May Amsterdam events and festivals
Booking airport transfer, attraction tickets or guided tours in advance is highly recommended whether you are visiting Amsterdam during a major event or not. You can read more about online tickets resources on our main Amsterdam events webpage.
Remembrance and Liberation Day
The fallen of the WWII are memorized during a moment of silence on the Dam each year on 4th and 5th of May.
Attended by the King and Queen and other Dutch officials. Memorial day is not an official holiday, however some establishments might be closed.
The day after, the liberation of the Netherlands by the Allied forces in 1945 is celebrated. This is an official holiday in the Netherlands, so shops and museums are closed. In many parks all over town there are May Amsterdam events with performances of Dutch artists.
www.4en5meiamsterdam.nl
Amsterdam Art Fair (Kunst RAI)
If you like contemporary art you should defenitely visit the Amsterdam Art Fair. Around 50 galleries show the newest work of the most promising artists of the moment. The fair focuses on Dutch art but has an international character.
www.amsterdamartfair.com
Rollende Keukens (Rolling Kitchens)
There are many food festivals in Amsterdam, but this one is definitely the most popular among the Dutch public. In the Westerpark, near the Westergasfabriek, around 50 food trucks sell their delicious food, drinks and deserts for four days. Bring a picnic blanket, because there aren't enough picnic tables for all the visitors. Enjoy a taste of Amsterdam, while listening to the improvised concerts at one of the two stages.
www.rollendekeukens.amsterdam
Diynamic Festival
This international music festival is held in several venues in Europe and is very important for the electronic music scene. The Amsterdam version is organized in the Amsterdamse Bos (The Amsterdam Woods), a beautiful location just outside Amsterdam. Many tourists from all over the world come to Amsterdam for this May Amsterdam event.
www.diynamicfestival.com
World Press Photo
The World Press Photo is with 80.000 photo entries the biggest press photography competition in the world. The exhibit of the best pictures is held in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam at the Damsquare, next to the palace. In this church the Dutch King and Queen got married in 2002.
www.worldpressphoto.org