied weekend: Following a breezy and unsettled weekend, warmer summer weather is set to return to the Amsterdam region next week. Temperatures should climb back up as the week progresses.
Non-tech Amsterdam companies also adding AI skills to job postings: Employers across the Netherlands outside the tech industry are increasingly seeking candidates proficient with artificial intelligence tools. Job listings in traditional sectors now frequently list everyday AI skills to boost workplace efficiency.
European Central Bank invites feedback on new euro designs: The European Central Bank has published a shortlist of ten design concepts for upcoming euro banknotes. European residents can view the proposals online and submit their preferences to help shape the final decision.
Marineterrein hosts summer children's show by the water: Theater Kees & Koos presents a lively children's performance, offering young kids an entertaining waterfront summer activity. July 26, 11:00, Marineterrein. 📅 Family Show
Wereldmuseum hosts family activities for Japanese Tanabata festival: The museum celebrates the Japanese star festival with creative, hands-on activities for kids and families. Free with regular museum entry. July 26, Wereldmuseum Amsterdam. 📅 Festival / Fair
De Ceuvel hosts soil mini safari for children: Kids can dive into the dirt in this hands-on workshop to catch, identify, and learn about the bugs that keep local soil healthy. July 26, 11:00, De Ceuvel. 📅 Kids Workshop
De Parade presents tragicomic show about a hesitant pony: Johanna Hagen performs a tragicomic story about a Shetland pony finding the courage to jump over a fence. July 26–August 1, Various times, Theaterfestival de Parade. Family Show
De Gibraltar hosts support meetup for care parents: The Buur-Kracht gathering offers parents raising children with disabilities or extra care needs a chance to meet, share experiences, and trade practical advice. July 26, 2026, De Gibraltar, Bos en Lommer.
Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine debuts at Concertgebouw: Oksana Lyniv conducts the Youth Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine in Dvořák’s Eighth Symphony and Brahms’s First Piano Concerto, featuring pianist Illia Ovcharenko. July 26, 8:00 PM, Het Concertgebouw.
Mattias Spee plays solo piano Stravinsky along the IJ: Pianist Mattias Spee performs a solo piano arrangement of Stravinsky's Firebird ballet outdoors on the waterfront terrace. July 26, 2026, 15:00, Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. 📅
Cody Pennington plays live country music at Q-Factory: Country artist Cody Pennington brings his live tour to Amsterdam, performing a mix of original songs and classic country covers. July 26, 20:30, Q-Factory. 📅
Carol Ruiz plays free classical show in Vondelpark: Pianist Carol Ruiz performs a midday classical set as part of the ongoing summer concert series in the park. July 26, 12:00 - 13:30, Vondelpark Open-Air Theater. 📅
Isabel van Gelder and tjels perform live: Performers Isabel van Gelder and tjels take the outdoor stage for an afternoon concert in the park. July 26, 15:00, Vondelpark Openluchttheater. 📅
Pllek hosts free Midsummer celebration on NDSM wharf: Pllek celebrates the longest day with an all-day program of live performances, DJ sets, and a fire ceremony at 21:00. No tickets required. July 26, 12:00, Pllek, NDSM-wharf, Amsterdam Noord. 📅 Festivals
EYE screens Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey' in 70mm: Watch Homer's ancient epic on a 70mm print with a cast including Matt Damon, Tom Holland, Anne Hathaway, and Zendaya. July 26, 18:15, EYE Amsterdam. 📅 Film
Toekomstmuziek hosts Gambian cultural celebration: Enjoy the music, flavors, and traditions of Gambia with live sets, DJs, and traditional dishes. July 26, 15:00, Toekomstmuziek. 📅 Festivals
Group visit combines Jewish Museum and Judy Chicago exhibit: Join a group tour exploring Dutch Jewish history alongside Judy Chicago’s first solo exhibition in the Netherlands. July 26, 13:00, Jewish Museum. 📅 Art / Museums
Bar Basquiat hosts narrative beaded embroidery workshop: Bring your own denim or linen to learn the art of narrative beaded embroidery with Studio Sollar over coffee and tea. July 26, 12:30, Zoku Amsterdam. 📅 Workshop
IJ ferry runs scenic trip to historic northern villages: Take the IJ Neighborhood Ferry north past the city for a scenic boat trip to Nieuwendam and Durgerdam. July 26, 11:00, Steiger 14 (Pier 14), Amsterdam. 📅 Tour
VELA hosts coffee and multisport social in Vondelpark: This informal meetup gives women and non-binary athletes a chance to connect over coffee and talk about running, cycling, swimming, or triathlon training. July 26, 2026, 11:00, De Vondeltuin. 📅 Sports (Active)
Museumplein hosts open-air Mario Kart social on the lawn: Gamers are setting up a large screen on the grass for a casual, outdoor Mario Kart session. July 26, 2026, 19:00, Museumplein. 📅 Games / Hobbies
Secil leads summer garden painting workshop in Noord: Learn composition and color techniques during an outdoor painting session guided by artist Secil. All canvas and paint materials are provided, and all skill levels are welcome. July 26, 2026, 12:00, Treehouse NDSM, Amsterdam Noord. 📅 Workshop
Bunq adds Belgian IBANs and Wero payment support: Amsterdam-based digital bank bunq has expanded its features to support Belgian IBANs alongside integration with Wero, the new European instant payment network, for users in Belgium and France. Business News
Networking brunch offers personal branding advice for women: This small-group workshop and pitch session gives female professionals and entrepreneurs a chance to refine their online presence and connect over coffee. July 26, 10:30, Vondelpark. 📅 Workshop / Training
Dutch startup registrations rise as bankruptcies drop: New business registrations across the Netherlands grew by nearly five percent in the second quarter of the year. During the same period, corporate closures and bankruptcies fell by over nine percent across most provinces.
Amsterdam stock exchange closes flat after volatile week: The AEX index at Beursplein finished a unsettled trading week practically unchanged, down 0.2% to 1,090.04 points. Geopolitical tensions and rising oil prices wiped out early momentum that had brought the index close to record highs.
Chop Chop Asia opens in Amsterdam: Chop Chop Asia is a new dining option in the city serving a variety of Asian dishes. Restaurant
MLT Bakery & Coffee opens in Amsterdam: MLT Bakery & Coffee has launched, offering fresh baked goods and hot drinks in a new neighborhood spot. Restaurant
Petit Charcuterie opens in Amsterdam: Petit Charcuterie is a new spot focused on cured meats and artisan boards meant for sharing over drinks in Amsterdam. Restaurant
Dame aan de Kade opens in Amsterdam: Dame aan de Kade is a new waterfront dining destination now open in Amsterdam. Restaurant
Sassy's: Fried chicken spot in the Oedipus Craft Space in Noord from the Box Sociaal team: the Sass Sando with house pickles and ranch, sauced chicken and beers, plus a terrace. Restaurant
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: X-Men '97 S2 (Disney+), Cape Fear S1 (Apple TV+), Heartstopper: Ending on a Hi (Netflix), Stuart Fails to Save the Universe S1 (HBO Max) 🎬📺
Overheard on Reddit: Someone shared a TrainMore AI support chat where the bot looped endlessly before handing off to a human, and the thread broadly agreed the gym's customer service was already poor before AI got involved.
Today’s supermarket deals: Aquafresh whitening toothpaste (5 for €7.98) from Albert Heijn, vine tomatoes (2 for €2.49) from Jumbo.
Did you know? The public can watch Operation Night Watch through a glass chamber, turning conservation work into part of the museum visit.
370 years ago today: On July 26th, 1656, the first shipyard plots were leased on what became Wittenburg, part of Amsterdam’s eastern dockland expansion.
Adoptable pet of the day: Meet Carolina, an 8-year-old Border Collie at Dierenopvang Amsterdam. Take a look →In tomorrow’s edition: Martin Parr's photo exhibition continues at FOAM, ARTIS stays open late for its first summer evening event, and MidzomerMokum offers free activities for kids across the city.
Enjoy your Sunday, wherever the day takes you.
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