A guide to what’s happening in Amsterdam in July and August 2010. The height of summer is a wonderful time to be in Amsterdam – take in one of the city’s many festivals or concerts, check out a museum exhibition or chill out and hit the beach. August sees the Sail 2010 tall ships extravaganza.

Museums / Exhibitions

Hermitage Amsterdam – Matisse to Malevich: Pioneers of Modern Art from the Hermitage – includes works by Matisse, Picasso, De Vlaminck, Derain and others.  Running through the summer (ends September).

Rijksmuseum – Miró & Jan Steen together for the first time – Dutch interiors by Miró who visited Netherlands in the late 1920s. Runs June 17th to September 13th 2010.

Amsterdam Historical Museum – The Hoerengracht – Installation representing Amsterdam’s red-light district by Edward & Nancy Kienholz. Ends August 28th.

Tropenmuseum – Africa Scores – Interactive World Cup exhibition. Reportage and photos from every match in South Africa. The Tropentheater will be transformed into an African Sports Cafe showing live matches. Until August 22nd.

Rembrandt House – Frans Lodewijk Pannekoek : Printmaker – Prints from this Dutch artist (1934 -) including landscapes, animals and portraits. To October 3rd.

Dutch Resistance Museum – Love in Wartime – Looking at the human side of WW2 where love blossomed under harsh living conditions. New long-term exhibition runs til April 2011.

Jewish Historical Museum – Jewish art exhibitions from Mayer July (Colorful Memories of a Polish Childhood) and Charlotte Salomon. Until October 10th.

Allard Pierson Museum – The Stone Frontier – Photo exhibition of Hadrian’s Wall (near the England-Scotland border) built by the Romans 2000 years ago. Runs to August 29th.

Museums of Bags and Purses – Crystal loves Leather – Swarovski crystals on bags and accessories. Runs until August 29th.

For more information about museums in the city go here:  Amsterdam Museums

Sport in Amsterdam / Netherlands

FC Ajax vs Chelsea – Pre-season friendly with the Premier League champions visiting the Amsterdam ArenA. Friday July 23rd, kick-off 1800.

Ajax vs Roda JC - Ajax’s first home league game  of the new 2010/11 Eredivisie season. Amsterdam ArenA, August 21st, kick-off 2045.

Dutch “NK” Athletics Championships – Olympic Stadium Amsterdam – July 17th/18th.

Tour De France – The start of this year’s cycling race will be held in Rotterdam. The Prologue on Saturday July 3rd will be an 8.9km time trial around the city. Stage 1 on July 4th sees the riders on a 223km ride from Rotterdam to Brussels via Zeeland.

Amsterdam Open – International EAP Athletics Meet – Olympic Stadium Amsterdam – August 7th.

Cricket matches in Netherlands:

Netherlands – Derbyshire – July 30th – Excelsior’20 in Schiedam*
Netherlands – Yorkshire – August 1st – Excelsior’20 in Schiedam*
Netherlands – Northants – August 22nd – VOC Rotterdam
(* near Rotterdam)

Other events in Amsterdam

Sail 2010 – Major tall ship event held every 5 years. August 19th – 23rd.

Over het Ij Festival – Summer theatre festival held around the waterfront of the Ij river. Main stage at the NDSM wharf (Amsterdam North), accessible by free city ferry. July 1st to 11th.

Julidans - International contemporary dance festival in Amsterdam. Held at various theatre venues: Stadsschouwburg, Paradiso, Bellevue, Melkweg, Bijlmer Parktheater and Vondelpark’s open-air theatre. July 1st to 14th.

Fiesta Cubana – DJ Arno hosts a popular monthly salsa dance party at the Badcuyp (Eerste Sweelinckstraat 10, just off Albert Cuyp straat). Next event on July 2nd (2200 – 0245) – entry €5. (Note, no event in August).

Sensation – World renowned DJ dance event and stage show. Amsterdam ArenA – July 3rd (note, tickets are sold out)

De Parade – Mobile theatre festival which visits Rotterdam, the Hague, Utrecht and Amsterdam. The Amsterdam event will take place over 2 weeks at Martin Luther King park (Rivierenbuurt, take tram 25) where theatre tents will be set up and dozens of performances take place.  August 6th to 22nd.

Loveland Festival – Big DJ dance festival event to be held at Sloterpark in the western suburbs of Amsterdam on August 14th.

Grachten Festival – “Canal festival” featuring young classical music performers at venues throughout Amsterdam. August 14th to 22nd.

Uitmarkt – Largest cultural festival in Netherlands taking place in Amsterdam centre. 3 main stages will be located at Dam square, Nieuwmarkt and close to the Muziektheater. August 27th – 29th. Free.

Concertgebouw – BBC National Orchestra of Wales – play 2 concerts (various composers) on August 4th / 5th. European Union Youth Orchestra – Dvorák vioilin concerto /Tchaikovski 6th on August 20th. Plus full concert agenda daily at the Concertgebouw.

Westerkerk – Free lunchtime organ concert every Friday at 1300. Plus
Geen Dag Zonder Bach (No Day Without Bach) – daily between August 2nd to 7th at 1240 – voluntary contributions appreciated.

Vondelpark - Free open air concerts to be held every weekend during summer. Friday evenings, Saturday & Sundays.

Pop / Rock Concerts in Amsterdam

July 2nd – Faithless - Live at Westerpark
July 4th/10th – Anouk - Live at Westerpark
July 5th – Scissor Sisters – Paradiso
July 8th/9th – Marco Borsato – Live at Westerpark
July 12th – Billy Idol – Paradiso
July 19th – Morcheeba – Paradiso
August 4th – The Dandy Warhols – Paradiso
August 18th – Goldfrapp – Paradiso
August 31st – Robin Gibb (Bee Gees Hits) – Heineken Music Hall

City Beaches

NEMO – On the roof of the Science Museum (at Oosterdok 2) with cool views of Amsterdam.

Ijburg Strand – Blijburg aan Zee can be reached by tram 26 (end of the line) – a real sandy beach on the Ij water.

Strand West – City beach pavilion located at Stavangerweg 900 in west Amsterdam near Houthavens (Westerpark).

Strand Zuid – City beach pavilion located at Europaplein 22 near Beatrixplein and RAI.

Alternatively head over to real beaches at Zandvoort or Bloemendaal – great to watch the sunset and have a meal on a summer evening.

Book Your Hotel in Amsterdam

Try to book your hotel well in advance to secure the lowest rates, particularly when attending any major events in Amsterdam. For a great selection of hotels at rates up to 80% off please click here.

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