☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Tuesday, July 28: otter spotted at Zeeburgereiland, outdoor Totoro screening, Thievery Corporation at Paradiso

Tuesday July 28, 2026

Good morning, Amsterdam. An otter and giant catfish have been spotted near Zeeburgereiland, Pllek screens My Neighbor Totoro outdoors tonight, and Thievery Corporation plays the first of two nights at Paradiso.

Amsterdam to remove 10,000 more parking spots by 2030: The city has already converted over 10,000 on-street parking spots into bike paths, pedestrian space, and local greenery under its autoluw policy. Plans call for removing another 10,000 spaces across Amsterdam over the next six years.

Amsterdammers revive quiet Dutch tradition of twilight sitting: Locals are bringing back schemeren, an 18th-century Dutch custom of sitting outside in silence for half an hour to watch dusk turn to dark. Communal twilight sessions are taking place along the Amstel river and at Mediamatic.

An otter and giant catfish appear near Zeeburgereiland: Artificial floating islands built near the A10 highway three years ago are drawing unexpected wildlife. Camera traps recently caught a wild otter, the first seen this close to the center in nearly 60 years, and a catfish over two meters long.

Rembrandtpark north playground reopens after major upgrades: Children can head back to the renovated play area in the northern part of Rembrandtpark. The updated site now features a new zip line, wooden climbing structures, swings, and a large rope net structure.

Unions threaten security strike at Schiphol Airport: The CNV and FNV trade unions warned that security staff at Schiphol Airport may go on strike after negotiations over a new collective labor agreement broke down. A walkout could cause long wait times and flight delays.

Dutch households face fines for keeping analog energy meters: Dutch residents who refuse to replace their traditional analog utility meters with digital smart meters by the end of 2027 could be fined up to €1,650. Grid operators are requiring the shift to help manage the electricity network.

Van Beuningenplein hosts afternoon sports and neighborhood games: Neighborhood kids and families can drop by Van Beuningenplein for an afternoon of outdoor sports and active games during the summer break. July 28, 12:00–16:00, Van Beuningenplein. 📅 Outdoor / Active

Het Scheepvaartmuseum hosts water yoga sessions for toddlers: Children ages two and up can join short wave-themed yoga classes on the museum jetty, stretching like seaweed and swaying like boats. Through August 31, 10:30–11:00, Het Scheepvaartmuseum. 📅 Outdoor / Active

Free summer sports drop-in opens in De Baarsjes: Children and youth aged 6 and up can join an open summer sports afternoon in De Baarsjes featuring kickboxing, ball games, and outdoor activities. July 28, 12:00–17:00, De Baarsjes, Amsterdam. 📅 Outdoor / Active

Groengebied Amstelland offers three swim spots for summer days: Summer swimming spots: Groengebied Amstelland has three designated beach areas where families can swim and relax by the water on warm days this summer. July 28 and August 9 at Groengebied Amstelland. Outdoor / Active

Harriet Krijgh plays Romantic chamber music at Concertgebouw: Dutch cellist Harriet Krijgh performs a selection of classic Romantic works alongside a ensemble of fellow musicians. July 28, 20:00, Concertgebouw. 📅

Thievery Corporation plays two summer nights at Paradiso: The Washington, D.C. electronic music duo brings their mix of downtempo, dub, and trip-hop to the main hall for two consecutive evenings. July 28–29, 19:30, Paradiso. 📅

Solya performs live at Paradiso: Singer-songwriter Solya plays a live set at Paradiso tonight, offering fans an evening of focused, personal songs in an intimate setting. July 28, 19:30, Paradiso. 📅

Frankie and the Witch Fingers play Tolhuistuin: Psych-rock group Frankie and the Witch Fingers bring their high-energy garage rock set to Amsterdam Noord tonight. July 28, 19:30, Tolhuistuin. 📅

Tkandz performs live at Bitterzoet: Musician Tkandz brings a mix of alternative beats and hip-hop to the city center music venue. July 28, 20:30, Bitterzoet. 📅

Gershwin Bonevacia brings spoken word show to De Parade: Former Amsterdam Poet Laureate Gershwin Bonevacia presents Gershwin's Garden, a performance mixing poetry, spoken word, and theater. July 28–31, various times, Martin Luther Kingpark. Theater

Pllek screens My Neighbor Totoro outdoors in Noord: Watch Studio Ghibli's classic animation outdoors on the beach at NDSM wharf, complete with skyline views and wireless headphones. July 28, 22:10, Pllek, NDSM Wharf. 📅 Film

Echt Gebeurd brings personal stories to De Parade: The storytelling event Echt Gebeurd comes to De Parade theater festival, featuring people sharing true, funny, and personal experiences around the theme of uncharted territory. July 28–31, various times, Martin Luther Kingpark. Theater

Hokjesdenker performs latest production at De Parade: Theatre group Hokjesdenker brings their new show to the travelling theatre festival, exploring boundaries and societal labels. July 28 to July 31, Various times, Martin Luther Kingpark. Theater

Geert Sweep brings new show to De Parade: Performer Geert Sweep takes the stage at the annual theatre festival with his latest show, Mijn Hemel! July 28 to August 1, Various times, Martin Luther Kingpark. Theater

Social run links three gelato shops across Amsterdam: This casual group run connects three different ice cream parlors, allowing runners to pick their own route between stops and grab a scoop along the way. July 28, 18:00, Massimo Gelato, Jan Hanzenstraat 15. 📅 Sports (Active)

Practice foreign languages at Meet Berlage: Meet native speakers and fellow learners to practice languages in a casual setting. Pick up a name tag listing what you speak and want to practice, then start conversing over drinks and snacks. July 28, 18:30–21:30, Meet Berlage. 📅 Class

Van Gogh color painting workshop held at Het Brinkhuis: Try out bold color combinations and classic painting techniques in a practical workshop inspired by Vincent van Gogh. July 28, 11:00–13:00, Het Brinkhuis. 📅 Workshop

Beginner coffee brewing workshop hosted at Two Story Coffee: Learn the basics of making quality coffee at home, including espresso dial-in, milk steaming techniques, and tasting different roast profiles. July 28, 17:00, Two Story Coffee. 📅 Workshop

Soprano Claron McFadden leads vocal workshop at Splendor: Soprano Claron McFadden hosts a beginner-friendly workshop exploring collective singing techniques and creating shared soundscapes. July 28, 10:30, Splendor. 📅 Workshop

Dutch passports now offer visa-free travel to 186 countries: A new global mobility report shows that Dutch passport holders can now travel to 186 destinations without securing a visa in advance. The Netherlands sits near the top of the global passport index. Business News

First-time home buyers risk overextension on maximum mortgages: Financial analysts warn that home buyers in the Netherlands who borrow to their maximum allowed limit leave themselves exposed to unexpected repair costs, as stretched budgets offer little margin for emergency home maintenance. Business News

TikTok Shop officially launches in the Netherlands: TikTok has rolled out its integrated shopping service to Dutch users. The feature allows businesses and brands to sell products directly inside the video app. Business News

Prince Bernhard sells commercial stakes including Zandvoort circuit: Prince Bernhard of Orange-Nassau is divesting his entire commercial business portfolio, transferring his shares in the Zandvoort Formula 1 track and extensive real estate holdings to his long-standing business partners.

TAG Co-Work: Bi-Weekly Building & Shipping Day: Ditch the home office and spend a focused day working alongside fellow builders, developers, and creators. No structured talks or programming, just a day of getting things done, followed by shared lunch and a quick evening demo session. 📅 Networking

Crypto Drinks Amsterdam, Networking Evening at Meet Berlage: Amsterdam's crypto and Web3 community gathers at Meet Berlage for drinks, 30-second pitches, and a talk from the CryptoCanal founder. Doors at 6:30 pm. A regular fixture for anyone curious about the local blockchain scene. 📅 Networking

Bos Lo opens egg-focused breakfast spot in Kolenkit: A new casual restaurant called Bos Lo has opened in the Kolenkit neighborhood. The menu focuses heavily on creative egg dishes, coffee, and morning meals. Restaurant

Indoor golf simulator facility opens on Willem de Zwijgerlaan: Golfers in Amsterdam West now have a new option for practice as an indoor golf simulator opens on Willem de Zwijgerlaan, allowing players to work on their game year-round regardless of the weather. Venue / Space

VENEUR opens new restaurant in Amsterdam: A new dining spot named VENEUR has opened in the city. The concept points toward a French-inspired or game-focused menu. Restaurant

Maison Champenoise: Two founders from Reims making pate en croute, the Champagne region's own savoury meat pie, in a small open-kitchen shop in West. The classic is marinated pork and veal in butter pastry, alongside chicken with mustard, chicken with chorizo, and a vegetarian version that changes with the season. Every pie comes with a sharp salad to cut the butter, and the owners will tell you the only correct drink alongside it is champagne. Open Wednesday to Sunday. Restaurant

De Poldervogel: New neighborhood restaurant in Watergraafsmeer from a duo with experience at De Kas and Vuurtoreneiland: refined comfort food, sharing dishes, seasonal produce and an off-menu kids dish. Restaurant

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