Wednesday September 23, 2026
Good morning, Amsterdam. Today: early social network Hyves returns to screens after 13 years, Hortus Botanicus opens late for a rare giant water lily bloom, and Vanessa Paradis sings French pop at Melkweg.
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 21°C / 69°F (about the same as yesterday) · Lo 15°C / 59°F · 8% chance of rain · wind SW 23 km/h (12 knots)
🚲 Cycling: Mostly fine, a shower is possible.
🌙 Sun & moon: Sunrise 07:27 · Sunset 19:36 · Waxing Gibbous · Moonrise 18:32 · Golden hour 19:06 to 19:36
🌊 Outdoors: Air quality moderate (AQI 44) · grass pollen low
💶 Markets: AEX 1,102 (+0.7%) · S&P 500 7,765 (-0.0%) · €1 = $1.15 · $1 = €0.87
Hyves returns to Dutch screens after 13 years: Publisher Mediahuis is relaunching the nostalgic Dutch social network with classic features like profile customization. The revamped platform aims to offer an alternative without intrusive algorithms or endless scrolling.
Heineken prepares €350 million British pub purchase: The Amsterdam brewer is poised to acquire 300 locations from the UK's largest operator. The seller is offloading venues to cut debt following years of rising costs.
Hortus Botanicus opens late for giant water lily: The rare Victoria water lily is blooming in the botanical garden's heated outdoor pond. The garden is extending its hours tonight because the flower only opens in the dark.
Baarsjesweg faces year of phased road closures: Work between Surinamestraat and Nepveusstraat begins on Monday and runs until late next year. The street will be rebuilt section by section to replace pipes and create a waterside promenade.
Extra fee on non-EU parcels from November: European Union countries will add a 2 euro handling fee to goods ordered from outside the bloc. Companies bear the charge directly, but the costs are expected to reach shoppers.
Nemo Science Museum hosts interactive deepfake challenge: Visitors will learn how to spot synthetic media and unmask automated players in an online gaming group. The autumn holiday programme features research from Dutch forensic scientists and the local university.
Muzieklessen voor Kleuters at Splendor: Young children experiment with real instruments and compose their own short pieces across a nine-week introductory course. 23 September, 16:00, Splendor. 📅 KIDS WORKSHOP
APP & Friends Co-Feeding Circle for new parents: A relaxed peer support morning led by a postpartum doula, open whether you use bottle, breast, or pump. 23 September, 11:00 - 12:30, OBA Oosterdok - Public Library. 📅 KIDS WORKSHOP
Outdoor family afternoon at Speelboscafé: Parents and young children gather outdoors in the Noorderpark play forest for a relaxed Wednesday afternoon cafe meetup. 23 September, 13:00, Noorderpark. 📅 OUTDOOR / ACTIVE
Free Dutch children's theatre with spider hero Anansi: A free forty-minute Dutch production brings Iven Cudogham's picture-book trickster to life on stage for children aged two and up. 23 September, 15:30, Theater van Deyssel. 📅 FAMILY SHOW
Build recycled marble runs at Wondere Woensdagen Workshops: Kids aged five and older turn cardboard boxes, tubes, and bottles into homemade runs alongside an accompanying adult. 23 September, 13:00 - 15:30, De Passage, De Hallen Amsterdam. 📅 KIDS WORKSHOP
Felt landscape crafting for young children: Children cut and assemble colourful miniature landscapes using felt sheets, pipe cleaners, and glue. 23 September, 15:00 - 16:00, De Kinderboekwinkel. 📅 KIDS WORKSHOP
Free midday early music with the International Van Wassenaer Competition: Talented early music ensembles deliver a brisk thirty-minute recital requiring reserved tickets, open to ages six and up. 23 September, 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM, The Concertgebouw, Recital Hall. 📅 CLASSICAL
Italian verismo double bill Pagliacci and Cavalleria rusticana: Director Robert Carsen flips the traditional running order for this three-hour staged production sung entirely in Italian. 23 September, 19:30, Nationale Opera & Ballet, Grote Zaal. 📅 CLASSICAL
French chanson and pop with Vanessa Paradis in the MAX room: A live set by the French pop icon with support from Donna Blue, currently sold out. 23 September, 19:00, Melkweg. 📅 THEATER
Rising Stars: cellist Petar Pejčić pays tribute to Rostropovich: Serbian cellist Petar Pejčić and pianist Nour Ayadi play Prokofiev, Shostakovich, and Rostropovich without an interval. 23 September, 20:15, The Concertgebouw. 📅 CLASSICAL
Douwe Bob plays material from his seventh studio album: Dutch singer-songwriter pop fills the main room, with support from fellow songwriter Melle opening the night. 23 September, 19:30, Paradiso (Main Hall. 📅 POP / ROCK
Instrumental hip-hop triple bill at Bitterzoet: Three underground producers share the bill, pairing cinematic downtempo beats and collaborative tracks with synchronized live visuals. 23 September, 19:00, Bitterzoet. 📅 HIP-HOP / R&B
Dual drum kits and pedal boards with Grote Geelstaart: The Dutch outfit packs Paradiso's upstairs room with heavy percussion and effects pedals on their headline club tour. 23 September, 19:30, Paradiso Upstairs Room. 📅 POP / ROCK
Verven met planten: Children aged six to twelve can learn eco-printing at Kinderpret in the Binnenprettuin, boiling garden flowers and leaves over an open fire to dye textiles. 23 September. 📅 WORKSHOP
Amsterdam Museum Festival marks one hundred years: Workshops, depot tours, walks, and resident portrait displays run across the city for the museum's centenary. 23 September, Amsterdam Museum. 📅 FESTIVALS
Micha Wertheim: Voor iedereen at De Kleine Komedie: A solo Dutch cabaret performance taking the main stage along the Amstel, with tickets currently listed as sold out. 23 September, 20:15, De Kleine Komedie. 📅 COMEDY
My Hero Academia anime arena concert with live orchestra: A live ensemble plays Yuki Hayashi's orchestral score synchronised alongside giant projection screens displaying pivotal scenes from the anime. 23 September, AFAS Live. 📅 FILM
The Transformation of the Writer in Times of War at SPUI25: An early-evening academic panel considering how active geopolitical conflict reshapes personal creative output and literary responsibility. 23 September, 17:00, SPUI25. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Afro-Curaçaoan spirituality and history explored in Echoes of Africa: Author Bob Harms discusses his research on generational heritage alongside spoken word, live music and an open book signing. 23 September, 18:30 - 21:00, OBA Oosterdok. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Derek Mitchell's sold-out comedy night Double Dutch: Derek Mitchell brings his solo character comedy hour to the theater hall for a fully booked evening. 23 September, 18:30, Podium Mozaïek. 📅 THEATER
Weekly variety night De Mus at Torpedo Theater: Four guests spanning comedy, music, visual art, and local projects take turns on stage for short sets and interviews. 23 September, 20:15, Torpedo Theater. 📅 THEATER
Generational legacy debate De bende van de babyboomers: Economists, sociologists, and younger thinkers debate the long-term societal inheritance left behind by postwar generations. 23 September, 19:30, De Balie. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Open Stage Storytelling Night with bowls of soup: Anyone can step up to share a personal tale, alongside warm soup and two impromptu walk-up slots. 23 September, 20:00, Mezrab. 📅 THEATER
We Jazz Magazine launch for issue 20 with editor Matti Nives: Drop into the newsagent shop to celebrate the new issue with its editor on hand. 23 September, 17:00, Athenaeum Boekhandel & Nieuwscentrum. 📅 ART / MUSEUMS
Award-winning Japanese drama Kokuho with English subtitles: Sang-il Lee's multi-award-winning drama follows two young men who dedicate their entire lives to traditional kabuki theater. 23 September, 20:00, Het Ketelhuis. 📅 FILM
Journalist Bram Vermeulen addresses Nationale Vredesweek 2026: Correspondent Bram Vermeulen speaks on peace and action inside the church, followed by audience drinks. 23 September, 19:30, De Duif. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Shanghai Ballet fields forty-eight swans in Derek Deane's Swan Lake: Twice the usual corps de ballet fills the circular arena stage for Derek Deane's large-scale staging of Tchaikovsky's classic. 23 September, Koninklijk Theater Carré. 📅 DANCE / PERFORMANCE
Natural textile dyeing for kids at Binnenprettuin: Children gather garden leaves and flowers to simmer over an open fire, printing organic patterns onto light cotton clothes. 23 September, 15:00, Binnenprettuin achter de OCCII. 📅 WORKSHOP
BioBlitz: Bodemdieren hands-on survey at Pakhuis de Zwijger: Participants head outside with magnifiers to record local soil invertebrates, contributing live data to a seasonal biodiversity inventory. 23 September, 16:00, Pakhuis de Zwijger. 📅 WORKSHOP
Harvest vegetables and herbs at Sociale Buurtvoedseltuin: Neighbours garden together alongside Buurthuis het Anker, growing food and flowers destined for local community meal projects. 23 September, 10:00 - 12:30, Sociale Voedseltuin, naast Buurthuis het Anker in het Noorderpark. 📅 VOLUNTEERING
Tech Inc open hackerspace social night: Makers, coders, and hardware enthusiasts drop by the workshop to chat, share projects, and tinker together. 23 September, 19:00, Techinc. 📅 SOCIAL / DRINKS
Skip the apps at The Blind Date Night: Organisers pre-match attendees for a direct one-on-one sit-down over drinks without speed dating or app swiping involved. 23 September, 20:00, Noorderlicht NDSM. 📅 SOCIAL / DRINKS
Dutch Stories circle on empathy and neighborhood life: Intermediate Dutch speakers gather to share personal experiences around community living, guided through structured conversation without formal debates. 23 September, 19:00 - 21:00, CC Amstel. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Erik Wildschut's farewell VekoDiner after forty years: A final three-course community vegan dinner served cash-only as the long-running cook retires from the kitchen. 23 September, 18:00, Zaal 100. 📅 FOOD / MARKETS
Handmade pasta making and shared Sicilian dinner: Twelve participants shape two styles of fresh pasta, prepare Sicilian sauces, and sit down together over food and drinks. 23 September, 18:00, La Bottega by Chiara's Food. 📅 WORKSHOP
The English Bookclub discusses C.J. Cooper's thriller: Readers gather among the shop shelves to unpack C.J. Cooper's novel over a relaxed evening discussion. 23 September, 18:30 - 20:00, The English Bookshop. 📅 GAMES / HOBBIES
Play international championship greens inside golf simulators at Club Birdies: Indoor digital bays let novices and regular players swing through virtual global courses without needing clubs or prior membership. 23 September, 10:00 - 00:00, Club Birdies. 📅 GAMES / HOBBIES
Assembly in Motion: Screenings and mixer for local filmmakers: Screenings of short films under seven minutes lead into commercial showreels and informal industry drinks. 23 September, 19:30 - 22:30, LAB111. 📅 NETWORKING
Engineering leadership talks on managing technical workflows with AI: Presentations on development velocity and testing consistency lead into rooftop networking drinks for technical directors and leads. 23 September, 17:15, StartupDock Coworking Singel. 📅 SEMINAR / TALK
Unstructured founder drinks during HumanX Europe: Founders meet for quiet evening drinks without any formal agenda, keynote speeches, or scheduled stage programming. 23 September, 16:00, speakeasy bar. 📅 NETWORKING
The Things Conference convenes IoT and Edge AI engineers: Engineers and product leads gather across workshops, hardware demos and an expansive device gallery focusing on low-power connected technology. 23 September, 09:00, De Kromhouthal. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Early-stage startups pitch to investors at Side Quest Bar: Selected founders each get eight minutes to present their venture, followed directly by questions from the room. 23 September, 18:00, Side Quest Bar. 📅 NETWORKING
AI Ethics discussion on navigating EU regulations: Founders and engineers sit down with a legally trained specialist to unpick practical compliance requirements over dinner. 23 September, 19:00, De Plantage. 📅 TALKS / IDEAS
Saint Jean Deli: Located on Lindengracht across from its original bakery, this deli serves specialty coffee, vegan pastries, savory sandwiches, and natural wines.
RIJKS 2.0: Chef Joris Bijdendijk has reopened this classic spot on Museumstraat. Guests will find a redesigned interior alongside a refreshed menu of inventive new dishes.
't Westerhuys: Set on the Prinsengracht beneath the Westerkerk in Centrum, this spot serves old-fashioned Dutch fare. It welcomes visitors all day long, beginning with breakfast.
Good to know
New on Dutch streaming: The Last Mountain (SkyShowtime), Obarnata elha (Netflix), 90 Day: The Last Resort (HBO Max), Sherlock (Disney+)
New on the big screen: Dear You opens Friday at Pathé Arena and Vue Amsterdam, and Mother arrives at Het Ketelhuis and Rialto De Pijp. Showtimes here.
Overheard on Reddit: A thread by an educated professional navigating welfare benefits for the first time drew sympathy from others in the same position, though commenters differed on whether the city would help them find work matching their background or push them into any available low-skilled job.
Today's supermarket deals: AH Fresh pizza American spicy salami (2 for €12.00) from Albert Heijn, All Fuze Tea (2+1 free) from Jumbo.
Did you know? For ice-skating on the canals to be safe, temperatures must be below zero for a full week and the ice must be at least 7 centimeters thick - the last time this happened was in 2018.
40 years ago today: On September 23rd, 1986, Het Muziektheater Amsterdam opened on Waterlooplein, the building now home to Dutch National Opera & Ballet.
In case you missed it
Our three most clicked-on items from yesterday’s newsletter.
In tomorrow’s edition: The Netherlands plays Germany at Johan Cruijff ArenA, HumanX brings global AI leaders to RAI Amsterdam, and Schubert's Trout Quintet is unboxed at The Concertgebouw.
Have a great Wednesday.
Running something in Amsterdam? Tell us about it and we will take a look.
Autumn begins to show itself along the canals as the late-blooming water lilies take their turn.
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