Wednesday September 16, 2026
Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: Amsterdam Centraal ranks third best station in Europe, Ajax supporters hand out free burgers to visiting fans, and a family audio hunt explores Yayoi Kusama's dots.
The activities listed below are just a curated sample of what’s going on in Amsterdam. Check out our completely redesigned events calendar here.
At a glance
🌦️ Weather: Hi 19°C / 66°F (5° cooler than yesterday) · Lo 16°C / 60°F · 45% chance of rain · wind W 21 km/h (11 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Dry until about 10:00, wet after that.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 07:16 · Sunset 19:53 · Waxing Crescent · Moonrise 14:02 · Golden hour 19:23 to 19:53
🌊 Outdoors: Air quality good (AQI 18) · grass pollen low
💶 Markets: AEX 1,098 (-0.0%) · S&P 500 7,586 (-0.4%) · €1 = $1.15 · $1 = €0.87
Oasis to play Arena shows in July: The British band will play two dates at the Johan Cruijff Arena next July. Fans must enter a lottery system to access sales, where standard front standing spots run to €250.
Amsterdam Centraal ranked third best station in Europe: A new European railway index puts the city hub behind only Zürich and Paris. Extended ticket desk hours and more shops lifted it seven places from last year.
Baker McKenzie plans Zuidas office move for 2030: The law firm has signed a lease to relocate to The Canyon building in the new Ravel district. The shift will end a 24-year stay at Baker House.
Ajax supporters offer free burgers to visiting fans: Visiting Willem II fans are being offered free hamburgers by home supporters at the Johan Cruijff Arena tonight. The gesture protests the limited food choices provided for away crowds.
Weekend closure on A10 West towards Schiphol: The link to the A4 will shut from Friday evening to Monday morning for ongoing Zuidasdok work. Drivers face diversions and delays of up to thirty minutes.
A family audio hunt through Yayoi Kusama's dots: Families follow an audio mystery with podcast maker Sara de Monchy, hunting for the artist among the polka dots. 16 September, Stedelijk Museum. 📅 MUSEUM / EDUCATIONAL
Tuimelaar brings balance, gravity, and percussion to families: Percussion, clarinet, and trumpet interact with physical balance games in this forty-five-minute show designed for children and parents. 16 September, 11:00 - 11:45, Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. 📅 FAMILY SHOW
Lolobaki presents Opa vertelt at OCCII Kinderpret: Performers dressed as animals share humorous life lessons with children using harps, xylophones, and a horse skull. 16 September, Kinderpret. 📅 FAMILY SHOW
Drop in for Familiewoensdag at Het Scheepvaartmuseum: Children can sink into beanbags to draw sea monsters or read maritime stories on the covered square. 16 September, 12.00 - 16.00, Het Scheepvaartmuseum. 📅 KIDS WORKSHOP
Dip nets and pond life with a forest ranger: Children head out along the waterways with dip nets to scoop up and inspect tiny aquatic creatures. 16 September, 11:00 - 12:30, De Boshalte. 📅 OUTDOOR / ACTIVE
Yayoi Kusama sculpture workshop for kids at De Kinderboekwinkel: Children shape paper and clay into bright pieces inspired by Yayoi Kusama during this hour-long craft session. 16 September, 15:00 - 16:00, De Kinderboekwinkel. 📅 KIDS WORKSHOP
Storytime and lemonade at OBA Oosterdok Juniortheater: Drop in without registering for an afternoon picture book reading followed by simple craft activities for kids. 16 September, 15:30, OBA Oosterdok, OBA Juniortheater. 📅 STORY / READING
English drama, dance, and costumes for toddlers on Overtoom: Weekly parent-and-child drama sessions using mime, songs, and dressing up around a fresh theme each Wednesday morning. 16 September, AnaMorphic Studio, Overtoom 301, Oud West. 📅 KIDS WORKSHOP
Roblox game design for kids at Maakplaats: Children build obstacles, script simple game mechanics, and test their own playable levels using Roblox Studio. 16 September, 14:30, OBA Molenwijk Maakplaats. 📅 KIDS WORKSHOP
Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique under Klaus Mäkelä: Chief conductor designate Klaus Mäkelä conducts Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique alongside Schumann's First Symphony, with drinks included. 16 September, 8:15 PM - 10:20 PM, The Concertgebouw, Main Hall. 📅 CLASSICAL
Bossa nova and folk storytelling from Liana Flores: A solo record store performance of gentle melodies and acoustic songwriting celebrating her new EP release. 16 September, 17:00, Concerto. 📅 SINGER-SONGWRITER
Muze van Zuid free midday classical concert: Thirty uninterrupted minutes of chamber music by Henkemans and Spee, played by piano, strings and double bass. 16 September, 12:30 - 13:00, The Concertgebouw, Recital Hall. 📅 CLASSICAL
Pianissimo: meditative vibraphone and electronics at Splendor: Mindful listening opens a set blending Indian raga, Terry Riley's In C, Stockhausen, percussion, and live electronics. 16 September, 19:30, Splendor. 📅 CLASSICAL
Holly Humberstone and Nell Mescal in the Main Hall: English songwriter Holly Humberstone brings her tour to town, with support from singer Nell Mescal opening the evening. 16 September, 19:30, Paradiso. 📅 POP / ROCK
Sit in on a Nederlands Philharmonisch midday rehearsal: Conductor Adam Hickox leads an hour of preparatory work before the programme heads to Het Concertgebouw. 16 September, 12:00 - 13:00, NedPhO-Koepel. 📅 CLASSICAL
Bath singer-songwriter Mulaa Joans in the Clubzaal: London-based teenager brings her blend of contemporary R&B and indie pop melodies north of the IJ. 16 September, 19:30, Tolhuistuin, Clubzaal. 📅 POP / ROCK
Ukrainian indie rockers Latexfauna play live in Amsterdam: Loud guitars, melodic indie riffs and synth-laced punk fill the room for this touring headline show. 16 September, 20:00, Toekomstmuziek. 📅 POP / ROCK
Benjamin Herman jazz set and open jam: A live band kicks off the night before local players step up to jam together on stage. 16 September, 21:00, Sociëteit de Kring. 📅 JAZZ / BLUES
Chanson from Brel to Strategier with guests: Singer David Vos and guitarist Joeri de Graaf share the stage with invited guest artists for an acoustic set. 16 September, 20:00, Theater de Roode Bioscoop. 📅 SINGER-SONGWRITER
Daniel Szalai's Novogen exhibition opens at Droog: Individual portraits of 166 laboratory-bred hens explore how the pharmaceutical industry relies on industrialised animal life. 16 September, 10:00 - 17:00, Droog. 📅 ART / MUSEUMS
Vogelringdagen op Forteiland Pampus: Researchers catch, band, and release migrating wild birds while explaining flight paths to ferry visitors on the island. 16 September, 10:30 - 14:00, Forteiland Pampus. 📅 ART / MUSEUMS
West Beach Film Festival opens beside the Sloterplas: Open-air lakeside screenings, food stalls, and neighbourhood workshops run across five free evenings on the western waterfront. 16 September, Buurtwerkplaats Noorderhof, President Allendelaan 1. 📅 FESTIVALS
Mamamonologen: raw reflections on motherhood at Tolhuistuin: Monologue mixes with audience interaction and guided reflections to unravel the varied inner realities of raising children. 16 September, 20:00, Tolhuistuin, Tuinhuis. 📅 THEATER
Verhaal op zaal: curator tour of central bank currency: Walk behind the scenes with a curator through Roman coins, early notes, and modern money in the vault. 16 September, 10:00, De Nederlandsche Bank. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Live actors improvise against trained AI at Boom Chicago: Scripted sketches, live music and unscripted comedy clash onstage directly with an interactive machine model. 16 September, 20:00, Boom Chicago. 📅 COMEDY
Timelapse Borobudur cultural photography exhibition on view: Cultural photography documenting the ancient temple complex fills the rooms of the Indonesian cultural centre. 16 September, 09:00 - 17:00, Indonesia House Amsterdam, Cultureel centrum. 📅 ART / MUSEUMS
American stand-up comic Kyle Dunnigan live at Comedytrain: A night of live English-language comedy downstairs in the club, headlined by the visiting American stand-up comic. 16 September, 20:30, Comedytrain. 📅 COMEDY
Castilla y León Proeverij at Muziekgebouw: Sample regional Spanish cheeses, cured meats and vintage pours from twenty-six visiting winemakers across the afternoon. 16 September, 11:00, Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. 📅 TASTING
Paint a contemporary still life in impressionist style: Study brushwork across the permanent galleries before heading to the studio to paint modern scenes using impressionist techniques. 16 September, Van Gogh Museum. 📅 WORKSHOP
Poetry writing in the IJzaal on human nature: Writers gather upstairs in the IJzaal for an evening dedicated to composing verse around the natural world. 16 September, 19:30, Pakhuis de Zwijger. 📅 WORKSHOP
Tour the workshops at TechInc's social evening: Curious newcomers can check out the equipment, chat with resident makers and split takeaway food together. 16 September, 19:00, TechInc hackerspace at ACTA. 📅 SOCIAL / DRINKS
Dungeons & Dragons Night at ABC Amsterdam: Pick a ready-made character sheet off the bookshop stacks and roll dice with guest masters all evening. 16 September, 18:30-22:00, The American Book Center. 📅 GAMES / HOBBIES
Hands-on West African drumming with Djembé-ensembles: Grab an instrument from the rack or bring your own to learn traditional rhythms across all experience levels. 16 September, 19:00, studio PXP. 📅 WORKSHOP
Midweek Crisis Drinks informal expat social on the Overtoom: An easy drop-in social taking over most of the bar floor, welcoming newcomers and longtime residents alike. 16 September, 19:30, Café Kompleet. 📅 SOCIAL / DRINKS
Mystery bar crawl across Amsterdam West: A small group tours three surprise neighbourhood spots together, with one drink covered at each stop. 16 September, 19:00, Amsterdam-West. 📅 SOCIAL / DRINKS
Amsterdam Startup Pitch Competition at Nes 50: Founders present three-minute live pitches directly to a seated panel of early-stage investors and business operators. 16 September, 18:30, Nes 50. 📅 NETWORKING
Build together at the final SNUG Hackathon: Local platform developers gather for a collaborative coding evening with drinks and food provided on site. 16 September, 17:00, KPMG Amstelveen. 📅 WORKSHOP / TRAINING
Weekly Meeten en Drinken with Appsterdam: Local makers and tech workers meet for low-key drinks and conversation at Cafe Bax, with no scheduled talks. 16 September, 19:00, Café Bax. 📅 SOCIAL / DRINKS
Nail Your Dutch Interview: live practice for professionals: Ten international workers spend most of the evening running mock interviews to build practical confidence in Dutch. 16 September, 17:45, Ace Consulting, WTC Amsterdam, Tower One. 📅 WORKSHOP / TRAINING
TEDxAmsterdam Conversations: The Role of Spaces: Designers and researchers debate the future of public, digital, and living spaces before drinks and mingling. 16 September, 17:30, Sir Adam. 📅 SEMINAR / TALK
Who Owns A Good Idea? at Café Belcampo: Forty-five minutes examining copyright, creative ownership, and generative artificial intelligence, followed by an open discussion with the room. 16 September, 17:00, Café Belcampo. 📅 SEMINAR / TALK
Demos, pizza and Claude Code at AI Builders Amsterdam: Founders and engineers share live tool walkthroughs before talking agent frameworks over slices and drinks. 16 September, 17:30 - 21:00, StartDock Coworking Prins Hendrikkade. 📅 NETWORKING
Agentic AI in the Wild developer evening at Adyen: Software engineers gather for practical presentations on AI agent integration, security protocols, and scaling systems into production. 16 September, 17:00, Adyen. 📅 SEMINAR / TALK
PWN Netherlands Autumn Social on the waterfront: Internationally minded professionals and entrepreneurs gather for drinks, light bites and conversation overlooking the IJ. 16 September, 19:00 - 21:00, Eye Bar & Restaurant. 📅 NETWORKING
The Seafood Bar - Beurs van Berlage: Set inside the Beurs van Berlage, this central seafood spot serves the restaurant's signature menu of fresh fish, seafood platters, and glasses of bubbly.
Transit: The cafe at Skatepark NOORD has reopened with Beef Chief making the burgers. Visitors will find a revamped interior, a new sound system, and a bigger terrace.
Cafe cafe: Taking over the former Amstel1 and Dantzig space along the Amstel River, this new spot serves breakfast, lunch, drinks, and dinner, complete with late-night dancing.
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: Baylen Out Loud (HBO Max), She's All That (Netflix), CoComelon Playdates with Sanrio Friends (Disney+), 26F Seeking Friend (Prime Video)
New on the big screen: The Plague arrives at 9 cinemas, and Queen at Sea opens Sunday at 8 cinemas. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: A thread featuring an original hand drawing of a garage specializing in Citroën 2CVs in Amsterdam-Noord drew praise from locals, who recalled the business from its previous location next to the former Hells Angels clubhouse and lamented the disappearance of traditional car workshops from the city.
Today's supermarket deals: AH French double cream brie 60+ (3 for €6.00) from Albert Heijn, All Grand'Italia (2e halve prijs) from Jumbo.
Did you know? Spinoza was expelled from Amsterdam’s Portuguese-Jewish community in 1656 under an unusually severe ban that was never rescinded.
447 years ago today: On September 16th, 1579, physician-playwright Samuel Coster was born in Amsterdam. He later helped found the Eerste Nederduytsche Academie, combining theatre with public education in Dutch.
In case you missed it
Our three most clicked-on items from yesterday’s newsletter.
In tomorrow’s edition: A Verhoeven talk and RoboCop screening take over Eye Filmmuseum, the GLUE design route opens across the city, and Amadou & Mariam perform at Melkweg.
Have a great Wednesday.
Running something in Amsterdam? Tell us about it and we will take a look.
The low September sun is back over the water after the morning mist clears.
Want to make sure you never miss a day of Essentially Amsterdam? Subscribe here.