Culture News in English

Video | How Romee Strijd reacted to all the controversy surrounding her Victoria's Secret rejection

Dutch model Romee Strijd has addressed the public controversy surrounding her rejection from the Victoria's Secret fashion show. She spoke about the situation following the event which took place in L...

Screen time | Facebook film raises painful question: has anything changed at Meta?

Meta continues to face criticism regarding privacy concerns with its wearable technology and its influence on societal polarization. The release of the film The Social Reckoning, based on whistleblowe...

Actor and writer Maarten Spanjer dies at age 73

Actor and author Maarten Spanjer has died at the age of 73 following a rapid decline in his health. Known for his roles in the film Spetters and the television program Taxi, he passed away in hospice ...

Our tips for the best free parties during Amsterdam Dance Event

The 30th edition of the Amsterdam Dance Event is approaching, offering a wide array of performances across the city. Attendees who missed out on sold-out tickets can still enjoy various free events, i...

Our tips for the best free parties during Amsterdam Dance Event

The 30th edition of the Amsterdam Dance Event offers numerous free performances across the city despite many main events selling out. Attendees can enjoy a diverse range of genres, including house, te...

The interim assessment of Project Cruyff: 8 conclusions on his mission at Ajax

Jordi Cruijff has reached his 250th day as a leader at Ajax, prompting an evaluation of his influence on the club's operations. Eight specific conclusions have been drawn regarding his mission as the ...

30 years of ADE: how a small networking conference grew into the world's largest dance marathon

The Amsterdam Dance Event is celebrating its 30th anniversary, having grown from a small industry gathering into the world's largest dance festival. Over the past three decades, the event has helped t...

These were this week's best-selling books at Scheltema

Jewish photographer Maria Austria captured Moluccan families in former Westerbork camp in 1952: ‘She recognized what those people were feeling’

In 1952, the Jewish Amsterdam-based photographer Maria Austria documented Moluccan families living in the former Westerbork camp. Her work is currently featured in an exhibition at the Herinneringscen...

Twelve women accuse festival organizer Omid Kahali of sexual misconduct: ‘His hands were everywhere, while I didn’t even know how I got there’

Twelve women have accused Omid Kahali, the former director of festival organization Sona, of sexual misconduct. Kahali recently stepped down from his position at the company, which is responsible for ...

Dandy and contrarian Whistler cared little for anatomy in his portraits: harmony took precedence over reality

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is presenting a major retrospective on the British-American artist James McNeill Whistler, known for his nonconformist approach to traditional painting. The exhibition...

From the pawn shop to the terrazzo mosaic floor in the Rijksmuseum: Italian traces can be found all over Amsterdam

The Italian presence in Amsterdam has expanded rapidly in recent years, reflecting a long history of migration that began with medieval Lombard bankers. From historical clandestine churches and specia...

Exhibition reveals how the former owners of Huis Willet-Holthuysen were deeply involved in the slave trade

An exhibition at Museum Huis Willet-Holthuysen in Amsterdam explores how the residence's 18th-century owners profited from the colonial slave trade. The display details how the city's canal district s...

The first time I saw Cabaret, I thought writer Joe Masteroff was a visionary

This column discusses the film Spinoza and the musical Cabaret, both of which explore historical themes of freedom and social progress that remain relevant today. By reflecting on the fictionalized fr...

Singer Trijntje Oosterhuis (53): ‘My childhood Cornelis Schuytstraat had quaint little shops, now it’s become a Rodeo Drive’

Singer Trijntje Oosterhuis reflects on the rapid commercial transformation of Amsterdam and discusses her new book on the vulnerability of singing. She compares the experience of performance to being ...

Jazz saxophonist Jasper Blom: ‘I don’t want people to know how pleasant it is in Watergraafsmeer’

Jazz saxophonist Jasper Blom has released a new trio album titled WonderYears, which reimagines the music of Stevie Wonder. The release aligns with Wonder's upcoming concert at the Ziggo Dome in Amste...

IDFA film festival sounds alarm over higher tourist tax: 'Amsterdam is pricing itself out of the market for cultural events'

The IDFA documentary festival warns that rising hotel VAT and tourist taxes are making it difficult to host international cultural events in Amsterdam. Festival director Cees van 't Hullenaar states t...

The Amsterdam of children's book author Kevin Hassing: 'T's Teabar on the Jan Evertsenstraat is the best place to meet up'

Children's book author and actor Kevin Hassing discusses his favorite local spots in Amsterdam and the ongoing musical tour of his popular series. He highlights his preferred eateries and shops while ...

Order snacks and a big bottle of wine at Rotate, but dine elsewhere (5.5)

Restaurant Rotate near Leidseplein offers a high-end atmosphere and an excellent wine selection but falls short regarding the quality of its main dishes. Reviewer Mara Grimm suggests enjoying the drin...

ITA turns The Copenhagen Trilogy away from 1930s realism: Theater is a live event

ITA's production of Tove Ditlevsen's The Copenhagen Trilogy avoids a realistic stage adaptation. The company emphasizes the importance of theater as a live, immediate event rather than a historical re...

Liberation party at café Het Nutteloos Verzet in Reguliersdwarsstraat interrupted by morals police

Tonia Sluijter opened the café Het Nutteloos Verzet on the Reguliersdwarsstraat in August 1945, which quickly became a popular spot for artists and youth. The venue operated for two months before bei...

Selma Blair responds to arrest: 'I didn't mean to hurt anyone on the plane'

Actress Selma Blair has pleaded not guilty to assault charges following an incident on a Delta Airlines flight to New York. Her representatives attribute the event to a medical emergency and have chal...

Charly Luske: It sounds crazy, but I don’t value life that much

Singer Charly Luske shares personal lifestyle changes, including quitting alcohol and incorporating daily chocolate into his diet. He also experimented with baby Botox and jokingly notes that he drink...

Roxeanne Hazes found the sound for her new album after a good nervous breakdown

Singer Roxeanne Hazes has released her new album, Tranen In De Giftshop, after overcoming creative doubts and focusing on a more authentic, nostalgic sound. The record features deeply personal tracks ...

Missing Hajar (29) found dead in water on Amsteldijk, police suspect foul play

Hajar, a 29-year-old woman missing since October 4, has been found dead in the water at the Amsteldijk in Amsterdam. Police are treating the case as a crime and have initiated a large-scale investigat...

Family ‘pitches’ grandma during this Amsterdam dating night: ‘There’s no need for fooling around, friendship is also welcome’

During the Week Against Loneliness, a special dating event in Amsterdam allows families to help their relatives over the age of 65 find new companions. Participants are open to finding romantic love o...

Two Joost Zwagerman Essay Prize nominees withdraw over AI use

Two nominees for the Joost Zwagerman Essay Prize have withdrawn their submissions following an AI-based authenticity check that raised concerns about their work. The prize organizers now intend to tig...

Writer, poet, and filmmaker Nafiss Nia (58) brings poetry to the streets of Amsterdam with 'Poetry on the Sidewalk': 'Before you know it, you're enchanted'

Nafiss Nia, a poet and filmmaker, has founded the Poëzie op de stoep initiative to bring literature into the public spaces of Amsterdam. The project aims to foster community connection by displaying ...

More overnight stays in Amsterdam again, but fewer visitors from outside Europe

Amsterdam expects 24.4 million overnight stays in 2026, driven by continuous growth despite a drop in visitors from outside Europe. To manage the pressure of mass tourism and address resident concerns...

New artists exhibit work in Museumplein parking garage: "This is perfect"

Twenty young artists are displaying their work for one night in the parking garage under Amsterdam's Museumplein. The exhibition, organized to provide exposure for recent graduates, is open this eveni...