When are the main sports events in Amsterdam?

The peak sports calendar runs from spring to autumn, with major events running between April and October – including the Dutch F1 Grand Prix and the Amsterdam marathon. The domestic football season runs August to May.

For a full monthly breakdown, see our Amsterdam events calendar

Dutch Football 2026-27

Football (soccer) is by far the most popular sport in the Netherlands. Taking in a match of the Dutch national team (Nederlands elftal) is perhaps one of the great experiences of world football.

Seeing the Dutch fans bedecked in all orange brings back some fleeting memories of the mighty Holland teams from the 1970s and 80s. Johan Cruijff. Total Football. Ruud Gullit. Marco van Basten. Euro 88…

The Dutch team were eliminated in the last 32 of World Cup 2026. (Check here for World Cup 2026 tickets)

The Dutch national team plays most of its home matches atone of 3 main stadiums in the Netherlands:

1. Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam

This is the main stadium for AFC Ajax and Netherlands home matches. See our guide to the Johan Cruijff Arena stadium

2. Stadion Feyenoord in Rotterdam

De Kuip is the home of Feyenoord and is the second principal stadium of the Netherlands. It often hosts Dutch cup finals and hosted the Euro 2000 final.

3. Philips Stadion in Eindhoven

The smaller Philips stadium is home to PSV Eindhoven and regularly hosts Netherlands internationals for fans in the south of the country.

Netherlands (men) home international matches

Netherlands vs Germany (UEFA Nations League)

Date: 24 Sep 2026 (20:45)
Venue: Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam

Netherlands vs Serbia (UEFA Nations League)

Date: 4 Oct 2026 (20:45)
Venue: TBA

Netherlands vs Greece (UEFA Nations League)

Date: 13 Nov 2026 (20:45)
Venue: TBA

Dutch women’s home international matches

Since winning the Euro2017 tournament on home soil, the Dutch women’s team (Nederlands vrouwenelftal) has seen a big leap in popularity.

They reached the Quarter Finals of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand, however failed to reach the knockout stage of Euro 2025.

AFC Ajax

AFC Ajax, is the Netherlands’ most successful club and plays its home games at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. It plays in the Eredivisie – the highest professional Dutch football league consisting of 18 teams.

Dutch league matches are normally played from August to May with a winter’s break in early January.

Ajax home fixtures for 2026/27 season

Eredivisie matches listed unless otherwise stated, dates/times subject to change.

Check for Ajax tickets here

Ajax vs sc Heerenveen 16 Aug 2026 (16:45)
Ajax vs PSV 5 Sep 2026 (20:00)
Ajax vs Willem II 15 Sep 2026 (20:00)
Ajax vs Excelsior 19 Sep 2026 (20:00)
Ajax vs NEC 10 Oct 2026 (21:00)
Ajax vs AZ 31 Oct 2027 (21:00)
Ajax vs ADO Den Haag 21 Nov 2026 (TBA)
Ajax vs FC Utrecht 5 Dec 2026 (TBA)
Ajax vs SC Cambuur 12 Dec 2026 (TBA)
Ajax vs FC Groningen 16 Jan 2027 (TBA)
Ajax vs Telstar 23 Jan 2027 (TBA)
Ajax vs Go Ahead Eagles 20 Feb 2027 (TBA)
Ajax vs Feyenoord 27 Feb 2027 (TBA)
Ajax vs PEC Zwolle 13 Mar 2027 (TBA)
Ajax vs FC Twente 3 Apr 2027 (TBA)
Ajax vs Fortuna Sittard 1 May 2027 (TBA)
Ajax vs Sparta 16 May 2027 (14:30)

Johan Cruijff Schaal

The Cruijff Schaal (Cruijff Shield) is the Dutch domestic season opener pitting the winner of the Eredivisie against the winner of the KNVB Beker (Dutch FA Cup).
PSV Eindhoven vs AZ – 2 Aug 2026 (18:00) Philips Stadion, Eindhoven

Athletics / Running / Walking Events in the Netherlands

Running events in Amsterdam are among the most popular sports activities, with major races such as the Amsterdam Marathon and Dam tot Dam Loop attracting thousands of participants.

CPC (City-Pier-City) Run

An annual half marathon event in the Hague. Starting in the city, the flat course takes in Scheveningen beach before heading back to the centre. Next edition is on 14 Mar 2027.

30 van Zandvoort

30km and 18km walking event (15th edition) on 20 Mar 2027 around the Zandvoort area starting at the paddock of the famous Circuit Zandvoort.

Zandvoort Circuit run

Running event on 21 Mar 2027 around the Zandvoort circuit, beach and dunes. Options of 4km, 12km and 10 miles courses.

Cruyff Legacy 14K

Charitable fun run event over 5km and 14km around Amsterdam Zuidoost to raise money for the Johan Cruijff Foundation. Expected April 2027 with start/finish at the Johan Cruijff ArenA in Amsterdam.

NN Rotterdam Marathon

This big marathon event in the Netherlands normally attracts over 20,000 competitors including a field of world-class athletes. One of the fastest marathon courses in the world, the race begins on Erasmus Bridge with the finish line being on the Coolsingel. The 46th edition is scheduled for 11 Apr 2027.

FBK Games

International athletics meet at the Fanny Blankers-Koen stadium (FBK Stadion) in Hengelo, Netherlands on 21 Jun 2026.

Gaasperplasrun

1km, 2km, 5km and 10km runs around the Gaasperplaas, a lake in south-east Amsterdam. Expected on 21 Jun 2026.

Nijmegen Vierdaagse

One of the major sporting events in the Netherlands. An international four days marches event around the city of Nijmegen with up to 50,000 participants – walking 30km, 40km or 50km per day over all 4 days. The 108th edition is scheduled for 21-24 Jul 2026.

Dutch Athletics Championships (NK)

Annual Dutch Championships outdoor meet takes place each summer. Expected 25-26 Jul 2026 at FBK Stadion in Hengelo.

Dam tot Dam Loop

Popular fun-run event which includes the world’s biggest 10 mile event from Amsterdam to Zaandam attracting almost 50,000 participants. Expected 19-20 Sep 2026. See more September events including Dam tot Dam Loop in Amsterdam in September 2026

Amsterdam City Walk

10, 14, 17, 20, 26 and 33 km walking events held the day before the Amsterdam marathon taking in the highlights of the city. Saturday 24 Oct 2026, the longer walks start from the Olympic Stadium.

TCS Amsterdam Marathon 2026

The Amsterdam Marathon is a major international sport event on the calendar. It will be held on Sunday 25 Oct 2026. The race starts and finishes at the Olympic Stadium. See our full guide to Amsterdam in October 2026

Olympic Stadium Run (Olympischstadionloop)

The Olympischstadionloop is a 5km and 10km running event which starts and finishes at the Olympic Stadium. Expected to return in November 2026 (the 2025 edition had to be cancelled).

Olympic Stadium in Amsterdam

The iconic stadium in the south of Amsterdam was specially built to host the 1928 Olympic Games. It was designed by architect Jan Wils in the Amsterdam School-style.

In addition to the Olympic Games it has hosted a number of sporting events. This includes the Tour de France Grand Départ in 1954, the European Cup final in 1962, several Netherlands internationals, Ajax European games up to 1996 and more recently the 2016 European Athletics Championships.

Today it hosts a variety of events from athletics to concerts.

Motorsport in the Netherlands

Formula 1 – Dutch Grand Prix 2026

With the rise of local star Max Verstappen, Formula 1 is seeing record popularity in the Netherlands. F1 has come back to the historic circuit at Zandvoort (near Amsterdam) with races held in 2021-25 – for the first since 1985. The next Dutch Grand Prix F1 race weekend will be held over 21-23 Aug 2026. Check for Dutch GP 2026 tickets here

See more events in Amsterdam in August 2026

Dutch MotoGP

Popular motorcycle racing event held at the Assen TT circuit. Runs 26-28 Jun 2026.

Tennis Events in the Netherlands

Netherlands hosts 2 ATP tournaments during the year:

ABN Amro Tournament

ATP tennis tour event at Ahoy Rotterdam, scheduled for 6-14 Feb 2027. A strong field of top 20 players is due at the 54th edition. Check ABN Amro tournament final tickets here

Libéma Open

International grass court tournament (men’s ATP and women’s WTA) at the Autotron Rosmalen near Den Bosch, 1 hour south of Amsterdam. Used as a warm-up to Wimbledon for some players. Expected 5-13 Jun 2027.

Dutch Open

International ATP Challenger tournament runs at Bunschoten (near Hilversum/Amersfoort) over 12-19 Jul 2026.

Davis Cup (World Group I)

Netherlands vs Colombia – Venue TBA – 18-20 Sep 2026.

Golf Tournaments in the Netherlands

KLM Open

European Tour golf event expected at Kennemer in Zandvoort. Expected June 2027.

Dutch Ladies Open

Ladies European Tour event over 3 rounds, held at Goyer Golf & Country Club in Eemnes (near Hilversum) over 19-21 Jun 2026.

Solheim Cup

Biennial women’s golf tournament featuring a European team against the United States. The 2026 event will be held at Bernardus Golf at Cromvoirt (‘s-Hertogenbosch) in the Netherlands. Runs 7-13 Sep 2026.

Boxing

Ben Bril Boxing Gala

Ben Bril (1912-2003) was a Jewish Dutch boxer who fought aged 16 at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam and later survived deportation to a German concentration camp. This annual boxing and dinner show at Theater Carré Amsterdam is held in his memory. Expected 12 Oct 2026.

Cycling

Omloop van Zandvoort

Cycling event over 40km, 80km or 120km on 21 Mar 2027 starting in the pit lane of Zandvoort circuit.

Darts

Premier League Darts

The invitational Premier League of darts PDC event returns to the Netherlands. Expected in April 2027 at Ahoy Rotterdam with the top 8 ranked players.

World Series of Darts Finals

International PDC darts event runs at AFAS Live in Amsterdam, expected 17-20 Sep 2026.

Dutch Darts Championships

European tour event featuring some of the world’s top players. Expected 16-18 Oct 2026 at MECC in Maastricht.

Equestrian

Jumping Amsterdam

Indoor international equestrian event featuring some of the world’s best show jumping and dressage riders. At RAI Amsterdam on 28-31 Jan 2027.

Jumping Indoor Maastricht

Indoor international equestrian event held at MECC Maastricht. Runs 5-8 Nov 2026.

Gymnastics

Gymnastics World Championships 2026

The 54th edition of the FIG world artistic gymnastics championships will be held at Ahoy Rotterdam over 17-25 Oct 2026.

Ice Hockey

Local team Amsterdam Tigers play home matches at Jaap Edenhal Amsterdam.

Korfball

League Finals

Ball sport (kind of netball-basketball cross) invented in the Netherlands. The next League finals day are expected in April 2027 at Ahoy Rotterdam.

Padel

Premier Padel Rotterdam

International padel sport tournament featuring 48 top male and female players. Next event expected 27 Sep to 4 Oct 2026 at Rotterdam Ahoy.

Power Sports

Euro Muscles Show

Event featuring pro bodybuilding, powerlifting, strongman competitions, MMA and boxing bouts. 3rd edition runs at RAI Amsterdam, expected 19-20 Sep 2026.

Rowing

Grachtenrace

Up to 140 sloop boats race over a 25km course around Amsterdam’s canals. The race starts near Jan Schaeferbrug (bridge) at IJhaven and the route takes in various canals including Herengracht, Leidsegracht and Singelsgracht. The finish is at Oosterdok by the Maritime Museum. The 39th edition runs on 10 Oct 2026.

Rugby

Amsterdam Sevens

Annual international rugby sevens tournament with over 120 teams to be played at the National Rugby Centre Amsterdam (NRCA at Sportpark de Eendracht). The 54th edition runs June 2027. See more events in Amsterdam in June 2026

Ameland Beach Rugby festival

The largest beach rugby festival in Europe is held on the Wadden island of Ameland, expected June 2027.

Skating

Friday Night Skate

A 20km organised inline skate around the streets of Amsterdam held every Friday night (20:30, weather permitting) from Vondelpark Pavilion.

Swimming

Amsterdam City Swim

This charity 2km outdoor swim event in the city features up to 3,000 participants. Next event scheduled for 6 Sep 2026.

Triathlon

Tri Amsterdam

International triathlon event which offers courses of half-distance and the full Olympic distance (1500 m swim, 40 km bike, 10 km run). Starts at Park Somerlust and finishes at Bella Vista Park. Expected June 2027.

FAQ: Sports events in Amsterdam

What are the biggest sports events in Amsterdam?

The biggest events include the Amsterdam Marathon, Ajax football matches and the Formula 1 Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort.

Can you watch football in Amsterdam?

Yes, you can watch AFC Ajax at the Johan Cruijff ArenA (check for tickets) or attend Netherlands national team matches.

What sports events can you participate in?

Popular participation events include the Dam tot Dam Loop, Amsterdam City Swim and Tri Amsterdam.

First published in 2019. Last updated 15 June 2026.

Disclaimer: While we make every effort to keep this listing up-to-date, events can always be cancelled or re-scheduled at short notice. Please double-check with the event organisers.

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The post Sports Events in Amsterdam 2026/2027 – Calendar & Highlights appeared first on AmsterdamTips.com.

Located at the south-eastern part of the city the stadium is open to the public for various guided tours. Book Johan Cruijff Arena Classic Tour tickets here

The Johan Cruijff ArenA hosts Ajax home games as well as occasional Netherlands football internationals and big concert/dance events.

Johan Cruijff Arena Stadium

The ArenA was completed in 1996 and has a retractable roof which can be closed during bad weather. The total capacity (all-seater) is 56,120 for football matches and up to 71,000 for concerts.

Music concerts from the likes of artists Michael Jackson, U2, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, Ed Sheeran, Taylor Swift and Robbie Williams have been held.

The ArenA was used for 5 matches during the Euro 2000 tournament including the Netherlands-Italy semi-final; it has also hosted the UEFA Champions League final of 1998 and the UEFA Europa League final of 2013.

The stadium was recently refurbished and hosted 4 matches in June 2021 as part of the delayed Euro 2020 tournament.

In 2018, the stadium was renamed Johan Cruijff ArenA in honour of the legendary Ajax and Dutch footballer Johan Cruyff (1947-2016).

There is a bronze statue of Johan Cruijff near the main entrance, just outside of the Ajax store. It was designed by artist Hans Jouta and was unveiled in 2020.

There is also a bust of Cruijff at the escalators when you enter the stadium tour.

AFC Ajax

AFC Ajax is the most famous and successful Dutch club having won the European Cup / UEFA Champions League 4 times and the Dutch Eredivisie 36 times. Their peak years came during the early 1970s.

Although Ajax had Eredivisie title wins in 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2021-22, it has lost some form of late and the last seasons have been poor by past standards. Ajax were 2nd in the 2024/25 campaign.

Ajax has an average attendance of around 54,000 at the ArenA.

Johan Cruijff ArenA Matches

Try to see a game of the Netherlands Football team (Nederlands-elftal) if at all possible. The Dutch fans adorned in orange are one of the most colourful sights in world football.

The Dutch national side has a rich footballing history including World Cup runners-up in 1974/1978/2010 and winning the 1988 European Championship with Ruud Gullit and Marco Van Basten.

Not all international home games are played in Amsterdam – the occasional game is also played at Rotterdam’s De Kuip and the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven – all are easily accessible via public transport.

Tickets are available online from the Dutch FA (KNVB) – the big games do sell out so buy your tickets well in advance. You could consider getting tickets for friendly matches – these are not so popular and are cheaper – priced from around €30.

Ajax tickets are only available to verified Ajax account holders. Non-resident visitors can purchase ticket packages to games though these cost around €420 and include a hotel stay.

Area Around the Stadium

De Toekomst is Ajax’s training complex and can be found by walking a few hundred metres west past the Ziggo Dome, over the foot bridge and across the car park.

Ajax Women, Ajax juniors (A1) and Young Ajax (Ajax 2) teams also train and play matches at De Toekomst.

The area around the ArenA also contains a multiscreen Pathé cinema complex, the AFAS Live and Ziggo Dome (concert halls), the Woonmall Villa Arena (furniture mall) and a number of large stores such as Decathlon (sporting goods), Prenatal (baby gear) and MediaMarkt (big electronic retailer).

There is an official Ajax Fan Shop selling club merchandise at the stadium (Arena Boulevard 1-3).

There are a few convenient hotels for the Bijlmer-ArenA area. The closest are the Jaz in the City Amsterdam and Hampton by Hilton.

Also in the area are the Holiday Inn ArenA Towers, Holiday Inn Express ArenA Towers and the Courtyard by Marriott.

Johan Cruijff ArenA Stadium Tours

The Johan Cruijff ArenA offers various stadium tours either by a guide or a self-guided tour. It includes walking through the tunnel to see the pitch, the dug-outs and the main stand.

You also get to see the mixed zone, press room and Ajax Gallery of Fame. The dressing rooms are accessible when Ajax are not playing.

The Johan Cruijff ArenA VIP guided tour takes 2 hours and you also get access to the Boardroom and Skybox. It includes a free drink and Ajax scarf.

The ArenA stadium tours are popular, well-rated and appeal to football fans who want to visit the home of one of Europe’s great clubs.

Johan Cruijff ArenA Essential Info

Last updated 3 September 2025. This article was first published in 2008 and has been regularly updated.

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