News Archive

New attraction Amsterdam: Rembrandt, All his paintings

Thursday, December 27 2012, 6:30PM

New attraction Amsterdam: Rembrandt, All his paintings

Amsterdam has a new attraction: the permanent exhibition 'Rembrandt, All his paintings'.
The exhibition shows digitally remastered reproductions of all Rembrandt's paintings. The original versions are spread all over the world, in many museums and private [....]

Read More
Amsterdam New Year

Thursday, December 13 2012, 12:19PM

Amsterdam New Year's Eve count-down at Oosterdok

The New Year's Eve national count-down to mark the start of 2013 in Amsterdam will happen this year at Oosterdok.
Oosterdok is the water just East of the Central Station.

There will be a light clock projection on the Scheepvaartmuseum (Maritime Museum) and there [....]

Read More
List of Amsterdam Michelin star restaurants grows from 8 to 10 in 2013

Wednesday, November 28 2012, 8:33PM

List of Amsterdam Michelin star restaurants grows from 8 to 10 in 2013

Another two restaurants have been added to the list of restaurants in Amsterdam with one or more Michelin stars.
The first addition is restaurant Bord'eau, in Hotel L'Europe, along the river Amstel.
The second is restaurant &Samhoud Places, on the Oosterdoks Eiland [....]

Read More
Wiet Pass abolished as of immediately - tourists Amsterdam welcome in coffeeshops

Thursday, November 22 2012, 10:50AM

Wiet Pass abolished as of immediately - tourists Amsterdam welcome in coffeeshops

The new Dutch government has announced that the 'Wiet Pass', that was introduced in the 3 southern provinces in May 2012, has been abolished as of immediately.
The Wiet Pass is not an actual pass or card, but refers to the obligation to become a member of a coffeeshop [....]

Read More
Sinterklaas arrives in Amsterdam on Sunday November 18

Thursday, November 15 2012, 9:38AM

Sinterklaas arrives in Amsterdam on Sunday November 18

Sinterklaas, the Dutch version of Santa Claus, will arrive in Amsterdam again this Sunday.
The yearly Sinterklaas parade in Amsterdam is the largest world-wide (say the organizers).

Sinterklaas is an age-old Dutch tradition, at which children get presents. [....]

Read More

Thursday, November 01 2012, 11:16AM

'Amsterdam coffeeshops remain open for tourists'

The mayor of Amsterdam, Mr Eberhard van der Laan, has confirmed in an interview with the newspaper 'De Volkskrant' that tourists will remain able to buy soft drugs in Amsterdam coffeeshops, also after January 1 2013.
Tourists will not have to show that they live in [....]

Read More
New government: registration for coffeeshops cancelled

Monday, October 29 2012, 5:31PM

New government: registration for coffeeshops cancelled

The new Dutch coalition government intends to cancel the introduction of the 'Wietpas', as planned by the previous government.

Clients of coffeeshops will no longer have to register with the coffeeshop where they buy soft drugs.

What remains, however, is that [....]

Read More
Tonight start of 2012 Winter Time

Saturday, October 27 2012, 10:17AM

Tonight start of 2012 Winter Time

At 3 o'clock in the night from Saturday to Sunday, the clock will go back one hour.
This means the 2012 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 [....]

Read More
Lonely Planet promotes Amsterdam as second best city to visit

Monday, October 22 2012, 4:34PM

Lonely Planet promotes Amsterdam as second best city to visit

Amsterdam appears as number two on the list of best cities to visit in 2013, published by Lonely Planet.
The position on the Lonely Planet is due to the fact that next year the Rijksmuseum will re-open completely, and the city celebrates 400 years Canal [....]

Read More
Amsterdam gets new landmark attraction near Central Station

Friday, October 05 2012, 6:01PM

Amsterdam gets new landmark attraction near Central Station

The Overhoeks Tower, located near the Central Station, will become a hotel/nightclub/restaurant.
The Overhoeks Tower used to be owned by the oil company Shell, together with some land around it, along the North shore of the IJ (water behing the Central Station). This [....]

Read More
New scooter taxi company in Amsterdam - E 2.50 per ride

Tuesday, October 02 2012, 12:01PM

New scooter taxi company in Amsterdam - E 2.50 per ride

Amsterdam has a new kind of taxi company: a scooter taxi, working with electric scooters.
The name of the company is Hopper.

The working area of the taxi company is only the centre of Amsterdam, and the office [....]

Read More
Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam closed for renovation

Sunday, September 30 2012, 8:21PM

Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam closed for renovation

From 29 September 2012 until 25 April 2013 the Van Gogh Museum will be closed for renovation.
During the renovation, the Van Gogh Museum will be temporarily hosted by the Hermitage Amsterdam with the presentation Vincent. The Van Gogh Museum in the Hermitage [....]

Read More
Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam opened by Queen Beatrix

Saturday, September 22 2012, 9:10PM

Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam opened by Queen Beatrix

Today was the opening of the renovated Stedelijk Museum, performed by HRH Queen Beatrix.
The Stedelijk Museum is Amsterdam's main modern art museum. Together with the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum it forms the 'big three' at Museumplein square.

The renovation [....]

Read More
Weed Pass introduction reconsidered for Amsterdam

Saturday, September 15 2012, 1:31PM

Weed Pass introduction reconsidered for Amsterdam

The introduction of the so-called 'Weed Pass' may be reconsidered in the case of Amsterdam.
The Weed Pass refers to the new system for coffeeshops (where soft drugs are sold). Under the new law, only inhabitants of the Netherlands can buy soft drugs, by getting a [....]

Read More
American consulate Amsterdam closed because of demonstration

Friday, September 14 2012, 3:15PM

American consulate Amsterdam closed because of demonstration

The American consulate in Amsterdam has closed because of a demonstration that was announced.
The demonstration, supposed at Museumplein (where the American consulate is located), is a reaction on the movie trailer of the film 'Innocence of Muslims'.
The trailer has [....]

Read More
Dutch elections: Conservatives and Social Democrats win surprisingly - Dutch in favour of European cooperation

Thursday, September 13 2012, 9:04AM

Dutch elections: Conservatives and Social Democrats win surprisingly - Dutch in favour of European cooperation

The Dutch elections of September 12 have ended in a large victory for 2 parties, the VVD (Liberal/Conservatives) and the PvdA (Social Democrats).
Of the two, the VVD has become the biggest party with 41 seats in the new parliament. PvdA will get 39 seats.

The big [....]

Read More
Today general elections in the Netherlands

Wednesday, September 12 2012, 8:07AM

Today general elections in the Netherlands

Today there are general elections in the Netherlands.
The Dutch will vote for a new parliament, and a new government.

The last government had fallen prematurely, so new elections were necessary. The current government is a minority government of VVD (conservatives) [....]

Read More
Amsterdam makes map of its monumental trees

Thursday, September 06 2012, 4:56PM

Amsterdam makes map of its monumental trees

The City of Amsterdam has started to maintain a map that shows its monumental trees and other 'green monuments'.
The map is made to be better able to protect the trees and parks that have monumental value.
On the map (

Read More
Hiswa boat show opens in Amsterdam

Tuesday, September 04 2012, 11:42AM

Hiswa boat show opens in Amsterdam

For the first, the 'Hiswa te Water' event is in Amsterdam - and it looks like it will stay there.
The yearly Hiswa boat show is a large open air show with all kinds of boats, from cheap small boats to extremely luxurious yachts.

This year, Hiswa te Water will take [....]

Read More
Re-opening date Rijksmuseum Amsterdam known

Sunday, September 02 2012, 10:33PM

Re-opening date Rijksmuseum Amsterdam known

The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam will be re-opened completely for the public on April 14, 2013.
The renovation of the Rijksmuseum, one of the Netherlands' most important museums, was scheduled to last 4.5 years, but this will end up to be 10 years.

The collection will [....]

Read More
Tourist tax Amsterdam increases with half a percent

Friday, August 31 2012, 10:05AM

Tourist tax Amsterdam increases with half a percent

Amsterdam has decided to increase the tourist tax with 0.5 percent, from 5% to 5.5%.
Tourist tax is paid by all tourists who stay in a hotel or a registered apartment or bed and breakfast.

The measure is temporary, says the city - the extra half percent is only [....]

Read More
World War II bomb found on Schiphol Amsterdam Airport

Wednesday, August 29 2012, 9:09AM

World War II bomb found on Schiphol Amsterdam Airport

The C pier on the Amsterdam airport has been closed and evacuated after the finding of an old World War II bomb in the ground.
The C pier handles European flights. Schiphol expects delays and cancellations because of the closure.

The bomb was found after digging at [....]

Read More
Uitmarkt 2012 has started in Amsterdam

Friday, August 24 2012, 10:10PM

Uitmarkt 2012 has started in Amsterdam

The yearly Uitmarkt, the traditional start of the culture season, has started.
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 year, [....]

Read More
Extra long trains to the beach because of the hot weather

Saturday, August 18 2012, 10:02AM

Extra long trains to the beach because of the hot weather

Due to the very hot weather expected this weekend, the Dutch Railways (www.ns.nl) will deploy extra long trains between Amsterdam and Zandvoort.
Both on Saturday and Saturday record high temperatures are expected (above 30 degrees Celsius), and therefore many people [....]

Read More
Kwakoe Festival saved by President Bouterse of Suriname

Wednesday, August 15 2012, 12:00PM

Kwakoe Festival saved by President Bouterse of Suriname

The Kwakoe Festival in Amsterdam South-East has been offered money from Mr Desi Bouterse, the President of Suriname.
The organization of the festival has not yet confirmed accepting the money.

The Kwakoe Festival is a yearly outdoor festival in Amsterdam South-East, [....]

Read More
Today start of GrachtenFestival 2012

Friday, August 10 2012, 8:44AM

Today start of GrachtenFestival 2012

Today is the start of the yearly 10 day Grachtenfestival ('Canal Festival').
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 of the Grachtenfestival is [....]

Read More
Today Gay pride tour in Amsterdam canals

Saturday, August 04 2012, 9:51AM

Today Gay pride tour in Amsterdam canals

Today is the most important event of the gay pride week in Amsterdam, the Gay Pride Canal Tour.
The canal tour consists of 80 large decorated boats that sail along the Prinsengracht canal and the river Amstel, mostly with a lot of music.
The spectacle normally draws [....]

Read More
Extra money to fight illegal hotels in Amsterdam

Thursday, July 12 2012, 2:19PM

Extra money to fight illegal hotels in Amsterdam

Amsterdam Centrum wants to spend E 100,000 extra to enforce legislation regarding illegal hotels.
Illegal hotels are apartments and residential houses that are rented out to tourists. It is against the law to rent out apartments to tourists, as (in the view of the [....]

Read More
Amsterdam Rijksmuseum passageway open for cyclists

Friday, July 06 2012, 12:04AM

Amsterdam Rijksmuseum passageway open for cyclists

It is final: the passageway under the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam will remain a bicycle path. The Amsterdam city council decided so this evening.
The decision ends one of the longest on-going debates in Amsterdam.

The Rijksmuseum has been partially closed for [....]

Read More
Ziggo Dome new pop theatre in Amsterdam

Sunday, June 24 2012, 10:47AM

Ziggo Dome new pop theatre in Amsterdam

Today is the first opening day of the Ziggo Dome, the new pop theatre in Amsterdam.
The Ziggo Dome is built for pop music concerts. It has a capacity of 17,000 visitors, which makes it one of the largest theatres in the country.
Special attention has been paid to the [....]

Read More
Extra trains to and from Amsterdam and Zandvooort beach

Monday, May 28 2012, 9:53AM

Extra trains to and from Amsterdam and Zandvooort beach

The Dutch Railways have announced they will use extra trains between Amsterdam and Zandvoort.
Update 1pm:
There is fog on the beach, most people are now leaving the beach.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Due to the nice weather [....]

Read More
Main Dutch bicycle route planner now also in English

Friday, May 11 2012, 10:53AM

Main Dutch bicycle route planner now also in English

The main Dutch routeplanner for cyclists, the planner provided on http://www.fietsersbond.nl/fietsrouteplanner now has an English language interface.
The route planner is provided (for free) by the Dutch Cyclist Union (Fietsersbond).
The planner covers the entire [....]

Read More
Police Amsterdam on strike

Thursday, May 10 2012, 9:43AM

Police Amsterdam on strike

Police offices in Amsterdam will be closed on Thursday afternoon, due to a strike.
The offices will be closed from noon till 6pm.

Police will be available for really urgent matters and emergencies.

The strike is part of a series of police actions, having to do [....]

Read More
May 4 and 5 2012 (Commemoration Day and Liberation Day) in Amsterdam

Friday, May 04 2012, 11:12AM

May 4 and 5 2012 (Commemoration Day and Liberation Day) in Amsterdam

On May 4, the victims of the Second World War (and all subsequent wars) are commemorated throughout the Netherlands.
May 5 is Liberation Day: on May 5, 1945 the German Nazi regime capitulated, and Holland was officially liberated.

The main national ceremony takes [....]

Read More
Ajax becomes national champion, big party in Amsterdam

Thursday, May 03 2012, 7:59AM

Ajax becomes national champion, big party in Amsterdam

The Amsterdam soccer club Ajax has become national champion yesterday evening, for the 31st time in its existence.
As tradition prescribes, there was a large party to celebrate this at the Leidseplein square. There were thousands of people, but no incidents were [....]

Read More
50 Cents at Saturn Amsterdam opening to promote his headphones

Wednesday, May 02 2012, 6:18PM

50 Cents at Saturn Amsterdam opening to promote his headphones

The artist 50 Cents will appear at the grand opening of the Saturn Amsterdam Flagshipstore.
Tomorrow, May 3, between 3 and 6 pm, 50 Cents will be in the then just opened Saturn store to sign headphones of his own brand.

Saturn is an electronics store chain, that [....]

Read More

Wednesday, May 02 2012, 10:31AM

'Weed pass' in effect in 3 provinces of the Netherlands

As of May 1, the so-called Weed Pass (Dutch: Wietpas) is in effect in three provinces, in the South of the Netherlands.
The Weed Pass means that coffeeshops (where marihuana is sold) are now member-only clubs. Only people who live in the Netherlands can become a [....]

Read More
Queensday Amsterdam 2012 without many problems

Monday, April 30 2012, 9:02PM

Queensday Amsterdam 2012 without many problems

The police has reported far less incidents at Queensday in Amsterdam this year.
About 700,000 people visited Amsterdam, which is about 100,000 less than last year.

The Mayor and the police had attempted to reduce the number of 'incidents' (often caused by alcohol [....]

Read More
Albert Heijn supermarkets in Amsterdam close on Queensday

Friday, April 27 2012, 8:21PM

Albert Heijn supermarkets in Amsterdam close on Queensday

Albert Heijn, Amsterdam's biggest supermarket chain, has announced it will close most of its shops in the center of Amsterdam on Queensday, April 30.
The measures follows after talks with the mayor of Amsterdam and the police. They seek possibilities to reduce alcohol [....]

Read More
Dutch government falls over budget talks

Tuesday, April 24 2012, 11:50PM

Dutch government falls over budget talks

The government of the Netherlands has fallen, after the talks about budget cuts failed.
The Netherlands had a coalition government of christian-democrats and liberal-conservatives (CDA and VVD). The two parties did not have a majority in parliament together, so they [....]

Read More
Major train accident in Amsterdam - 125 wounded - no trains to Schiphol

Saturday, April 21 2012, 10:51PM

Major train accident in Amsterdam - 125 wounded - no trains to Schiphol

Around 6.30 pm two trains in Amsterdam have collided. 125 Passengers are wounded.
Seventy passengers had minor injuries, the rest, 55 passengers are seriously wounded.

Because of the accident there is no train service between Amsterdam and the airport. The metro [....]

Read More
Police tough on alcohol abuse on Queensday in Amsterdam

Monday, April 16 2012, 10:58AM

Police tough on alcohol abuse on Queensday in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has announced it will fine people on Queensday, in case of public intoxication.
Queensday (April 30) is a huge street party, especially in Amsterdam. Queensday in Amsterdam attracts about half a million visitors each year, amongst whom many tourists from [....]

Read More
Opening EYE Filminstituut in Amsterdam North

Wednesday, April 04 2012, 4:06PM

Opening EYE Filminstituut in Amsterdam North

Today is the opening of the new building for the Amsterdam Film Museum.
Together with the move of the Filmmuseum to a new building, the organization changes its name. It is from now on the EYE Filminstituut Nederland.

The new building, along the IJ river north of [....]

Read More
New attraction in Amsterdam: Dancing Cows

Thursday, March 29 2012, 11:25PM

New attraction in Amsterdam: Dancing Cows

You would perhaps not expect it, but within the borders of Amsterdam are quite a few farms.
One of them has turned a yearly event into an attraction.

The farm 'Ons Verlangen' (Our Desire) will open the cow stables, so that the cows can freely enter the grass [....]

Read More
Tonight start of Daylight Saving Time (Summer Time) 2012

Saturday, March 24 2012, 10:15AM

Tonight start of Daylight Saving Time (Summer Time) 2012

Today, Daylight Saving Time ('Zomertijd') will start in the Netherlands, and throughout the rest of Europe.
At 2am in the night from Saturday to Sunday, the clocks are moved forward one hour, to 3am. This will happen in all member states of the European Union (except [....]

Read More
No trains around Amsterdam

Thursday, March 22 2012, 7:59AM

No trains around Amsterdam

Due to technical problems, there is no train service around Amsterdam, and other main towns in the Netherlands.
For example, there are no trains between Amsterdam and the airport.

The problems are expected to last to at least 12 noon.

The Railways have not yet [....]

Read More
Amsterdam tough on illegal bicycle parking around Leidseplein

Wednesday, March 21 2012, 12:06PM

Amsterdam tough on illegal bicycle parking around Leidseplein

Amsterdam has implemented a tough enforcement policy against illegal bicycle parking in the Leidseplein area.
The Leidseplein square (and the area around) is well-known for its theaters, pubs, clubs and many restaurants.
It has always been very busy with visitors, [....]

Read More
Amsterdam has dirtiest and most expensive hotels

Wednesday, March 14 2012, 12:09PM

Amsterdam has dirtiest and most expensive hotels

Yesterday it became known that the Netherlands has the most expensive hotels in the Euro zone (the countries in Europe that have the Euro as currency).
Within the Netherlands, Amsterdam is the most expensive place to get a hotel, with a room price of E 124 per night, [....]

Read More
Amsterdam-West wants windmill De Otter to remain in Amsterdam

Friday, March 09 2012, 4:54PM

Amsterdam-West wants windmill De Otter to remain in Amsterdam

Another step has been taken in the long sequel about the 17th century windmill 'de Otter'.
Upon the latest decision of the Raad van State, Holland's highest court of law, the neighbourhood council where 'De Otter' resides, had to take a new decsion about whether it [....]

Read More
Women-only hotel in Amsterdam

Thursday, March 08 2012, 10:43AM

Women-only hotel in Amsterdam

A new hotel has opened in Amsterdam, a hotel only for women.
Hostelle (www.hostelle.com) is located in Amsterdam South-East, near the Amsterdam Arena stadium.

The hotel targets women who are looking for a cozy, safe hostel to stay, and prefer to be in a place [....]

Read More
Apple Store Amsterdam to open on Saturday

Thursday, March 01 2012, 1:00PM

Apple Store Amsterdam to open on Saturday

On Saturday March 3, the first Apple Store in the Benelux will open in Amsterdam.
All Apple computers and gadgets will be on display in the store.

The opening will be at 10am on Saturday March 3.
The first 4,500 visitors get a free t-shirt.

The Apple Store is [....]

Read More
Oldest Rembrandt painting now owned by city of Leiden

Friday, February 17 2012, 3:09PM

Oldest Rembrandt painting now owned by city of Leiden

The oldest known painting by Rembrandt van Rijn has been bought by the city of Leiden and museum de Lakenhal.
The painting is 'De Brillenverkoper' (The Spectacles Salesman), which Rembrandt painted in approximately 1623-1624, at the age of 17.

Although Rembrandt [....]

Read More
Security measures soccer match Ajax-Manchester United in Amsterdam

Thursday, February 16 2012, 12:02AM

Security measures soccer match Ajax-Manchester United in Amsterdam

Amsterdam has announced extra security measures around the soccer match between Ajax and Manchester United, to be played on Thursday February 16.
The city thinks there is an extra risk of violence and riots. It is feared that a group of approximately 1,000 to 2,500 [....]

Read More
Schiphol Amsterdam Airport evacuated after bomb alert

Monday, February 13 2012, 12:41PM

Schiphol Amsterdam Airport evacuated after bomb alert

The Amsterdam airport Schiphol has been evacuated partly, after a bomb alert this morning
Apparently, the bomb alert is from a man in a public toilet, who says he has a bomb.
The man might well be a confused person, but for all certainty the terminals 1 and 2 have [....]

Read More
Ice skating race on Amsterdam Keizersgracht canal on Saturday

Wednesday, February 08 2012, 7:00PM

Ice skating race on Amsterdam Keizersgracht canal on Saturday

On Saturday February 11, the Keizersrace will be held.
The ice skating race is on distance of 150 meter, on the Keizersgracht canal (between Leidsestraat and Nieuwe Spiegelstraat).
See the map: