☀️ Essentially Amsterdam for Sunday, June 28: Storm hits Amsterdam hard

A storm floods the city and kills a concert, affordable homes drop to just 4% of sales, and 5,000 microcars have the city stumped.

Rijkswaterstaat outage disrupts bridges, tunnels, and locks nationwide: A major systems failure at the national infrastructure agency is affecting the operation of bridges, locks, and tunnels across the country. June 27.

Storm floods streets, sparks roof fire, and knocks out city infrastructure: Heavy storms hit Amsterdam on June 28, bringing citywide flooding, water damage, and a lightning-caused roof fire in De Pijp. The KNMI had issued a code orange warning ahead of the severe weather. June 28, Amsterdam.

City council demands answers on VUmc closure after years of denials: Amsterdam's city council is pressing the municipal government to explain the announced closure of VUmc hospital, which officials repeatedly denied was planned, as recently as earlier this year.

Only 4% of Amsterdam homes now sell for under €250,000: In 2016, 40% of homes sold in Amsterdam were priced below €250,000; today that figure has fallen to just 4%, according to data from appraisal firm Calcasa.

EU scraps duty-free exemption on cheap parcels from outside the bloc: Starting July 1, the EU is replacing the duty-free threshold on low-cost imports with a temporary €3 customs charge per parcel. July 1.

Amsterdam has 5,000 microcars and no clear plan for them: The city is grappling with a growing fleet of roughly 5,000 microcars, compact vehicles that don't fit neatly into existing parking or traffic policy. Amsterdam.

Garbage barge stuck in Negen Straatjes for a month, neighbors fed up: A stranded waste barge has been parked in the Negen Straatjes area for about a month, drawing complaints from nearby residents about persistent noise and odor. Negen Straatjes, Amsterdam.

Watching the Dutch team at a café? No drinks on the sidewalk, says the city: Amsterdam is not allowing bars and cafés to serve drinks outside during Dutch national team matches, putting a damper on street-side viewing crowds. June 28, Amsterdam.

Amsterdam's bird brigade is fighting to bring sparrows back to the city: A dedicated group of volunteers is touring Amsterdam's neighborhoods to monitor and support urban bird populations, with house sparrows a particular focus. Amsterdam.

Rope-swingers claim the Pythonbrug on hot days: When temperatures rise, the Pythonbrug connecting Sporenburg and Borneo Island becomes an unofficial diving spot, with some visitors adding ropes for extra airtime before hitting the water. Pythonbrug, Sporenburg.

Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak host afterparty at Jimmy Woo: Following four sold-out shows at Johan Cruijff Arena, Bruno Mars and Anderson Paak will host an afterparty at nightclub Jimmy Woo. July 5, Jimmy Woo.

Harry Styles fans are mailing Het Parool's newsroom their papers: Fans of Harry Styles have been sending copies of Het Parool to the newspaper's mailroom, apparently inspired by coverage connected to his Amsterdam shows. Het Parool, Amsterdam.

Severe storm cuts Lil Kleine concert short at Olympisch Stadion: The Lil Kleine show at Olympisch Stadion was stopped after 10 p.m. due to dangerous weather conditions, following a code orange warning from the KNMI. Olympisch Stadion, Amsterdam.

Kids Workshop

SoundLAB workshop at Muziekgebouw: Kids 7 and up explore unusual instruments alongside a grown-up in this hands-on workshop. Last tickets available; €10–€13.50. June 28 from 13:00, Muziekgebouw.

Family Show

Dikkie Dik movie celebration party: A children's party celebrating the beloved Dutch cat character's return to the big screen, with free or low-cost admission. June 28, Theater de Omval, Ouddiemerlaan 104.

De Film van Rutger, Thomas & Paco 2: Rutger, Thomas, and their dog Paco are back, this time Paco suddenly turns into a cat, kicking off a new silly adventure. June 28, Theater de Omval.

Outdoor / Active

Kids pool meetup in Vondelpark: A casual family hangout at the Vondelpark children's paddling pool, bring snacks, drinks, and a blanket. Note: rain chances around 50%. June 28 from 11:00, Speelvijfer kinderbadje, Vondelpark.

Museum / Educational

Council of the Raven at Wereldmuseum Amsterdam: This interactive exhibition for kids 6 and up runs through the day with accessibility facilities on site. Tickets required. June 28, 10:00–17:00, Wereldmuseum Amsterdam.

Festival / Fair

Ruigkids family afternoon at Ruigoord: A family and kids program at the creative enclave of Ruigoord, west of the city center. June 28 from 12:00, Ruigoord.

MINIVROG trampoline session for toddlers: A dedicated jump session for children ages 2–5 at VROG's Nieuwmarkt location. June 28, 09:30–11:30, VROG Trampoline, Centrum.

Music / Concerts

Children's concert with Ome Mirjam and Broer Joep: A morning kids concert featuring the duo Ome Mirjam and Broer Joep at community venue QRU. June 28, 10:00–12:30, QRU, Spaklerweg.

Animalia Amsterdam: animal portraits mini exhibition: A small, accessible exhibition of animal portraits at the Grachtenmuseum, running on multiple daily time slots. Tickets required. June 28, Grachtenmuseum Amsterdam.

Peter Guidi Jazz Marathon at Bimhuis: A multi-day jazz series at Bimhuis opens with emerging musicians before evening performances take over. June 28, 13:00, Bimhuis.

Samba roots at Munganga theater: Igor Malungo, Jeroen Hensel, Marcelo Motta, and more bring a full samba lineup to the stage. June 28, 16:00, Munganga Theater.

LP live at Amsterdamse Bos Theater: American singer-songwriter LP brings her distinctive voice and guitar work to this outdoor venue. Tickets are sold out. June 28, 18:00–23:00, Amsterdamse Bos Theater

VU chamber choir and Maya Fridman in concert: The VU-Kamerkoor joins cellist Maya Fridman for Field of Stars, a classical program at one of Amsterdam's most atmospheric churches. June 28, 15:30–17:00, Dominicuskerk.

Free classical music over coffee: A short lunchtime concert pairs live classical music with your morning coffee and croissant. June 28, 11:30–12:15, Café Belcampo, Oudwest.

Spanish party band La Pegatina hits Paradiso: Barcelona's La Pegatina brings their high-energy mix of rumba, ska, and cumbia to the stage, joined by Dutch support act Primaat. June 28, 19:30, Paradiso.

FAVE brings Afropop to Melkweg: The Nigerian singer behind "Baby Riddim", a number-one hit that earned her Rookie of the Year at the Headies, performs on a Grammy-nominated streak. June 28, 19:30, Melkweg.

Live music afternoon on Strandeiland: The Green Room returns this summer with a series of live music afternoons, each featuring a different band. June 28, 15:30–19:00, Sportpark Strandeiland.

Contraband live at Camping Zeeburg: The pop-rock band plays an outdoor set at this east Amsterdam campsite. Free entry. June 28, 18:00–20:30, Camping Zeeburg.

Eva de Wilde at De Roode Remise: Free jazz performance at the neighborhood theater cafe. June 28, 16:00–17:30, Theatercafé De Roode Remise, Haarlemmerbuurt.

Free jazz on the Palmgracht: The Damian de Muijnck Trio plays an outdoor set in the Jordaan with free entry. June 28, 15:00–16:00, Palmgracht (opposite Café de Palm).

Amsterdam Student Orchestra summer concert: The Amsterdam Student Orchestra performs a program running from Saint-Saëns' Danse Bacchanale to themes from Narnia. June 28, 20:00, Dominicuskerk, Spuistraat.

Women's choir concert at Posthoornkerk: Women's Company performs a summer concert conducted by Marjan Politiek. June 28, Posthoornkerk, Haarlemmerstraat 124.

Theater

A Comedy of Errors by We Love Shakespeare Ensemble: The We Love Shakespeare Ensemble stages Shakespeare's fast-paced comedy of mistaken identities. June 28, 16:00, Badhuistheater.

Art / Museums

Amsterdam, Nearly Demolished exhibition at Grachtenmuseum: This exhibition on the city's architectural near-misses and preservation history is in its final week. Grachtenmuseum Amsterdam, Canal Belt.

Festivals

Japan Festival 2026 at Handelsplein: A full day of Japanese culture covering music, food, workshops, and performances. Free to attend. June 28, 12:00–19:00, Handelsplein.

Picnic and Chill XXL in Westerpark: Multiple communities join for a large outdoor picnic to kick off the summer season, with networking and a relaxed park atmosphere. June 28, 15:00, Westerpark.

Wilde Woorden Westerpark free poetry festival: A free outdoor festival of poetry and spoken word running most of the day across Westerpark. June 28, 14:00–22:00, Westerpark.

Dance / Performance

Collective Kayan: performances and dinner at MidWest: Kayan brings together artists exploring identity through music, poetry, movement, and sound in an intimate, English-language format. June 28, 7:30 PM, MidWest.

Mengelmoes performance arts showcase at Cinetol: An eclectic lineup including Epoxy Quartet (free jazz), dancer Georgina Markopoulou, experimental double bass, and two surprise intermezzos. June 28, 17:00, Cinetol.

Music / Performance

Mozart's Trembling World at Splendor Amsterdam: A concert framing Mozart's classical repertoire through an intellectually curious lens at one of Amsterdam's most distinctive music venues. June 28, 19:30–21:15, Splendor Amsterdam.

Workshop

Big Clothing Swap x The Slow Fashion Show: Swap clothes, learn about circular fashion, and connect with a community that takes slow style seriously. June 28, Tolhuistuin.

Flour Must Be Cheap learning session 2: Common Ground and Bread Buffet dig deeper into food systems through this second activation inside W139's current exhibition. June 28, 15:30–17:30, W139.

Chatting and knitting at De Ceuvel: A relaxed community hangout combining conversation and needlework in one of Amsterdam's most distinctive spots. June 28, 17:00, De Ceuvel.

Tour

Social bike tour to Marken and Volendam: A day-long group ride out of the city with folkloric stops along the way, open to all levels. June 28, 8:00 a.m., Screaming Beans Waterlooplein, Waterlooplein 129.

Vraagsafari: a hidden corner of Amsterdam Zuid: An exploration of Huis te Vraag, a little-known and oddly atmospheric spot on the edge of the city. June 28, Huis te Vraag, Amsterdam Zuid.

Architecture walk through Oostenburg: A guided look at the architecture and urban planning of one of Amsterdam's most actively evolving neighborhoods. June 28, 11:00, Werkspoorbrug, Oostenburgervoorstraat.

Early morning boat cruise in Amsterdamse Bos: A quiet dawn cruise through the forest waterways, part of the Fluistervink program. June 28, 8:30, Amsterdamse Bos.

Sports (Active)

Terrible Football in Amsterdamse Bos: Casual, no-fee football for anyone 16+ regardless of fitness or skill, occasional post-game beers included. June 28, 11:00, Amsterdamse Bos.

The Splash Sisterhood first swim session: A women-only swim meetup for beginners and experienced swimmers alike who want company in the water. June 28, 14:00, Het Marnix.

Trail Addicts #6: Kennemerduinen trail run: The sixth edition of this trail running series, with route options of 15 km or 30 km through the dunes. June 28, 9:00, Park Duin en Kruidberg, Duin- en Kruidbergerweg 76.

Games / Hobbies

Mario Kart social and mini tournament: Friendly races hosted by Hajime, a good option for newcomers and anyone looking to meet people over low-stakes gaming. June 28, 16:00, Vice Versa, Ceintuurbaan 206.

Summer Garage Swing Party with live music: An afternoon swing dance party with live music, organized by Swing Philosophy. June 28, 16:30, Kompaszaal Amsterdam.

Social Activity

Uncommon Ground pop-up makers space: A low-barrier open studio where coders, artists, writers, and makers work side by side, bring whatever tools you use. June 28, 10:00–18:00, 001 Commandantswoning, Marineterrein, Kattenburgerstraat 5.

Chinese-Dutch-English language exchange: Mandarin learners and native speakers meet to practice together, alongside Dutch and other European languages. June 28, 15:00, OBA Public Library, Oosterdokskade 143, 7th floor.

Social / Drinks

Sunday drinks at Café Lust: A small, deliberately welcoming meetup for locals and long-term residents looking to build real friendships. June 28, 19:00, Café Lust, Cornelis Trooststraat 49I.

Restaurant

Stoere Stuiterbal brings vegan brunch to Bos en Lommer: A new vegan brunch spot is opening in the Bos en Lommer neighborhood. No opening date or exact address has been confirmed yet.

Shop / Store

Zèta x LABFRESH sneaker launch: Amsterdam sneaker brand Zèta and apparel label LABFRESH debut their first collaborative sneaker, scratch-resistant and built to last, at the LABFRESH Amsterdam store. Van Baerlestraat 32; July 10, 16:00 onwards.