Amsterdam is celebrating 750 years – here's how to enjoy a summer weekend in the city
Amsterdam is a city that celebrates individuality, encourages quirkiness and delights in difference. It has a long history of riches and rebelliousness. The glory-days of the 17th century, the über-cosy 1800s, the counter-culture explosion of the 1960s – they've all left tidelines along Amsterdam's canals: opulent gables, Rembrandt and Van Gogh, barrel-lined cafés, gardens of rare blooms, marijuana-selling 'coffeeshops', and Miss Marple bicycles.
Now Amsterdam is sweeping into a new Golden Age, making a fresh mark with galleries, sharp shops, award-winning restaurants and hipster cafés. Bristles of audacious architecture have shot up round the city edges but the cobweb of gable-lined canals is still at its heart, with funky stores in the criss-crossing alleys of Negen Straatjes, new galleries to the west in the Jordaan, world-class museums and chic boutiques south around Museumplein, a market and further foodie paradise in De Pijp, and hot new quarters opening up all the time.
And here are our other Amsterdam guides, providing inspiration for hotels, restaurants, shopping, bars and cafés, attractions and free things to do (plus the best hotels near Amsterdam airport).
In this guide:
What's new in Amsterdam this summer
Festivities: Amsterdam turns 750
Amsterdam has been celebrating the lead-up to its 750th anniversary all year, with a vast programme of exhibitions, festivals, concerts and more. On June 21, 15km of the city's ring road close for all-day celebrations, including DJ sets, street food and choir performances. Other anniversary events include a free Isamu Noguchi exhibition at the Rijksmuseum until October, showcasing the renowned sculptor's works. An Amsterdam Eats exhibition is also on at the Allard Pierson Museum until early September, that walks through the history of the city's culinary scene.
Concerts: Sounds of the Future
From August 15 to 24, venues along the canals – homes, gardens, terraces, concert halls, churches and outdoors – host the Grachtenfestival. Amsterdam's rising young musical talent take to the stage to perform classic and jazz concerts in alluring settings. It's the place to hear those who are teetering on the brink of fame.
Museum: Photography exhibition
Huis Marseille makes imaginative use of its two quite exceptional 17th-century canal houses (complete with ceiling paintings by Jacob de Wit) in Memento, running from June 28 to October 12. More than 100 photos from its rich photography collection track the changes, tangents and curious surprises of photography over the past 25 years.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
18 minutes ago
- The Independent
This divisive 90s shoe trend is back for summer – and this is the pair to wear
Flip flops have officially been given the fashion seal of approval. From smooth leather iterations to jelly styles and classic Havaianas', the sandal style is just as likely to be seen in the city as they are at the beach this season. Minimalist luxury fashion label The Row led the charge last year with its 'beach flip flop' style, plumped for by the likes of Kylie and Kendall Jenner and Zoe Kravitz. Don't be fooled by the name, as these flip flops aren't seen anywhere near the sea. In fact, The Row's newest take for this season is aptly named the 'city flip flop' (£860, But you don't need to spend that eye-watering amount on the style; Ancient Greek Sandals were next with the Saionara jelly sandal (£125, worn by influencers including Lucy Williams and Lizzy Hadfield. The jelly material and pop of colour playfully nod to the Nineties. A more budget way to embrace the trend, the classic flip flop brand Havaianas is officially cool again, thanks to recent collaborations with Zara, Dolce & Gabbana and Gigi Hadid. Of course, the trend isn't for everyone. Some might look on with horror at exposed feet on the commute, while getting your toes out in the office is a divisive topic among colleagues. I cast my own reservations aside to road test the best flip flops to invest in this season – and one pair has shaped up to be my sandal of the season. Perfectly minimalist but sufficiently stylish thanks to the sleek red finish, Russell & Bromley's radford style is a hero investment. At £125, the flats are a more premium choice on the high street, but feel far less flimsy than many leather or faux leather takes. Here's my case for why you should invest too. How we tested I tested these Russell & Bromley flip flops alongside dozens of other pairs from the high street. Considering comfort, styling versatility, value-for-money and aesthetic, here's why I keep returning to the radford style. Why you can trust IndyBest reviews Daisy Lester is a senior shopping writer at The Independent. She specialises in reviewing fashion, so she knows what makes a well-crafted, comfortable and on-trend shoe. Where flip flops are concerned, she turns to the best brands that combine affordability and quality, looking for trend-led styles that are still a timeless investment.
The Sun
22 minutes ago
- The Sun
First look at new £165million theme park opening in Spanish hotspot – five years after being abandoned
NEW plans have finally been revealed for the reopening of the much-loved Tívoli World amusement park in Spain. Located in Costa del Sol, Tívoli World closed back in 2020 due to financial constraints and the global Covid-19 pandemic. 3 But plans have been approved by authorities who met yesterday and will see if increase in size to include a large tourist complex with shops. First images of the site reveal that it could have a large wheel and a free-fall tower and that the shopping are will have brands like Domino's Pizza, Forster's Hollywood, Rodilla or La Tagliatella, according to Sur in English. These details will be confirmed at a later stage though. There is also expected to be two new hotels. However, the council has agreed that Tívoli will reopen before or alongside the complete complex. In total, the park is expected to cost over €200million (£165million) to redevelop and estimated to create around 1000 new jobs. As part of the agreement, Tivoli World will rehire previous employees - who over the past years have maintained and guarded the park whilst it has been closed to the public. Many former fans of the park took to social media to express their joy at the news. One user said: "It should be brought back bigger and more beautiful. Great." Another added: "Itching to go back to Tivoli." Kids can enter Diggerland for free with this trick Tívoli World was formerly loved for being a family entertainment hub, having originally opened in 1972. The first owner of the attraction - Dane Bent Olsen - dubbed the park as a "factory of illusions" according to Euro Weekly, with fireworks, a rollercoaster, a Chinese pagoda, a lake with boars and around 20 fountains that offered water, light and sound shows. The Mayor, Juan Antonio Lara commented that it was a historic step and that "we have no time to waste". "We're pulling out all the stops to fast-track the process," said Lara. 3 Tivoli World is around a half-an-hour drive from Malaga or about 40 minutes on the train. According to Experience UK, the park is anticipated to reopen in 2028. There are also a number of other great spots to explore surrounding the park including stunning sandy beaches such as Playa de los Álamos. And if you are wanting another attraction for the family, just down the road is Aqualand Torremolinos - which is home to a range of different water slides, a large jacuzzi, children's paradise and will soon have speed racer slides too. A popular beachfront theme park has also been forced to close twice a week. Plus, a major U K theme park to get huge new land by 2027 with rollercoasters, kids rides and indoor attractions. 3
The Independent
26 minutes ago
- The Independent
Glasgow given go-ahead to introduce a tourist tax
Tourists in Glasgow will start paying extra for their accommodation after the city gave the green light to introduce a tourist tax by 2027. In a bid to generate £16m a year for the Scottish city, visitors heading to Glasgow will be charged five per cent of their accommodation bill extra, which will work out to £4.83 per night on average. Under national legislation, the council has to undergo an 18-month implementation phase, so the levy will not be rolled out until January 2027 at the earliest. The decision was made in a city administration committee on Thursday, with 1.5 per cent of each levy being retained by accommodation providers, while the rest will be invested in Glasgow's infrastructure projects and events. The funding will also be used for public services, such as street sweeping, maintenance of city landmarks and improvements to parks, which will benefit both residents and visitors. A council spokesperson said there was support from all parties on the committee, including the SNP, Labour, Greens and Conservatives. The move to introduce the levy came following a public consultation that started in January between local trade bodies and accommodation businesses. Deputy Council Leader Richard Bell told The Independent: 'Many Glaswegians will be familiar with visitor levies, which are relatively common abroad. 'The levy means that some of the people who enjoy what Glasgow has to offer, but do not pay local taxes, will be asked to make a small contribution to the city. 'In turn, that money will be invested in making Glasgow a better place for citizens and visitors alike – which will benefit our tourist trade.' Green Cllr Blair Anderson, whose motion started the process, said: 'The tourist tax is going to be a game-changer for Glasgow, delivering more money to tidy up our city and make it even more attractive for visitors and residents alike. 'A small contribution from tourists will mean we can invest millions more in street sweeping, bin collections, and getting Glasgow looking good again. 'I'm glad that Greens in Holyrood got this law passed, and I'm grateful to all councillors who have worked with me over recent months to get this tax in place as soon as possible.' The levy will apply to all hotels, hostels, guest houses, bed & breakfasts and self-catering accommodation. Glasgow currently averages around 2.9 million overnight stays each year, which generates an expenditure of £250m. The Visitor Levy Act became law in September 2024. This allows councils in Scotland to tax overnight accommodation if they wish to do so. This devolved power has been met with mixed responses, with Edinburgh becoming the first to vote in January to add a five per cent surcharge on visitors' overnight stays by 2026. Meanwhile, South Ayrshire council is set to abandon its plans for a visitor levy in light of residents' and businesses' concerns that the area does not warrant one for the number of visitors it receives.
