A look at the highlights of what’s happening in and around Amsterdam during November and December 2009. This is the winter holiday season with the country celebrating “Sinterklaas” on December 5th and then we head towards Christmas and New Year.

Museums / Exhibitions

Hermitage Amsterdam
“At The Russian Court – Palace and Protocol in the 19th Century”. Amsterdam’s latest big attraction, the newly renovated Hermitage museum. This exhibition runs throughout Novemebr and December up to January 2010.

Van Gogh Museum
Alfred Stevens – Retrospective of this 19th century Belgian artist.
Runs to January 24th 2010.

Amsterdam Historical Museum
“The Sixties NOW!” – Look back at the revolutionary decade and its impact in Amsterdam. Runs to February 2010.

Museum of Bags and Purses
“Made in Britain” – designer bags on show from UK.
Runs through Nov/Dec until February 21st 2010.

Tropenmuseum
“Greetings From” : Historical Postcards of (Tropical) Illnesses and Treatments. Runs until November 29th.
“The Dono Code” – Exhibition from Indonesian artist Heri Dono.
Runs to February 28th 2010.

Dutch Resistance Museum
“Season ‘40-’45″ – Football during World War II.
Long running exhibition to April 2010.

Jewish Historical museum
“A Master Revealed” – Meijer de Haan – Dutch 19th century artist retrospective. Runs until January 24th 2010.

Nieuwe Kerk (New Church)
Oman: Cultural exhibition with 250 objects.
Running until April 18th 2010.

Museum Van Loon
“A Beautiful View” – Exhibition of panelling painter Jurriaan Andriessen (1742-1819). Runs to January 4th 2010.

Amsterdam Stadarchief
“Amsterdam: Capital of Finance” exhibition.
November 20th to February 28th 2010.

Museum Night will be held on November 7th – around 40 museums will be open between 1900 and 0200.

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

Amsterdam Festivals

IDFA
International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam
250 films showing between November 19th and 29th.

Winterparade
Theatre, music, dance, film and activities at the Westergasfabriek
December 18th – 31st.

Sport in Amsterdam

Ajax home league matches – Amsterdam ArenA:
November 1st – Ajax vs Feyenoord
November 22nd – Ajax vs Heerenveen
December 11th – Ajax vs NEC

Other Amsterdam Events

Eddie Izzard – British stand-up comedian.
November 13th/14th – Heineken Music Hall

Soweto Gospel Choir
November 27th – Royal Theatre Carre

Holiday on Ice – Spirit of the World
December 3rd-13th – Amsterdam RAI

Miljonair Fair
“World’s Leading Luxury Fair”
December 10th-14th – Amsterdam RAI

World Christmas Circus
December 18th- January 3rd – Royal Theatre Carre

Riverdance The Farwell Tour
December 15th – 20th – Heineken Music Hall

Hamlet – Shakespeare
December 18th/19th – Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam

Christmas Concert
December 19th – Oranjekerk

The Nutcracker – Ballet – choreographer Marco Goeke.
December 22nd/23rd – Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam

Apassionata – Charm of Freedom - Dance show.
December 25th/26th/27th – Amsterdam RAI

Classical chamber concerts running most Sundays at 1600
through November / December at Museum Geelvinck.

Organ concerts (€5 admission, museum card free)
Held at OudeKerk ay 1500 on Nov 1st/15th/22nd/29th,
Dec 5th/12th/19th/23rd/27th/30th

Concerts in Amsterdam / Netherlands

November 1st – Spandau Ballet – Heineken Music Hall
November 1st/2nd – Ilse DeLange - Melkweg
November 4th – Maxwell – Heineken Music Hall
November 6th – Royksopp – Melkweg
November 8th/9th – Skunk Anansie – Paradiso
November 10th/11th – Arctic Monkeys – Heineken Music Hall
November 14th – Marianne Faithful – Paradiso
November 17th – Deep Purple – Heineken Music Hall
November 22nd – Franz Ferdinand - Heineken Music Hall
November 23rd – The Prodigy - Heineken Music Hall
November 24th – Simpe Minds - Heineken Music Hall
December 7th – Maralyn Manson – Heineken Music Hall
December 12th – Ellen ten Damme – Meervart

Other big concerts in the rest of Netherlands…

November 10th/11th – Cliff Richard & The Shadows – Ahoy, Rotterdam
November 12th/16th – Anouk - Ahoy, Rotterdam
November 13th – Bryan Adams – De Doelen, Rotterdam
November 15th – Backstreet Boys – Ahoy, Rotterdam
November 30th – Depeche Mode – Ahoy, Rotterdam
December 1st – UB40 – Ahoy, Rotterdam
December 2nd/4th – Anouk - Ahoy, Rotterdam
December 6th – Pink - Ahoy, Rotterdam
December 9th – Paul McCartney: Good Evening Holland – Gelderdome Arnhem

Accommodation in Amsterdam

There is a wide variety of accommodation in Amsterdam to suit every budget. If you are wanting to visit in December (and especially for New Year’s Eve) then you should book in advance.

If you are after a hostel or cheaper hotel / appartment then have a look at Hostelbookers who have no booking fees.

For a very good selection of hotels then check out EasyToBook. Our own recommended hotel idea is the hip but good value Hotel V Frederiksplein quite near the centre with free wifi and breakfast included. If you have an early flight out of Amsterdam Schiphol then consider the CitizenM hotel which is a few minutes walk from the terminal.

A look at various events happening in and around Amsterdam during September and October 2009. While autumn will soon be upon us the weather can still be particularly good in Netherlands during September. Now is an excellent time to book a late summer / early autumn visit to Amsterdam.

Museums / Exhibitions

Hermitage Amsterdam
“At The Russian Court” – Palace and Protocol in the 19th Century. The newly refurbished and expanded Hermitage Amsterdam recently opened its doors. This exhibition will run to January 2010.

Rijksmuseum Schiphol
“The Art of Flying” – Bird paintings by Dutch artist Melchior d’Hondecoeter (1636-1695). Runs to October 26th.

Museum of Bags and Purses
“Made in Britain” – designer bags on show from UK.
From September 7th onwards to February 21st 2010.

Tropenmuseum
“Greetings From“: Historical Postcards of (Tropical) Illnesses and Treatments. Not for the faint-hearted! Runs to November 29th.

Dutch Resistance Museum
“Season ‘40-’45” – Football during World War II.
Runs throughout 2009 to April 2010.

Nieuwe Kerk (New Church)
Oman: Cultural exhibition with 250 objects.
Starts October 17th running to April 18th 2010.

Oude Kerk (Old Church)
Short photo exhibition: 25 years Doctors Without Borders
September 8th-13th 2009.

Jewish Historical Museum
Morocco: Photo exhibition of Jews in southern Morocco.
Runs until September 18th.

Museum Geelvinck
“Paintings and mixed media by Kay Yoshiya”
Japanese artist, September 6th to October 23rd.

FOAM Photography Museum
Massimo Vitali exhibition – beach photos from Italy and Turkey. Runs until September 9th.

Beurs van Berlage
“The Complete Rembrandt - Life size” Using special digital reconstruction this popular exhibition brings over 600 of Rembrandt’s paintings and drawings together for the first time. Runs to September 6th.

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

Festivals

Dutch Theatre Festival
Various performances, some with English subtitles.
Stadsschouwburg + various theatres, September 3rd – 13th.

Valtifest
Open air tent festival with music, DJs, dance.
NDSM-wharf, September 5th.

Gospel Festival
Heineken Music Hall, September 5th-6th.

Jordaan Festival
Dutch Music at Marnixstraat/ Elandsgracht
September 18th – 20th.

Cinekid
International Film, TV, Media Festival for children.
Westergasfabriek, October 14th – 23rd.

Amstedam Dance Festival / Conference
Dance events in clubs/venues all over the city in conjunction with electronic music conference
October 21st-24th.

Other Events

IBC Conference / Exhibition
International event for electronic media industry
Amsterdam RAI, September 10th – 15th.

PICNIC conference
International Media / Tech conference with speakers
and informal festival atmosphere.
Westergasfabriek, September 23rd – 25th.

Woonbeurs
House/Home Exhibition
Amsterdam RAI, September 30th – October 5th.

Sport

Ajax home league matches – Amsterdam ArenA:
September 13th – Ajax vs NAC Breda
September 27th – Ajax vs ADO Den Haag
October 17th – Ajax vs Willem II

Concerts

September 5th – Andre Rieu – Amsterdam ArenA
September 17th – Tori Amos - Heineken Music Hall
September 21st – McFly - Paradiso
October 4th/5th/6th – Kane - Paradiso
October 5th – The Dubliners – Paradiso
October 11th – The Cult – Heineken Music Hall
October 13th – Pixies - Heineken Music Hall
October 20th – Joan Baez – Koninklijk Theater Carré
October 25th – Lily Allen – Heineken Music Hall
October 27th – Massive Attack – Heineken Music Hall

Other big names in the rest of Netherlands…

September 9th/10th – Coldplay – De Goffert, Nijmegen
October 6th – Tom Jones – Ahoy, Rotterdam
October 13th – Fleetwood Mac – Ahoy, Rotterdam
October 16th – Green Day – Ahoy, Rotterdam
October 17th – Elton John – Ahoy, Rotterdam
October 27th/28th – Eros Ramazzotti – Ahoy, Rotterdam