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What's On in Amsterdam April 2012
Here is our guide to what's on in Amsterdam, Netherlands during April 2012. There's plenty going on in the city and whilst the weather can vary there should be a few good, sunny days. The month sees both the Easter holiday period and the Queen's Day celebrations. |
| The Main Event |
Queen's Day 2012 - Koninginnedag is a national Dutch holiday on April 30th celebrating the Queen's birthday (actually the Queen Mother’s birthday, as Queen Beatrix was born in cold January!) Amsterdam goes orange crazy with its huge city party on both the streets and on the water. Up to 750,000 visitors cram into the city centre. Events start on April 29th (Queen's Night or koninginnenacht) with a free market (vrijmarkt) on designated streets. This is where people set up stalls and sell clothes, food, drinks and any old tat or bric-a-brac. Prices are negotiable which is all part of the fun. Many Amsterdam residents set up shop directly outside their own houses - days before they mark their territory with tape ("bezet", or "occupied"). There are also professional traders and opportunists who take advantage of the tax free trading.
The festivities continue on Queen's Day with entertainment stages set up around the city - and plenty going on around the main squares (Dam, Leidseplein, Museumplein), the Jordaan area, Vondelpark (children's market), Westerpark, NDSM-wharf, Oosterpark and Java Island. Note there is limited public transport around the centre so you will need to get around on foot. Be aware that some places get very crowded and can be difficult to pass. For a more authentic experience try Utrecht city for Queen's night or in Amsterdam head to the relaxed De Pijp neighbourhood in the south of the city. There are also many Queen's Day events all over the Netherlands including in (amongst others) Arnhem, Den Haag, Eindhoven, Groningen, Haarlem and Rotterdam. The Queen and members of the Royal Family will be visiting the towns of Veenendaal and Rhenen. |
| Book a hotel for Amsterdam |
With the Easter holiday and Queen's Day in April, it is essential to book your Amsterdam accommodation well in advance if you wish to visit at that time. Get yourself a great Amsterdam hotel deal for April (or any other time of year) with no need to pay until check-out - by booking below:
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| Museums & Exhibitions |
Museum Weekend – Many museums in Amsterdam and Netherlands throw open their doors for free entry and special events. Runs 14-15th April 2012. Expect it to be busy. EYE Film Institute – A brand new venue for films and exhibitions is located on the north bank of the IJ in Amsterdam (opposite central station, pictured below). The EYE will be opened by Queen Beatrix on 4th April 2012. The first exhibition will be "Found Footage: Cinema Exposed" revealing how artists and filmmakers utilise the huge reservoir of images on Internet, TV and DVD. Runs 5th April - 3rd June 2012.
Nieuwe Kerk – "Judaism: A World of Stories" – Major exhibition on the Jewish religion in Amsterdam's New Church on Dam Square with over 500 objects including a 1st century Dead Sea Scroll. Running until 15th April 2012. Van Gogh Museum – "Dreams of nature. Symbolism from Van Gogh to Kandinsky"– exhibition about the late 19th century Symbolism movement. Runs to 17th June 2012. "Beauty in abundance" – exhibition showing highlights of the museum's print collection, including Bonnard, Gauguin, and Toulouse-Lautrec. Ongoing until 23rd September 2012. Rijksmuseum – "OTTOMANIA: The Turkish world through Western eyes" - Observing 400 years of diplomatic relations between Netherlands and Turkey, this exhibition showcases 35 special prints from the museum collection. "Ahmet Polat: Modern Turkey" looks at Turkey today with portraits of Dutch-born Turks. Runs to 7th May 2012. Hermitage Amsterdam – "Rubens, Van Dyck & Jordaens" – Flemish paintings from the Hermitage (extended run until 15th June 2012). Amsterdam Museum – "Amsterdam DNA" – check out the relatively new permanent exhibition at Amsterdam Museum. Huis Marseille – "Guy Tillim – Second Nature" – Striking images of Polynesian islands by the South African photographer. Runs 2nd March - 3rd June 2012. Stadsarchief – "In Memoriam: The Deportation and Murder of Jewish, Roma and Sinti children, 1942-1945" – Exhibition at the city archive. Runs 10th February to 20th May 2012. Tropenmuseum – "Culture Couture – Fashion in the Tropenmuseum" – Young fashion talent from of Antwerp’s Academy of Fine Arts showcase a selection of spectacular creations inspired by other cultures. Runs to 26th June 2012. "Death Matters" – a look at how different cultures deal with death. Runs to 26th August 2012. Rembrandt House Museum – "Drawing in Rembrandt's Day – Masterpieces from the Hamburger Kunsthalle" – Exhibition of over 100 drawings by Rembrandt and his predecessors / contemporaries. Until 22nd April 2012. Jewish Historical Museum – "My Name is Cohen" – exhibition by Daniel Cohen and Mischa Cohen that focuses on how much a person's identity and image are shaped by a surname. Until 15th April 2012. "Else Berg and Mommie Schwarz: Artist couple in the Dutch avant-garde" – 80 paintings and drawings on display, running until 24th June 2012. FOAM Photo Museum – “The New York Times Magazine Photographs” – exhibition includes 300 objects by 37 photographers. Runs to 30th May 2012. Oude Kerk – “World Press Photo” – photo journalism exhibition. Opens 20th April, until 17th June 2012. Van Loon Museum – "Wealth of the Golden Age" – Exhibition of paintings by Michiel van Musscher (1645 -1705). Opens 9th March (to 10th June 2012). Verzetsmuseum – "Amsterdam through the lens of a secret camera" - wartime photo scenes at the Dutch Resistance museum. Running to 17th June 2012. Bags & Purses Museum – "frrry by Ferry Meewisse" – Meewisse's frrry refined bag collection. Running to 29th April 2012. "Out on the Town!" - the development of bags and shoes from 1900 until today. 3rd April – 2nd September 2012. Check out our comprehensive Amsterdam museums section |
| Sport |
Football:
Running: MotorSport: Korfball: |
What's
On Next Month in Amsterdam>>>May |
| Other Events in and around Amsterdam |
Easter – Public holidays on 6th April (Good Friday) and 9th April (Easter Monday). Sunday Market – Monthly market event with a focus on fashion, art and design, plus good food and drink. Sunday 1st April (Funky Easter Market) from 1200 at Westergasfabriek. De Pure Markt – Special Sunday market event (hours: 1100-1800) with a focus on selling local, seasonal and healthy produce of high quality. With music and other activities, cafe and food stalls. 1st April at Stadshart Amstelveen; 8th April at Amstelpark; 29th April at Park Frankandael, Amsterdam. Chinese National Circus – Show at Amsterdam RAI 8th - 9th April 2012. Canto Ostinato XL – 2 day festival at the Beurs van Berlage featuring harps, piano and chest organ. 14th/15th April 2012. The Met Opera – "Manon" (7th April) and "La Traviata" (14th April) shown live from the New York Met at Amsterdam's Pathé Tuschinski. Imagine Film Festival – 28th edition featuring science fiction, cult, horror, anime and fantasy. Runs at the Kriterion Film Theatre in Amsterdam, 17th - 28th April 2012. Boom Chicago – Comedy and dinner. Perform shows "Metamorphosis", "Can't Dutch This" and "Branded for Life" throughout April. One Night With Joan – Joan Collins brings her one woman show to Amsterdam with stories and anecdotes about her career. 20th/21st April at the DeLaMar theater. Museum Geelvinck – Classical concerts held every Sunday in April, entrance €15. Other events in Netherlands: Floriade 2012 – Venlo in east Netherlands hosts the World Horticultural Expo, held every 10 years. Pavilions and exhibitions from more than 100 countries/organisations, stunning landscaped gardens with plants and flowers, workshops and the largest cable lift ride in Netherlands. Opens 5th April, runs until 7th October 2012. Keukenhof – The world famous tulip and flower park is open during April. The theme for 2012 is "Poland - Heart of Europe". Closes 20th May 2012. Disney on Ice – "Worlds of Fantasy" ice show on 13th-15th April 2012 at Ahoy Rotterdam. |
| Free Concerts |
Muziektheater Amsterdam – Free concert in the foyer every Tuesday at 1230 (except 26th April) Bimhuis – Jazz venue has free "Monday Match Dance & Music Impro Lab" on 2nd April (2030). Free Session event held every Tuesday evening at 2200 in the cafe.
Concertgebouw – Free lunchtime concert every Wednesday at 1230. Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ – Free concert at 1230 on Tuesday 3rd April. Westerkerk – Free lunchtime organ concert every Friday at 1300, start dates yet to be announced. |
| Pop / Rock Concerts in Netherlands |
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