Amsterdam News in English
Amsterdam news in English — daily headlines from Dutch local newspapers covering housing, transport, city politics, neighbourhoods, culture and events, for expats, international students and English-speaking residents.
Turn in fireworks without penalty in East: "There are some really dangerous items among them"
Residents in Amsterdam handed over nearly 350 kilograms of fireworks, including illegal items, during a one-day government-organized amnesty event at Sportpark Voorland. The initiative aims to help ci...
8 former cinemas in Amsterdam
Eight historic cinemas in Amsterdam have been repurposed for new uses while retaining significant architectural remnants of their past. Through restored neon signs and preserved decorative details, th...
KLM names first Airbus A350 The Night Watch, but business class seats cannot be used yet
KLM has officially received its first Airbus A350, which has been named De Nachtwacht, following its flight from the factory in Toulouse to Schiphol Airport. Although the aircraft has arrived, the air...
Politics on the Amstel: PRO under fire during budget debate and trash can fiasco looms
The Amsterdam city council recently convened to discuss next year's budget, with significant scrutiny directed toward the leading party, PRO. The debate also covered administrative challenges, includi...
Internal police committee: 2024 riot police violence against pro-Palestinian protesters in Westpoort was disproportionate
An internal police commission found that riot police used disproportionate force against pro-Palestinian protesters in Amsterdam's Westpoort area during November 2024. However, the Public Prosecution ...
Spookily fun! 9 Halloween parties and outings in Amsterdam
Amsterdam is hosting numerous Halloween events on October 31, ranging from family-friendly costume parties to late-night club nights and theatrical performances. Various venues across the city will fe...
Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen named associate artist for Holland Festival anniversary
Singaporean artist Ho Tzu Nyen has been appointed as the associate artist for the 2027 edition of the Holland Festival. The festival will open with the European premiere of the jazz opera Champion, wh...
Olcay Gulsen injured after watch robbery in Amsterdam: 'Ridiculous'
Entrepreneur Olcay Gulsen sustained injuries during a violent watch robbery outside her office in Amsterdam. She has filed a police report and authorities are currently searching for two suspects who ...
Boys (13, 14 and 15) from Zeeburg riot group arrested for assault and street robbery
Three teenagers have been arrested for multiple violent crimes and street robberies in Amsterdam after their earlier involvement in neighborhood disturbances escalated. The group, which had been under...
Financial milestones every expat hits in their first couple of years in the Netherlands
Expats moving to the Netherlands must navigate various financial milestones, starting with basic administrative requirements like obtaining a BSN number and opening a local bank account. Over time, th...
Woman injured after watch robbery on Sarphatikade
A woman was injured during a violent watch robbery on the Sarphatikade in Amsterdam-Centrum yesterday evening. The suspect escaped on a scooter with an accomplice, and police are now appealing for wit...
All city metro lines halted after system failure
A system failure has caused all metro services in Amsterdam to come to a complete halt. Transit operator GVB is currently performing a system reset and expects the disruption to last at least one hour...
No trains to and from Amsterdam Central on Saturday, NS expects increased crowds at other stations
Train traffic to and from Amsterdam Centraal will be suspended this Saturday due to essential signaling updates performed by ProRail. While train services will remain available at other stations, the ...
Is Fikkie the right fit for me?
Choosing a pet involves more than just selecting a cute animal, as owners must prioritize health and the animal's origin. For pet owners in Amsterdam who struggle with veterinary costs, the organizati...
Animal Day in Amsterdam: 4 things to do on Sunday, October 4
On Sunday, October 4, Amsterdam will celebrate World Animal Day with festive activities at De Ceuvel, professional pet photography sessions, and light projections of animals on the local watertower. T...
No trains between Amsterdam Sloterdijk and Haarlem due to power failure
Train services between Amsterdam Sloterdijk and Haarlem have been suspended due to a power failure. The disruption was reported at approximately 10:40 AM, and NS advises passengers to check the travel...
Funny, mysterious – and very Amsterdam: according to our readers, this is the most beautiful Amsterdam word
Readers of Het Parool have selected the Yiddish-derived word achenebbisj as the most beautiful term in the Amsterdam dialect. The word, which implies something pitiful or disappointing, remains deeply...
Municipality expects more homeless people in winter shelters this year: significantly more beds available
Amsterdam has increased its winter shelter capacity to 760 beds to accommodate a rising number of homeless individuals, up from 500 last year. Alderman Zita Pels confirmed the city is prepared to scal...
Municipality expects more homeless people in winter shelters this year: significantly more beds available
The municipality of Amsterdam has expanded its winter shelter capacity to 760 beds to accommodate an expected increase in the number of homeless people. Officials are also prepared to activate additio...
H'art Museum shows how Matisse's colors, motifs and shapes resonated
The H'art Museum in Amsterdam is hosting an exhibition featuring the works of Henri Matisse and his contemporaries. This collection is being displayed in the Netherlands because the Centre Pompidou in...
A4 and A10 connector road closed again for the entire weekend
A section of the De Nieuwe Meer interchange connecting the A4 and A10 West will be closed this weekend for viaduct construction as part of the Zuidasdok project. Motorists should anticipate travel del...
Katwijk gives green light: US multibillion-dollar obesity drug plant approved
The municipality of Katwijk has approved the construction of a large-scale Eli Lilly pharmaceutical factory focused on obesity and diabetes medication. The project is supported by a 100 million euro g...
Celebrate Animal Day at de Ceuvel or visit a bread market: what to do in Amsterdam this week
Amsterdam is hosting a wide array of cultural and community events this week, including the Broodsalon bread market, an animal-focused festival at De Ceuvel, and the Children's Book Week festivities. ...
Documentary about war photographer Jeroen Oerlemans, killed in Libya: "He was going to go one last time"
Ten years after Amsterdam-based war photographer Jeroen Oerlemans was killed in Libya, a new documentary titled Nog Eén Keer is premiering at the Zuiderkerk. The film features personal stories from h...
Robert Vuijsje’s (55) favorite word: ‘We are those old-school Amsterdammers who know what we mean by luck’
Author Robert Vuijsje will compete in the upcoming Groot Amsterdams Dictee on October 10. He emphasizes the importance of local dialect, noting that specific phrases serve as a social signal among res...
Film distributor Pim Hermeling's Amsterdam: 'The bike path on Bilderdijkstraat could use an upgrade. What a misery'
Pim Hermeling, director of September Film and Het Ketelhuis, shares his daily routine and personal preferences as a resident of Amsterdam. He highlights his favorite local spots while voicing criticis...
From Norwegian drama to French classics: these are the 21 international films of Paff
The Paff 2026 film festival features a selection of 21 international titles, ranging from the Romanian-Norwegian production Fjord to the New York-based comedy-drama Club Kid. These films will be scree...
Karsu sang her first songs here, at Turkish restaurant Kilim on Ceintuurbaan 246
Singer Karsu shares memories of her family's Turkish restaurant, Kilim, in Amsterdam, where she performed early piano concerts as a teenager. Her career flourished following a national television appe...
Review: Songs in the Key of Life - the EP: hopefully Stevie Wonder plays these tracks at the Ziggo Dome
Stevie Wonder has released a new EP featuring four previously unheard tracks from the original recording sessions of his landmark 1976 album, Songs in the Key of Life. The artist is set to perform the...
100 years of Hema: a retail revolution that started in the wrong spot on Kalverstraat
Founded in 1926 by two Bijenkorf directors, Hema was established to provide affordable consumer goods while prioritizing long-term job security for its employees. The company's supportive culture help...