Wednesday October 7, 2026
Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: the cabinet proposes banning phones from schools starting in January, Strand IJburg closes until May for renovation, and two pianists perform one story together at Pianoduo Festival Amsterdam.
At a glance
🌦️ Weather: Hi 21°C / 71°F (about the same as yesterday) · Lo 15°C / 58°F · 15% chance of rain · wind NE 21 km/h (11 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Dry until about 20:00, wet after that.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 07:51 · Sunset 19:03 · Waning Crescent · Moonrise 03:41 · Golden hour 18:33 to 19:03
🌊 Outdoors: Air quality moderate (AQI 45) · grass pollen low
💶 Markets: AEX 1,128 (+0.4%) · S&P 500 7,827 (+0.7%) · €1 = $1.13 · $1 = €0.89
No phones at school from January, cabinet proposes: A cabinet proposal asks all primary and secondary schools to ban phones on school grounds. The plan also takes aim at family vlogs and scrolling time, but schools cannot be forced to comply.
Strand IJburg closes until May, will return smaller: IJburg's city beach closed on 1 October and will move closer to the Pampuslaan over the winter. Much of the current site is needed to build a new lock and water barrier.
Two pianists, one story at Pianoduo Festival Amsterdam: The Pianoduo Festival Amsterdam runs from 8 to 11 October at several venues in the city. It is devoted to music for two pianists, on one piano or two.
Booking.com asks court to order Amsterdam staff into office: The company wants its 7,000 head office employees to work on site at least two days a week. Its works council has refused to approve the change, saying there is no business case.
Unhealthy food outlets surround 94% of secondary schools, Amsterdam UMC finds: Research by Amsterdam UMC finds the food on offer in ten Dutch cities, Amsterdam among them, has become less healthy over a decade. Of the neighbourhoods studied, 77% scored worse than in 2014.
Children's Book Week: Stories, Harp Music and a Family Workshop: Free with museum admission, this family programme pairs a reading about Yaa with harp and kora music and an open creative workshop. 7 October, 12:00 - 16:00, Het Scheepvaartmuseum. FAMILY SHOW
SoundLAB Holiday Edition: Kids Make Electronic Music: At this holiday workshop, children aged 7 - 12 explore SoundLAB instruments, create an electronic music piece with a partner, and perform it for family and friends. 7 October, all day, Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ. KIDS WORKSHOP
Krakeling with the Little Ones: Interactive Theatre for Toddlers: A teacher leads parents and children aged two and up through monthly themed games using theatre, dance or music. 7 October, 10:00, Krakeling. FAMILY SHOW
The Princess with the Big Bottom, a show for small children: Each showing suits a different age band, from one-year-olds up to nine, and booking goes through the theatre's online form. 7 October, De Toverknol - Kindertheater. FAMILY SHOW
Free face painting for Kinderboekenweek on the Rokin: During the Dutch children's book week, kids aged three and up get painted as tigers, unicorns, superheroes or fairy-tale figures upstairs. 7 October, 15:00 - 17:00, Boekhandel Scheltema. KIDS WORKSHOP
Taba Chake Live: Songs in Four Languages: The singer, composer and fingerstyle guitarist performs songs in English, Hindi, Assamese and Nyishi, with the show conducted in English and Hindi. 7 October, 19:00, Comedy Cafe. DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Benjamin Herman's Jazz Set Opens a De Kring Jam: His band plays first, then the evening opens into a jam session, with tickets available at the door and member concessions. 7 October, 21:00, De Kring. DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Free Wednesday Lunch Concerts on the Westerkerk's Historic Organ: Evan Bogerd and guest organists play Bach and improvise on the monumental Duyschot organ, with a screen showing the performer. 7 October, 13:00 - 13:30, Westerkerk. DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Open Jam Session with Gianluca: Funk, Pop and Rock: Musicians meet for an open session spanning funk, pop and rock, with the night running through to the early hours. 7 October, 20:30, Waterhole. DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Piano Nights: Two Pianists, Two Repertoires, Two Pianos: Eric Christian and Nino Gvetadze each play a different repertoire on two pianos; drinks follow, and the concert uses strobe effects. 7 October, 20:15 - 21:45, Het Concertgebouw - Main Hall. DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Hear free classical music over apple pie in Oost: Billed as classical music for everyone, the afternoon is free, doors open at 13:45 and you sign up by phone or email. 7 October, 14:00, Podium Genieten. DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Steward Ownership Festival Amsterdam (SOFA) on Mission-Led Business: Entrepreneurs, investors, policy makers, academics and artists discuss ownership where stewards retain control and profits serve the company's mission. 7 October, 09:00 - 17:00, Kromhouthal. FESTIVALS
Positive Tourism Festival: Rethinking Amsterdam's Visitor Economy: Across two days, participants consider a more balanced visitor economy that gives back; the programme is in English. 7 October, Pakhuis de Zwijger. FESTIVALS
My Brother's Keeper: Cain and Abel, Told Across Borders: An Israeli and an Iranian storyteller use Cain and Abel, live duduk, percussion and voice to examine belonging, division and friendship. 7 October, 20:30 - 21:45, MEZRAB | The House of Stories. STORY / READING
Andy Warhol: The Textiles and His Early Fabric Designs: More than 60 fabrics designed in the 1950s and early 1960s show Warhol's work for fashion and interiors before fame. 7 October, Cobra Museum. ART / MUSEUMS
No Home of Your Own: Social Housing and the Housing Crisis: An exhibition traces social housing and today's housing crisis through an interactive timeline, archival footage, protest posters and artworks. 7 October, 11.00 - 17.00, Museum Het Schip. ART / MUSEUMS
Four Sculptors in a Former Hidden Church Studio: Free entry to see Pjotr Müller, Frank Mandersloot, Adriaan Rees and Olle Stjerne's sculpture in Cornelius Rogge's former studio. 7 October, 13:00 - 18:00, Garnalenkerk. ART / MUSEUMS
Free World Press Photo Exhibition 2026 Guided Tour: A World Press Photo staff member guides visitors through the exhibition; registration is required, and admission is included with an exhibition ticket. 7 October, 15:00, De Nieuwe Kerk. TOUR
Free Wood Art Route: 34 Sculptures Across Amsterdam's Centre: A 2.1-kilometre walk passes 34 sculptures carved by 64 artists from felled city trees, with four additional works off-route. 7 October, all day, City centre walking route (start Roeterstraat 12). TOUR
Lita Cabellut x Goya: The Follies in Paintings and Prints: Twenty-two monumental works by Cabellut, including paintings, sculptures and installations, enter into dialogue with Goya's 22 etchings. 7 October, all day, Museum JAN. ART / MUSEUMS
Over 200 ancient pieces in Glass, Made in Antiquity: Modern pieces by Bert Frijns and Emmy van de Grift sit beside the ancient glass, studied with TU Delft using X-rays. 7 October, all day, Allard Pierson. ART / MUSEUMS
Craft Club: Botanical Textile Colouring with Natural Pigments: Flowers, leaves, roots and Indonesian djamu ingredients leave natural patterns on a cotton tote bag, with materials and tools provided. 7 October, 18:30 - 20:30, Stretch and Fold. WORKSHOP
Free Volunteer Afternoon in De Ceuvel's Soil-Cleaning Park: Adults help prune, sow or take soil samples around the former shipyard, learning how plants can support cleaner soil and biodiversity. 7 October, 13:30, De Ceuvel. VOLUNTEERING
Ecstatic Dance Amsterdam XL with Kareem Raïhani: A continuous DJ set blends organic beats, world music and electronics, with barefoot dancing, no floor talk and phones away. 7 October, 19:30, Pllek. DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Weekly Clothing Swaps at Marineterrein's Studio de Kat: Bring clothes you no longer wear and take home other pieces, in a neighbourhood exchange run with local volunteers. 7 October, Marineterrein. FOOD / MARKETS
Turn Old Clothes or Shoes into Something New: Bring jeans, a jacket or shoes to customise with textile paint, embroidery, beads, glitter or patches; no experience is needed. 7 October, 19:30, Amsterdam House of Arts & Crafts. WORKSHOP
Amsterdam Art & Wine: Beginner Watercolor with Wine: Step-by-step guidance covers basic watercolor techniques, with paints, brushes and paper provided and wine, tea or coffee available. 7 October, 19:45, Jordaan Art studio. WORKSHOP
Jenever Hour: Two Dutch Spirits and Their Stories: Free for hotel guests, the hour includes two jenever tastings, brief histories and a choice of styles, with unlimited refills. 7 October, 17:00, Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht. FOOD / MARKETS
Brasserie Lenny: Modern French brasserie serving bistro classics in a relaxed setting.
Vinfou: Small French-inspired venue with an extensive wine list and daily plat du jour or snacks.
Café Loco: Casual café serving coffee and sandwiches.
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: Inception (Prime Video), Agnelli (HBO Max), Last Christmas (SkyShowtime), Medusa (Netflix)
New on the big screen: Club Kid opens Sunday at 6 cinemas, and Yellow Letters arrives at 5 cinemas. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: Dutch people outside Amsterdam resent the city, reflecting universal resentment toward major cities.
Today's supermarket deals: Perla Huisblends Aroma coffee beans (2+1 free) from Albert Heijn, Alle Pink Lady's (25% off) from Jumbo.
Did you know? Ets Haim - Livraria Montezinos in Amsterdam is the oldest still-active Jewish library in the world, with printed works dating back to 1484.
74 years ago today: On October 7th, 1952, Queen Juliana officially opened Tuinstad Slotermeer, Amsterdam’s first western garden city outside the Ringspoordijk.
Looking ahead – next week
The bigger things coming up in Amsterdam over the next seven days.
• Children's Book Week · Wednesday 30 September to Sunday 11 October, Across Amsterdam
• IJ-Hallen Flea Market · Saturday 10 October to Sunday 11 October, NDSM-werf
• ZuiderMRKT Food Market · Saturday 10 October, ZuiderMRKT
• Cinekid Film Festival · Saturday 10 October to Friday 16 October, Pathé Amsterdam Noord
• 24 Hours Amsterdam-Zuid · Saturday 10 October to Sunday 11 October, Amsterdam-Zuid
• Amsterdam Marathon Expo · Thursday 15 October to Saturday 17 October, Entrance K
In case you missed it
Our three most clicked-on items from yesterday’s newsletter.
In tomorrow’s edition: Jason Moran performs solo at Het Concertgebouw, Yaelokre takes the stage at Melkweg, and Fontaines D.C. holds a listening session at Concerto.
Have a great Wednesday.
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