What's On Amsterdam - October 2014
Bimhuis 40 – Bimhuis, 1-5 October
Amsterdam’s most loved jazz venue turns 40 this month, and Bimhuis is celebrating in style. Concerts by groups such as Taksim Trio, Peter Evans Quintet and John Engels during the opening week are just the beginning. Lectures, international concerts, jazz movies and other festivities are being planned for the 2014/2015 season, so keep an eye on the Bimhuis website for more developments. The venue has long been the mainstay of high quality jazz in Amsterdam, and its 40th birthday celebrations are sure to cement this reputation even further.
http://bimhuis.com/
Breitner in Amsterdam – City Archives, 10 October – 1 February
Amsterdam’s Stadsarchief, or City Archives, is always a great place to see images of the city from days gone by. Opening this month is an exhibition of sketchbooks used by the much-loved painter George Hendrik Breitner to create works showing life in Amsterdam at the turn of the 20th Century. Photographs taken by Breitner of the areas he chose to paint are also on show, giving visitors an excellent glimpse into the painter’s process. Selected works ordinarily held in the Rijksmuseum will also be on display. Guided tours of the exhibition are available on request, see the Stadsarchief website for more details.
http://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl/
Leiden Celebrates! – Rembrandt House, 17 October – 25 January
To celebrate the 200-year anniversary of its collection’s beginning, the University of Leiden has loaned a remarkable series of 17th Century drawings to the Rembrandt House museum in Amsterdam. Studies, sketches and doodles – many of which have never been seen by the public before – will be on display from recognisable names such as Simon de Vlieger, Jan van Goyen, Govert Flinck and even Rembrandt himself. There will also be works by lesser-known artists shown, with the full collection numbering upwards of 75 drawings. For more details, including opening hours and entrance fees, consult the Rembrandt House website.
http://www.rembrandthuis.nl/
Origin Chocolate Event – Tropen Museum, 24-25 October
Chocolate tasting, anyone? This is never a question likely to receive a negative answer, and so Origin Chocolates are hoping to draw quite a crowd to their tasting event at the Tropen Museum this month. Visitors will be able to taste various sustainably produced chocolates, which their makers say rival fine wines in complexity of flavour, meet respected chocolatiers and experience the harmony between chocolate and accompaniments such as wine and whiskey. A special chocolate dinner will also be held the night before the main event. Tickets for both can be purchased from the company website.
http://www.originchocolate.eu/
The Underworld Halloween costume party – Hotel Arena Club, 31 October
The biggest and spookiest Halloween party in Amsterdam, The Underworld party brings all the ghouls out of the woodwork for one crazy night of costumes and cocktails at the Hotel Arena Club. The night is part of the Halloween Amsterdam line up for the weekend, which includes a costume workshop on the day of the party for those who really want to impress. And with cash prizes for best costume, best makeup and best group, you may want to put your best foot (or hoof, or claw) forward! Tickets start at EUR 24.50 and can be purchased through the event’s website or from various shops in the city.
http://halloweenamsterdam.com/
For details of regular festivals and events in Amsterdam, check out our Events page.