Spring Events in Amsterdam
Spring is an active season in the Amsterdam life. For the King’s Day (April 27) festivities celebrating King Willem-Alexander birthday, more than a million people arrive to the city. The most important moment of the commemorations is a the boat parade along the canals with dancing and music on the boats, as well as on the canal banks.
March Amsterdam Events
CinemAsia Film Festival
7 March - 12 March
Recent films from Asia will be shown during the 9th edition of this festival established in 2004, held each year at the renowned art cinema Kriterion. The festival has several carefully thought out sections - six feature films are selected to the Main Competition, there is also the Golden Horse Taipei Film Festival selection, while Food and Film events show each day films and offer food from different asiatic countries. There is also the Asian gay and lesbian film selection. Also an asiatic market during the festival weekend.
www.cinemasia.nl
Silent Procession
Sunday night around March 15 each year: 18 March
In the Middle Ages, Amsterdam was an important city for the Catholics. It is here that in 1345 the Eucharistic miracle took place. To memorise this marvel Amsterdam events, each year around March 15 The Silent Procession (Stille Omgang) of believers walks at night through the Old City. Last years the Silent Procession has drawn thousands of believers.
Keukenhof Flower Garden
March to May each year, 23 March - 21 May
A traditional park located out of Amsterdam showing Dutch spring flowers. Established in 1950, the Keukenhof is a big tourist attraction with 15 kilometres (9,3 miles) of walking footpaths among flowers.
Amsterdam Wine Festival
24 March - 26 March
First edition of the festival which starts with an accent on wines from the Southern Hemisphere of the globe - South America, South Africa and Australia. The Amsterdam Wine Festival offers its visitors an opportunity to taste of some selected wines, a participation in wine workshops and a possibility to buy books about wine. Location: Westergasfabriek (a defunct gas production facility area in Amsterdam West); tickets are € 12 (adults only).
www.amsterdamwinefestival.nl
Open Tower Day (Open Toren Dag)
Saturday in the middle of March each year: 25 March
Netherlands is known for its flat landscape but the Dutch admire towers, for centuries perfecting their construction on their muddy uncertain land. Each year a special event - De Open Toren Dag opens for one Saturday at 10 A.M. the doors of most celebrated Amsterdam towers - historical and modern. While modern skyscrapers have lifts, to enjoy the unique view of The Old Amsterdam be prepared to climb long and narrow stairs. Check the organisers website for the list of towers accessible.
opentorendag.nl
National Restaurant Week
one week in March and September each year; 28 March - 14 April
Two times a year, restaurants all over the Netherlands organise a week long event, during which they offer to their clients a full 3 course dinner starting at €19,50 and an average price of €45 (different prices at different restaurants). The National Dining Week is a truly great idea creating an opportunity to taste the food at some of the best Amsterdam eating places. A list of the participating restaurants changes – to check for the place of your interest look at:
April Amsterdam Events
The Japanese Sakura (Cherry Blossom watching)
in April: not announced yet
A traditional Japanese celebration of blossoming cherry trees. In Amsterdam area the best location to celebrate Sakura are the Japanse Bloesempark (Japanese Blossom Park) in the Amsterdamse Bos and the Japanese Garden in the Amstelveense Park. Four hundred blossom cherry trees were planted in Amsterdamse Bos by the Japanese women expats living in Amsterdam as a memorial of the tragic Asian tsunami of 2000. Japanese families usually celebrate Sakura by picnicking under the blossom trees.
Imagine Film Festival
12 April - 22 April 
33nd edition of the Imagine Film Festival promises ten days full of fantasy, anime, thriller, cult, horror and sci-fi Amsterdam events. Screenings are at the EYE Film Institute.
World Press Photo
April - June each year: 15 April - 25 June 
Amsterdam World Press Photo is the biggest world’s press photography competition organised each year by the foundation based in Amsterdam with 80,000 photo entries competing. The exhibit of the World Press Photo best pictures is held in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam and is later shown not only in other cities in the Netherlands, but during more than 100 local shows in countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and America.
www.worldpressphoto.org
Cinéma Arabe
each year in April: 18 April - 23 Apr , dates to be confirmed
The Arab Film Festival taking place each year at the Rialto Cinema shows a selection of the best Arab films of the last year. Movies are subtitled in English or Dutch, please inform about the particular movie version with the organisers.
www.cinemaarabe.nl
Awakenings Easter Special
13 April - 16 April
Four days of explosive techno music event held at the Westergasfabriek area with a hundred of music concerts led by the best DJ’s. An event warming up the public in Amsterdam before the upcoming King’s Day.
www.awakenings.com
Koningsdag - King's Day
Thursday, 27 April 
Amsterdam King’s Day (Dutch: Koningsdag, formerly Queensday) is officially the national celebration of the birthday of the King, but is also an occasion to festive parties all over the country. The celebrations take place all over the Netherlands, but have a special atmosphere in big cities like Amsterdam, Rotterdam or The Hague.
In Amsterdam, King’s Day is by far the largest open-air festivity, with up to one million people arriving to participate, mostly by train as on this day there is no access to the city by car. Places in the city centre like Dam, Museumplein, Rembrandtplein, Leidseplein and the whole Jordaan area are bursting with crowds wearing orange and celebrating. On King’s Day, street trade all over the city is unregulated, it is also the time for second-hand shopping. In Vondelpark the children show their talents offering various attractions.
May Amsterdam Events
Remembrance and Liberation Day
each year, 4 May - 5 May
A yearly memorial celebrations for the fallen of the WWII (May 4) and the Liberation Day (May 5) of the Netherlands by the Allied forces in 1945. While May 4, the Remembrance of the Dead Day is not an official holiday some establishments may close, the Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag) is a holiday celebrating also the values of freedom and democracy. Many shops will stay closed or open during shorter hours like on Sunday. The Liberation Day is officially observed once every 5 years, next time on May 5, 2020.
Vondelpark Open Air Theater
5 May until middle of September
Dutch: Openluchttheater, Vondelpark, Various times
Are you trying to cool off this summer? Go to the open air theatre just by the fountain and let the entertainment do the work. From cabaret to drama to concerts to dance, there is something here for everyone and of all ages. Worth a visit just for the atmosphere.
www.openluchttheater.nl
Amsterdam Art Fair (Kunst RAI)
17 May - 21 May
An important contemporary art fair, with an accent on the most recent developments in Dutch art. As last years the fair became more international in its character its name has been changed to Amsterdam Art Fair.
ArtZuid
19 May - 17 September
An international sculpture exhibit held in the streets of South Amsterdam (Amsterdam Zuid). More than 60 big outdoor sculptures by the renowned artists as Georg Baselitz, Tony Cragg, John Chamberlain and Mimmo Paladino. The exhibited art works, often truly monumental in size, are selected by the former curator of the Amsterdam Stedelijk Museum Rudi Fuchs. A catalog of the exhibit together with the 1,5 hour guided tour is usually € 20, but you may view the sculptures on your own following the Internet info.
www.artzuid.nl
Hemeltjelief
held on the Ascension Day: Thursday, 25 May
A family festival held yearly on the Ascension Day with a varied program of the popular music shows, theatre and crafts and competitions for the youngest. Children under 12 are admitted free. This is the whole day event (11 AM - 11 PM ) with afterparty for the older participants at one of the Amsterdam cafes.
www.hemeltjelieffestival.nl
Rolling Kitchens - Rollende Keukens
in May each year: Wednesday, 24 May - Sunday, 28 May
The 9th instalment of the food festival held Thursday through Friday, a prolonged weekend, at the Westergasfabriek, a defunct gas production facility area in the Western Amsterdam, 1 PM - 11 PM of each day. The mass culinary event where meals and drinks are sold from food trucks - hence the name. Inexpensive food and no admission fee. Also some improvised concerts.
www.rollendekeukens.amsterdam
Diynamic Festival
27 May 2016
A third edition of the Amsterdam music festival organised on several venues in Europe with the collaboration of Hamburg music label DIYnamic, very important for the European electronic music scene. This is a one day event is held from 11 AM until 11 PM in Amsterdamse Bos, a big park located between Amsterdam and Amstelveen. Tickets are € 50,00
www.diyanamicfestival.nl