Saturday, December 31 2011, 4:36PM
THE big outdoor party in Amsterdam on New Year's Eve is on Museumplein square.
The party will be free for all, and the square will be open from 9.30pm.
There will be music performances, and a big firework at midnight.
This year's special attraction will be the [....]
Thursday, December 15 2011, 2:16PM
Starting January 1 2012, the OBA (the public library in Amsterdam) will no longer offer free internet or wifi.
Especially the central library near the Central Station in Amsterdam had become very popular because of the many computers with internet connection, and the [....]
Saturday, December 03 2011, 6:38PM
On the new Michelin 2012 star list a new Amsterdam restaurant has appeared: restaurant Lastage, at Geldersekade, near the Central Station in Amsterdam.
This means Amsterdam now has 8 Michelin star restaurants.
The new restaurant is located at Geldersekade 29, near [....]
Thursday, November 24 2011, 11:01AM
A police force of about 150-200 have raided a Cannabis Cup exhibition, yesterday, in the Borchland Sports Hall in Amsterdam South-East.
They confiscated half a container of cannabis, and one man was arrested for possessing 700 grams of weed.
Police entered the expo [....]
Tuesday, November 22 2011, 10:02AM
Frank van Dalen, member of the Council of Amsterdam for the VVD, has stepped down.
The council member owns an apartment complex in the centre of Amsterdam, and the apartments are rented out to tourists visiting the Dutch capital.
The city says he runs a hotel, for [....]
Friday, November 18 2011, 4:15PM
For November 20 a strike has been announced for all public transport in the cities Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague.
The strike lasts 24 hours, and affects the municipal buses, trams and metros run by the GVB transport company.
Not affected are:
- the ferries
- [....]
Friday, November 18 2011, 10:42AM
The mayor of Amsterdam, Mr Eberhard van der Laan, remains adamant in his decision that large street parties in the centre of Amsterdam will not be allowed on Queens Day.
On Queens Day (April 30) the birthday of the queen is celebrated. This is done throughout the [....]
Wednesday, November 16 2011, 9:29PM
A new taxi company, with all-electric cars, has started in Amsterdam: Taxi-E.
The company starts with 20 cars, all model Nissan Leaf. Taxi-E says the car can transport 3 adults and a child comfortably.
There is a starting rate of E 7.50 for the first 2 kilometers, [....]
Monday, November 14 2011, 4:09PM
It is a common sight: people waiting in line to get into the Anne Frank House. But now you can use your waiting time effectively.
The Anne Frank House is one of the busiest attractions of Amsterdam.
Visitors can now prepare their visit on their smartphone or [....]
Friday, November 11 2011, 10:43AM
Sinterklaas, the Dutch version of Santa Claus, will arrive in Amsterdam again this Sunday.
The yearly Sinterklaas parade in Amsterdam is the largest in the country.
Sinterklaas is an age-old Dutch tradition, at which children get presents. Sinterklaas is celebrated [....]
Sunday, November 06 2011, 7:03PM
A new museum has opened in Amsterdam: the Amsterdam Tattoo Museum.
The museum, founded by the famous tattoo artist Henk Schiffmacher, shows you everything about the history of tattooing, worldwide.
The museum is housed in two large 19th century villas, across the [....]
Thursday, November 03 2011, 12:16PM
Holland has gone to the third place on the Human Development Index 2011, up from rank 7.
The list is published by the UNDP (the list in a PDF file). Last year, the Netherlands ranked 7, [....]
Wednesday, November 02 2011, 5:37PM
The 'Raad van State' (the highest court in the Netherlands for administrative law issues) has ruled that windmill 'De Otter' will not yet have to move out of Amsterdam.
Another step has been made in the -by now- remarkable tale of windmill De Otter in Amsterdam, that [....]
Saturday, October 29 2011, 4:09PM
At 3 o'clock in the night from Saturday to Sunday, the clock will go back one hour.
This means the summertime (daylight saving time) has ended again.
The summertime always ends in the last weekend of October, in the night from Saturday to Sunday.
The summertime [....]
Wednesday, October 26 2011, 12:03PM
From today, the Central Station of Amsterdam can be entered again through its main entrance.
The main entrance closed in 2004 for a (planned) period of 3 years, but due to delays caused by the new metro line, the North/South Line, the closure lasted 7 years.
The [....]
Saturday, October 22 2011, 10:06AM
Occupy Amsterdam organizes a march through Amsterdam on Saturday October 22.
The march is from Beursplein (near Dam Square), where the 'Occupiers' have their tent camp, to the Nederlandsche Bank (the Dutch Central Bank) on Frederiksplein.
The march starts at 1 [....]
Thursday, October 20 2011, 11:52AM
The oldest existing document in which the name of Amsterdam is mentioned will be on display a few days per year.
The document dates from October 27, 1275, and was issued in Leiden (Leyden). In the document Earl Floris V releases the inhabitants of Amsterdam of paying [....]
Monday, October 17 2011, 11:10AM
Following other cities around the world, Amsterdam has its own 'Occopy' movement since last weekend.
On Saturday, a few thousand protesters gathered at Beursplein, in the centre of Amsterdam, to protest against the effects of the financial crisis in the world, and the [....]
Friday, October 14 2011, 2:46PM
Sunday October 16 is the 36th edition of the Amsterdam Marathon.
Last year 31,500 runners took part, this year there will be 35,000 participants. 10,000 of them will run the marathon.
The growing popularity of the Amsterdam Marathon comes partly from abroad: 13,500 [....]
Monday, October 10 2011, 5:42PM
The Stedelijk Museum (Amsterdam's modern art museum) has closed again for a longer period.
The museum was partially open since August last year ('Temporary Stedelijk'). In the Temporary Stedelijk were temporary exhibitions, in the old part of the Stedelijk.
The [....]
Monday, October 03 2011, 3:39PM
The Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum) has been re-opened by HRH Queen Beatrix, after a long shutdown for renovation.
The 17th century building that houses the museum, one of the biggest in its kind in Amsterdam, has been restored to its original splendour. The most [....]
Sunday, September 04 2011, 3:56PM
After decades of discussion and pressure, the Dutch Defense Ministry has finally decided it wants to get rid of one of most desirable plots of land in Amsterdam - the Marinecomplex (the Navy compound).
The 15 hecatares of land are located right next to the [....]
Tuesday, August 30 2011, 12:58PM
The famous drawbridge across the Amstel, the Magere Brug (a.k.a. as 'Skinny Bridge') is closed for repairs.
During last weekend the bridge got struck by lightning, which damaged the electronics with which the drawbridge can be opened and closed.
Because the bridge [....]
Wednesday, August 24 2011, 12:58PM
This Friday is the start of the 34th Uitmarkt, the yearly start of the cultural season.
The Uitmarkt lasts the entire weekend, until Sunday evening. A lot of theaters and performers present themselves with free (or almost free) short (30 minutes) performances.
This [....]
Wednesday, August 17 2011, 9:49PM
After some delay, the Floating Dutchman finally took off for its first real tour.
The Floating Dutchman is a bus that travels on the road from Schiphol Airport to Amsterdam, and then plunges into the water to make a boat tour through the canals.
The tour has [....]
Thursday, August 11 2011, 2:54PM
Tomorrow is the start of the 30th Canal Festival (Grachtenfestival) in Amsterdam, from August 12 to 21.
The festival consists of a long list of classical music concerts, during 10 days. The concerts are held at various locations throughout Amsterdam.
The main event [....]
Thursday, August 04 2011, 11:00PM
Amsterdam is preparing for one of the busiest weekends of the year, Gay Pride weekend.
Officially, it is Gay Pride Week, since July 30. The week has several activities such as meetings, parties and (art) exhibitions.
However, as always, the focus is on the Gay [....]
Wednesday, August 03 2011, 8:04AM
In the Vondelpark (and a number of other parks in Amsterdam South), having a barbecue has become illegal in most places.
Barbecues will only be possible in a few restricted areas.
The reason for the prohibition is the huge popularity of barbecuing in the parks. [....]
Tuesday, July 26 2011, 10:42AM
Amsterdam has landed in the top 10 of most expensive cities to park a car.
This is the result of a survey carried out by Colliers.
The Colliers International Parking Rate Survey shows that only Oslo, Copenhagen, Melbourne, Sydney, London-City, London-West End and [....]
Monday, July 25 2011, 2:01PM
The artist Prince has announced a second surprise performance in Amsterdam, this evening.
The concert will take place in De Melkweg, near Leidseplein square (see www.melkweg.nl).
The time of the concert is still unknown, but tickets will be available 1 hour before [....]
Thursday, July 21 2011, 8:16AM
Today, the Reguliersdwarsstraat will be 're-opened' as the main gay street of Amsterdam.
Of course, the street is already open, but today 3 new gay venues will open, in the presence of mayor Eberhard van der Laan, and a manager of the Heineken Beer company.
The mayor [....]
Sunday, July 10 2011, 3:13PM
Amsterdam has a new attraction. It took a few years to develop, but finally it's here: the Floating Dutchman.
The Floating Dutchman is an amphibious bus, that makes a tour from Schiphol Airport to the center of Amsterdam. There it splashes into the water to make a [....]
Wednesday, July 06 2011, 4:06PM
An exhibition on Dick Bruna's work has been opened in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
Dick Bruna has become world-famous for the creation of Miffy (in Dutch: Nijntje).
He has also created many other works, such as book covers and posters.
Bruna has given many of [....]
Thursday, June 30 2011, 9:44AM
P1, which has one of the parking garages in downtown Amsterdam, has substantially lowered its price for 24 hour parking.
P1 has announced a price of E 20,- per 24 hours in the parking garage near the Central Station in Amsterdam, instead of the normal E 55,-, which [....]
Tuesday, June 28 2011, 4:15PM
Again, the public transport workers in Amsterdam will go on strike.
This time, the strike is between the morning and evening rush hour (from 9 am to 3 pm).
The strike will only affect local public transport, in Amsterdam, i.e. buses, trams and metros run by the [....]
Tuesday, June 28 2011, 11:09AM
The Van Gogh Museum will close for renovation for half a year, from September 2012 to April/March 2013.
The museum will close on September 29, 2012.
The closure is due to renovation, and to make the museum comply with new safety regulations.
During the [....]
Thursday, June 23 2011, 11:18PM
Amsterdam will again be hit by a public transport strike, this time on Wednesday June 29.
The strike is will be between the morning and the evening rush hour. During the time the buses, trams and metros are in service, they will be for free.
The GVB (the Amsterdam [....]
Friday, June 03 2011, 12:14PM
Public transport workers will go on strike on Tuesday, June 7.
This time, the strike is for 24 hours.
It affects all trams, buses and metros in Amsterdam, run by the municipal transport company GVB.
Also the GVB Ticket and Info Shop in front of the Central Station [....]
Thursday, May 26 2011, 5:19PM
Today was the official opening of the Artzuid Sculpture Route, in Amsterdam South, in the presence of HRH Queen Beatrix.
The route was set up to draw greater attention to the urban expansion plan of architect H.P. Berlage, known as the Plan-Zuid, which is now over a [....]
Wednesday, May 25 2011, 7:59AM
The ash cloud caused by the Icelandic volcano has reach the far northern part of the Dutch air space, but this does not cause problems for air traffic in the Netherlands.
Yesterday, some flights were cancelled from Amsterdam to Northern Germany. The German airports of [....]
Tuesday, May 24 2011, 5:44PM
Eurocontrol says the ash cloud from the volcano eruption in Iceland will reach the Dutch air space tomorrow, Wednesday, around 8am.
The air space will probably not have to be closed. The airlines will decide whether they will fly, or have to cancel flights.
Monday, May 23 2011, 11:53PM
Several flights for Tuesday morning to North England and Scotland have been cancelled due to the ash cloud.
The cancelled flights are from Amsterdam to Aberdeen, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Newcastle, a total of 6 flights.
It is not certain whether more flights have to [....]
Monday, May 23 2011, 10:36AM
The ash cloud of the Grimsvötn volcano, that erupted 2 days ago, does not cause immediate problems for European air traffic.
Experts say that the cloud may reach parts of Northern Scotland on Tuesday, and Great Britain, France and Spain on Thursday.
This is based [....]
Sunday, May 15 2011, 4:50PM
The Amsterdam soccer club Ajax has won the national soccer championship, from title defender FC Twente.
This means a big celebration in Amsterdam.
It is the 30th time in its history that Ajax wins the national championship. The last time it won the title was in [....]
Friday, May 13 2011, 4:49PM
If Ajax, Amsterdam's soccer club, wins this Sunday's match against FC Twente, it will be the Dutch soccer champion - for the 30th time in its history.
The match will be played in the ArenA Stadium, in Amsterdam South-East. The celebration afterwards (provided Ajax [....]
Wednesday, May 11 2011, 11:52AM
On Friday May 13, the Amsterdam municipal public transport company will go on strike, during the morning rush hour.
All buses, trams and metros will not be in service until 8.30am.
The strike will only affect the public transport in Amsterdam.
Trains are not on [....]
Saturday, May 07 2011, 11:06AM
An Amsterdam hotel, the Oranje Tulp Hotel, was the victim of a robbery this morning, around 6.30 am.
All hotel guests were evacuated, and the street was blocked off. A police helicopter flew above the crime scene for a while.
Police thought the robber(s) could [....]
Wednesday, May 04 2011, 12:26AM
On May 4, the victims of the Second World War are commemorated throughout the Netherlands.
May 5 is Liberation Day: on May 5, 1945 the Germans capitulated, and Holland was officially liberated.
The main national ceremony takes place on Dam Square.
The ceremoney [....]
Sunday, May 01 2011, 11:36AM
The police report that Queens Day in Amsterdam has passed without any serious trouble.
The entire day, the atmosphere in the city was festive and pleasant.
Even so, the police report 198 arrests were made during the day, all because of relatively minor [....]
Friday, April 29 2011, 5:24PM
On Friday evening, the city is already very busy with visitors and tourists. And with people preparing tomorrow's parties and street sale.
The night before Queens Day is usually very busy in Amsterdam, particularly if this is a Friday.
One of the main outdoor [....]
Friday, April 22 2011, 11:58PM
The police evacuated the Vondelpark this evening, after a fight broke out involving about 60 persons.
The police say a number of arrests was made.
It is unclear how or why the fight broke out, but people on online forums suggest it may have to do with the summery [....]
Thursday, April 21 2011, 5:42PM
The sale of alcohol will be further limited by the Amsterdam city authorities on Queensday, April 30.
Queens Day (the official day that the birthday of the Queen is celebrated) attracts about 500,000 to a million people to Amsterdam every year.
Traditionally, the day [....]
Tuesday, April 19 2011, 4:58PM
Today, the Crown Prince Willem-Alexander officially opened the Volgermeerpolder, a new nature reserve in Amsterdam North.
The contrast could hardly have been bigger: in the middle of the scenic, rural area Amsterdam North, just south of the very picturesque village [....]
Saturday, April 09 2011, 10:02PM
In a shopping mall in the town of Alphen aan de Rijn a man killed 6 shoppers, this afternoon.
He started shooting shortly after noon. After about 15 minutes, the man shot himself through the head in a supermarket, bringing the total number of casualties to 7.
It does [....]
Thursday, April 07 2011, 12:57PM
Although the canals of Amsterdam are possibly the most important attraction of Amsterdam, there was not yet a museum about the canals.
This is going to change on April 15, when the Grachtenhuis [....]
Wednesday, April 06 2011, 12:27PM
Tomorrow, Thursday April 7, the Amsterdam public transport will be on strike.
The transport workers will only strike between the morning rush and the evening rush (10am to 2pm).
During that period there will be no trams, buses or metros in Amsterdam.
The strike is [....]
Friday, April 01 2011, 11:16AM
Today it is exactly 10 years ago that in Amsterdam the first same sex marriages were concluded.
On April 1, 2001, exactly at midnight, the then mayor Job Cohen married several same sex couples in the city's town hall.
The Netherlands was the first country to open up [....]
Tuesday, March 29 2011, 4:37PM
The number of applications to participate with a boat in the Canal Pride tour of August 2011 has risen to 220.
A maximum of 80 boats can participate, so the organization has decided to decide with a lottery. Organizations with a 'gay background' have twice as much [....]
Saturday, March 26 2011, 12:56PM
Today, Daylight Saving Time ('Zomertijd') will start in the Netherlands, and throughout the rest of Europe.
At 2 AM in the night from Saturday to Sunday, the time will be moved forward to 3am. This will happen in all member states of the European Union (except in [....]
Wednesday, March 23 2011, 4:04PM
The city of Amsterdam does not allow clubs and bars to be open one hour longer this weekend.
In the night from Saturday March 26 to Sunday March 27, at 3 AM, the clock in the Netherlands will be put back one hour.
Clubs in Amsterdam have asked that they can ignore [....]
Monday, March 21 2011, 4:28PM
After a price increase of 5%, hotels in the Netherlands are the most expensive in the Euro zone, together with Italian hotels.
Dutch hotels have an average room price per night of EUR 100.
Worldwide, hotels in the Netherlands rank number 17.
Amsterdam remains [....]
Saturday, March 19 2011, 9:28AM
This evening (Saturday March 19) there will be the yearly Silent Walk ('Stille Omgang') again, this year for the 130th time.
The procession is held every year, in veneration of the Miracle of [....]
Thursday, March 03 2011, 11:13PM
Ron Blaauw has moved his restaurant from Ouderkerk aan de Amstel to the heart of Amsterdam.
This means Amsterdam now has 7 Michelin star restaurants.
The restaurant is located at Sophialaan 55, near the Vondelpark (see nr 6 on the map).
The 7 restaurants in [....]
Thursday, March 03 2011, 10:41AM
Yesterdays elections for the Provinces (and the Senate) in the Netherlands will probably not lead to a majority for the government parties.
The current government of the Netherlands is a coalition government of Liberal Conservatives and Christian Democrats, with [....]
Friday, February 25 2011, 11:11AM
The re-opening of the Stedelijk Museum, which was scheduled for the end of 2011, will be postponed.
A new date has not been scheduled.
The Stedelijk, Amsterdams modern art museum, is undergoing renovation, but the building company went bankrupt a few weeks ago. [....]
Sunday, February 20 2011, 3:45PM
One of the oldest buildings of Amsterdam, the Waag on Nieuwmarkt square is having problems with its foundations.
Last week, the east tower of the landmark building, which dates from the 15th century, had to be supported by a wooden structure.
The problem appears to [....]
Friday, February 18 2011, 12:21AM
Yesterday was the opening of a new kind of shop in the Amsterdam Kalverstraat: one where you can go to the bathroom.
Kalverstraat is the busiest shopping street of Amsterdam (and probably of the Netherlands), but for a public lavatory you have to go into a cafe or [....]
Tuesday, February 15 2011, 10:16AM
Another setback for the renovation of Amsterdam's modern art museum, the Stedelijk Museum: the company that carries it out went broke.
The company Midreth has already ceased to pay salaries since the end of January, due to which all building activity at the Stedelijk [....]
Sunday, February 13 2011, 3:06PM
On Monday February 14 there will be less trams and buses in Amsterdam, due to a strike.
Trams 14 and 25 do not run at all, and other trams, buses and metro lines will go less often. Also some ferries across the IJ (behind the Central Station) will go less [....]
Thursday, February 03 2011, 12:00AM
The Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum can now be visited online through the website http://www.googleartproject.com.
The 2 museums are in the list of 17 top museums that Google has photographed and put online.
You can walk through rooms of the museums, the same way as with Google [....]
Tuesday, February 01 2011, 8:13AM
Dutch-Egyptian organizations have announced a demonstration this afternoon, on Dam Square in Amsterdam.
The demonstration is in support of the 'million men march' to be held in Egypt today.
The demonstration starts at 2 pm.
Wednesday, January 26 2011, 8:18PM
The TripAdvisor list of Dirtiest Hotels 2011 (Europe) lists 4 Amsterdam hotels.
The list is published on http://www.tripadvisor.com/DirtyHotels-g4, where you can read the sometimes gruesome [....]
Wednesday, January 19 2011, 5:39PM
Unions of public transport workers have announced strikes in several cities in the Netherlands on February 14, 15 and 16.
The workers will go on strike in a different city each day.
Amsterdam public transport is likely to strike on February 14. This means there [....]
Friday, January 07 2011, 9:29PM
An expat who lives in Amsterdam has made his own song about Albert Heijn, the main supermarket chain in Amsterdam.
Albert Heijn is a large supermarket chain in Holland, and in the centre of Amsterdam it dominates the market.
Although normally regarded as a [....]
Wednesday, January 05 2011, 10:59PM
According to a survey carried out by the Dutch newspaper NRC Handelsblad, 187 of the 223 Amsterdam coffeeshops will have to close if the current cabinet policy toward coffeeshops will be implemented.
The conservative Dutch government, that recently took office, says [....]
