September in Amsterdam

September facts

The cultural season starts in September with many theater, dance, opera and concert performances.
Less tourist crowds in the city (July and August are the most busy months), but the prices are still at high season level.
Hotels are usually still full to capacity. Make your reservations in advance.
Be prepared to be hot or cold, wet or dry! Although temperatures begin to cool, there are also occasional hot summer days.

September Festivals & Events


1st weekend in September (September 2-3, 2011) Wilhelmina Living Room Festival 6th edition Professional cabaret performers, actors, and musicians from the Wilhelminastraat (a street in the Oud-West district) act in their own living rooms, that are being transformed to small theatres for this special occasion. website: www.wilhelminahuiskamerfestival.nl

1st weekend in September Gospel Festival Amsterdam The biggest Black Gospel Festival of the Netherlands, organised by the multicultural community of Amsterdam South East. website: www.gospelfestival.nl

August 30-September 9, 2012 \| 7th edition Dutch Theatre Festival The season's top drama performances will be staged one last time at the theatres on and around the Leidseplein. website: www.tf.nl

September 4-9, 2012 Amsterdam in-water Boat Show Large nautical event for (inter)national watersport enthusiasts, holidaymakers and tourists alike, held at the NDSM wharf in Amsterdam North at the Amsterdam Marina, located opposite the Amsterdam Central Railway Station. website: www.hiswatewater.nl

August 30-September 9, 2012 \| 7th edition Amsterdam Fringe Festival Shows, performances, (music) theatre acts and live art celebrate the urge to act, artistic madness and the bravura that blossoms in the fringes of the theatre circuit in the Netherlands and Flanders. website: www.amsterdamfringefestival.nl

September 8-9, 2012 \| 25th edition Open Monumentendag (Heritage Days) thousands of historical buildings and sites in the Netherlands are open to the public free of charge. Besides opening their doors, many locations also organise on-site activities like exhibitions, music and guided tours. List of all open monuments in Amsterdam website: www.openmonumentendag.nl

September 21-23, 2012 Jordaan Festival A big street festival, with loads of music performances on stage, drum bands, a flea market and auction. At Westermarkt many bars and a big stage are set up, where mostly Amsterdam and Dutch bands and singers perform. website: www.jordaanfestival.nl

September 23, 2012 \| 28th edition Dam tot Damloop (Dam to Dam Run) The largest as well as one of the most attractive running events in the Netherlands. It goes from the centre of Amsterdam to the centre of Zaandam. website: www.damloop.nl

September 28, 2012 \| 7th edition Discovery Festival A nighttime festival with live scientific research, ultra short talks, science-related art, music, and a lot of scientists and artists. website: www.discoveryfestival.nl

Friday nights (July-September) Sunsets Vondelpark: Outdoor film performances at Vertigo Traditionally the Filmmuseum and Cafe Vertigo offer open air screenings on the terrace in the Vondelpark after sunset during summer Friday nights. website: www.filmmuseum.nl

end August-end April Ajax Amsterdam Football Club Spend a Sunday amongst frenzied fans of the famous Ajax Amsterdam football team. Ajax plays in the impressive, modern ArenA south of the city. website: www.ajax.nl

June-September Strand Zuid (citybeach) Trendy citybeach next to the RAI in the south of Amsterdam. With events, party's, exclusive DJ's, good food and drinks: a Mediterranean atmosphere in Amsterdam Zuid, with an à la carte menu and a large terrace next to the water. website: www.strand-zuid.nl