Amsterdam News in English

Daily Amsterdam news translated from Dutch local newspapers into English for expats, international students, and digital nomads.

Young people explore how propaganda works in Holocaust Museum performance
rss

Young people explore how propaganda works in Holocaust Museum performance

A group of young people is preparing a performance titled *Virus of the Mind* at the National Holocaust Museum to investigate how propaganda and dehumanization lead to the exclusion of social groups. ...

The 7 best doner kebab sandwiches in Amsterdam
parool

The 7 best doner kebab sandwiches in Amsterdam

This article highlights several top-rated döner kebab establishments across Amsterdam, featuring well-known spots such as Beste Döner, Ibo’s, and Erol Döner. These locations are recognized for th...

Major setback after 400,000 liters of firefighting water flood burnt Vondelkerk
rss

Major setback after 400,000 liters of firefighting water flood burnt Vondelkerk

Efforts are underway to pump 400,000 liters of contaminated extinguishing water from the basement of Amsterdam's Vondelkerk following a major fire on January 1. The flooding has damaged historical arc...

The best hot chocolate in Amsterdam is served here
parool

The best hot chocolate in Amsterdam is served here

This article highlights several top-rated locations in Amsterdam for high-quality hot chocolate, featuring diverse styles ranging from thick Italian and French varieties to sustainable craft options. ...

Rijksmuseum receives €60 million donation and will create sculpture garden
rss

Rijksmuseum receives €60 million donation and will create sculpture garden

The Rijksmuseum has received its largest-ever donation of 60 million euros from the Van Rappard family, which will be used to fund operations and create a new sculpture garden in the nearby Carel Will...

Zuidas Market started as a trial among the office towers: "Now 300 to 400 people visit during lunch"
rss

Zuidas Market started as a trial among the office towers: "Now 300 to 400 people visit during lunch"

The Zuidas Market in Amsterdam has evolved from a 2021 trial into a permanent weekly fixture at George Gershwinplein, securing a five-year permit in 2023. Every Thursday, the market attracts hundreds ...

The favorite Turkish spots of Esra’s owners: ‘It felt like we were in Istanbul’
parool

The favorite Turkish spots of Esra’s owners: ‘It felt like we were in Istanbul’

Selin Kiazim and Steph de Goeijen, owners of the Amsterdam restaurant Esra, are highlighting a "new wave" of high-quality Turkish cuisine flourishing across the city. They recommend several local favo...

Should the civil service be swept clean or is bureaucratic bloat exaggerated?
rss

Should the civil service be swept clean or is bureaucratic bloat exaggerated?

Amsterdam is planning to reorganize its civil service following criticism over "administrative obesity" and concerns that its 22,000-person workforce, the largest in the Netherlands, is inefficient an...

Street safety a top priority, but unclear where exactly it is unsafe
rss

Street safety a top priority, but unclear where exactly it is unsafe

Following high-profile violent incidents in Amsterdam, street safety has become a top priority, yet research reveals that official data fails to clearly identify specific unsafe locations. Although a ...

What to do in the city during the Christmas holidays: an overview
rss

What to do in the city during the Christmas holidays: an overview

Amsterdam is hosting a wide range of festive activities during the Christmas holidays, including ice skating at various city squares, the World Christmas Circus at Carré, and the annual Amsterdam Lig...

Friends, colleagues and ballet lovers bid farewell to choreographer Hans van Manen
rss

Friends, colleagues and ballet lovers bid farewell to choreographer Hans van Manen

Hundreds of friends, colleagues, and fans gathered at the National Opera & Ballet theater to pay their final respects to renowned Dutch choreographer Hans van Manen, who passed away last Wednesday at ...

From punk to gabber: There is Ajax music in almost every genre
rss

From punk to gabber: There is Ajax music in almost every genre

Throughout its 125-year history, the Dutch football club Ajax has been celebrated through a wide variety of musical genres, ranging from punk to gabber house. These songs are almost as old as the club...

Podcast series on the Amsterdam punk movement: Paradiso was their living room
rss

Podcast series on the Amsterdam punk movement: Paradiso was their living room

Paradiso has launched "Punk in Paradiso," a six-part podcast series by music journalist Oscar Smit and artist Elmer exploring the history of the 1970s Amsterdam punk movement. The series documents how...

Many nightlife businesses worried about the future: Fishing in the same pond
rss

Many nightlife businesses worried about the future: Fishing in the same pond

A survey of 26 Amsterdam nightlife businesses reveals that nearly half of entrepreneurs fear for their survival due to declining visitor numbers and falling revenues. This downturn is attributed to ri...

Mourning the loss of Hans van Manen: "His world was a safe haven for me"
rss

Mourning the loss of Hans van Manen: "His world was a safe haven for me"

World-renowned Dutch choreographer Hans van Manen has passed away at the age of 93 in his Amsterdam home. A self-taught master of contemporary ballet associated with the Dutch National Ballet, Van Man...

Lease signed: Ruigoord can stay for another 25 years
rss

Lease signed: Ruigoord can stay for another 25 years

The Ruigoord artist village near Amsterdam has secured its future for the next 25 years after signing a new lease agreement with the Port of Amsterdam and the city municipality. Effective from January...

Mega cinema with screen three canal houses wide opens tomorrow in Houthavens
rss

Mega cinema with screen three canal houses wide opens tomorrow in Houthavens

British cinema chain Vue is opening a new 15-screen mega cinema in Amsterdam’s Houthavens district tomorrow, featuring advanced laser projection and luxury seating. The facility, which is Amsterdamâ...

NXT Museum files for bankruptcy due to COVID debts and ongoing industry pressure
rss

NXT Museum files for bankruptcy due to COVID debts and ongoing industry pressure

Amsterdam's NXT Museum has filed for bankruptcy, citing significant debts from the COVID-19 pandemic and ongoing financial pressure on the cultural sector. The museum plans to remain open until Decemb...

Stedelijk displays art once at the bottom of the disaster rescue list: Now they are favorites
rss

Stedelijk displays art once at the bottom of the disaster rescue list: Now they are favorites

The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam is hosting the "Blue Dots" exhibition, featuring artworks that were marked for the lowest evacuation priority during disasters in the 1950s and 1960s. These pieces, i...

Council criticizes GVB over treatment of staff: GVB finds apologizing quite difficult
rss

Council criticizes GVB over treatment of staff: GVB finds apologizing quite difficult

Amsterdam city council members have sharply criticized public transport operator GVB for its poor treatment of employees and a culture of intimidation, with several political parties calling for the i...

Sequel to cult classic Amsterdamned premieres: It's grimmer
rss

Sequel to cult classic Amsterdamned premieres: It's grimmer

The sequel to the 1988 cult classic *Amsterdamned* premiered at the Tuschinski theater in Amsterdam, featuring the return of Huub Stapel as detective Eric Visser. Alongside newcomer Holly Mae Brood, t...

Suriname 50 years independent: As long as you can dance a polonaise
rss

Suriname 50 years independent: As long as you can dance a polonaise

To mark the 50th anniversary of Surinamese independence, this report examines how Surinamese music has shaped the Dutch cultural scene through the work of pioneers like Edgar Burgos and modern produce...

Suriname 50 years independent: Surinamese cuisine was primarily seen as takeout
rss

Suriname 50 years independent: Surinamese cuisine was primarily seen as takeout

As Suriname celebrates 50 years of independence, a news series explores how Surinamese culture has shaped Amsterdam, specifically through the evolution of its cuisine. Father and daughter chefs Jim an...

Suriname Museum opening live on AT5 this afternoon
rss

Suriname Museum opening live on AT5 this afternoon

King Willem-Alexander will officially open the Suriname Museum in Amsterdam-Oost today as part of the celebrations marking 50 years of Surinamese independence. Accompanied by Mayor Femke Halsema, the ...

The multi-headed waste monster: why fines alone won't clean up the city
rss

The multi-headed waste monster: why fines alone won't clean up the city

The City of Amsterdam has expanded its team of waste enforcement officers to 53 members to crack down on illegal trash dumping by searching for identifiable information on items left outside container...

Growing criticism of GVB, yet it is always granted the right to operate here: why?
rss

Growing criticism of GVB, yet it is always granted the right to operate here: why?

Despite mounting criticism over service disruptions, safety incidents, and mismanagement, Amsterdam’s public transport provider GVB was recently granted a new 11-year exclusive operating contract. W...

More than 500 malfunctions: why the bicycle conveyor belt at Central Station keeps failing
rss

More than 500 malfunctions: why the bicycle conveyor belt at Central Station keeps failing

The moving walkways at Amsterdam Central Station’s €91 million underground bicycle parking facility have recorded 506 malfunctions since opening in early 2023. These frequent disruptions are cause...

City cleaning to return to neighborhood-based approach soon, says alderman
rss

City cleaning to return to neighborhood-based approach soon, says alderman

Amsterdam's city cleaning and garbage collection services will return to neighborhood-based work schedules in 2024 to combat high sick leave and a loss of local expertise. Alderman Van Buren announced...

Nuisance from illegal street races in the port area: It's life-threatening
rss

Nuisance from illegal street races in the port area: It's life-threatening

Illegal street racing and drifting in Amsterdam’s Westelijk Havengebied are causing significant safety concerns, noise, and litter for local businesses, some of which handle hazardous materials. Des...

From full English to Scotch egg and Sunday roast: 7 British food spots in Amsterdam
parool

From full English to Scotch egg and Sunday roast: 7 British food spots in Amsterdam

Amsterdam is experiencing a rise in British culinary establishments, marking a shift from the city's previous trend of French bistros toward hearty comfort food. Featured venues such as The Cottage an...