What’s On in Amsterdam November 2019
A look at what’s on in Amsterdam, Netherlands in November 2019. As winter approaches there are still lots of things going on in the city. Our listings include special events, festivals, sports, exhibitions, concerts and anything else of interest!
Museums & Exhibitions in Amsterdam
For a comprehensive selection of museums, activities and tours in Amsterdam book here
Rijksmuseum – Reopened in April 2013 after 10 years of renovation, the Rijksmuseum’s rich collection (including Rembrandt’s Night Watch) is a must-see in Amsterdam. Rembrandt-Velázquez, exhibition which puts Rembrandt into an international context by placing 17th-century Spanish and Dutch masterpieces in dialogue with each another. Runs 11 Oct 2019 to 19 Jan 2020. Book Rijksmuseum tickets here
Louise Bourgeois in the Rijksmuseum Gardens is an outdoor exhibition of sculptures, freely accessible to the public and running 24 May to 3 Nov 2019.
Rijksmuseum Schiphol – Amsterdam airport hosts 10 paintings of the Dutch Golden Age from the Rijksmuseum collection. The Rijksmuseum Schiphol is located on Holland Boulevard (between Lounges 2 and 3 in non-Schengen departures) and is open 24 hours a day to passengers free of charge.
Van Gogh Museum – Popular museum with the world’s largest collection of Vincent van Gogh paintings. Jean-François Millet: Sowing the Seeds of Modern Art, examines the style and technique of the French artist and how he influenced the likes of Van Gogh, Monet, Munch and Dalí. Runs 4 Oct 2019 to 12 Jan 2020. Book Van Gogh Museum tickets here
Anne Frank House – The canal house on Amsterdam’s Prinsengracht canal where Anne Frank wrote her famous teenage wartime diary whilst hiding from German occupation. The house and museum is open to visitors though you must pre-book online for a date/time slot.
Nieuwe Kerk – The Great Suriname Exhibition, major winter exhibition at the New Church on Dam Square telling the story of the country of Suriname and its inhabitants. It includes over 300 objects, artefacts, photos and documents as well as multimedia presentations. Runs 5 Oct 2019 to 2 Feb 2020.
Hermitage Amsterdam – Showcases an exhibition every 6 months from the vast collection of the grand State Hermitage in St Petersburg, Russia. Jewels! an exhibition which is part of the 10th anniversary of the Hermitage Amsterdam. It features highlights from the fabulous jewellery collection of the State Hermitage. Runs 14 Sep 2019 to 15 Mar 2020.
Also ongoing at the Hermitage: Panorama Amsterdam. City Time Lapse, a visual projection of Amsterdam through the ages as seen from the Amstel river; and Portrait Gallery of the 17th Century.
Outsider Art Museum – This museum at the Hermitage showcases extraordinary art by unconventional artists who have not been formally trained.
Stedelijk – Amsterdam’s main modern and contemporary art museum. STEDELIJK BASE is the permanent installation featuring around 700 pieces.
Amsterdam Museum – Nr. 1 Tourist Attraction, controversial exhibition featuring the work of artist Jimini Hignett about Amsterdam’s red light district. Runs 1 Nov 2019 to 1 Mar 2020.
MOCO Museum – This modern and contemporary art museum on Museumplein. Banksy: Laugh Now (includes Beanfield) is now a permanent exhibition. Daniel Arsham – Connecting Time, solo show from the New York-based artist incorporating architecture, design, sculpture, film and performance. Runs 18 Jan 2019 to 6 Jan 2020. Book MOCO Museum tickets here
National Maritime Museum – 2 new permanent exhibitions opened May 2019. Main Gallery: Republic at Sea has 50 objects highlighting the strong connection between the maritime world and Dutch society. Also Maps & Marvels features an outstanding collection of Dutch cartography works plus assorted wall maps, globes, atlases and travel reports.
Tropenmuseum – Ethnographic museum featuring fascinating exhibitions on non-Western cultures. What a Genderful World, an exhibition which looks at cultural influences on gender around the world. Runs 11 Oct 2019 to 23 Aug 2020.
Allard Pierson – Bes, Little God in Ancient Egypt, an exhibition about the popular god from ancient Egypt represented as a dwarf-like figure with large head, big belly and crooked legs. Runs 18 Oct 2019 to 8 Mar 2020.
Rembrandt House – Laboratory Rembrandt – Rembrandt’s Technique Unravelled, part of the 350th anniversary of Rembrandt’s death, this exhibition uses scientific analysis which provide insights into Rembrandt’s works. Runs 21 Sep 2019 to 16 Feb 2020.
Stadsarchief (City Archives) – Modern Perspectives. Photo & Film Amsterdam 1920-1940, exhibition highlighting the visual creativity in Amsterdam during the interwar period. Runs 18 Oct 2019 to 16 Feb 2020.
Museum Van Loon – On the Suriname canals – Van Loon & Suriname (1728-1863), exhibition highlighting the involvement of the wealthy Van Loon family with the Suriname plantation economy. 5 Oct 2019 to 13 Jan 2020. Stéphanie Saadé: The Travels of Here and Now, installation by the French-Lebanese artist inspired by the 18th-century wallpaper paintings by Jurriaan Andriessen in the museum’s Drakensteyn room. On show 6 Sep to 4 Nov 2019.
Verzetsmuseum – Fashion on a Ration, exhibition at the Dutch Resistance Museum examining how fashion changed during the wartime period due to fabric shortages – in stark contrast to the throwaway society we live in today. Runs 11 Oct 2019 to 2 Jun 2020.
National Holocaust Museum – Opened in 2016, this museum is under development and currently presents Tangible Memories from the Jewish Monument, exhibition of objects, photos and documents of people affected by the Holocaust. Ongoing until end 2019. Bullets Betrayal and Letters: Chronicle of a Jewish Family, exhibition which highlights the history of an Amsterdam family. Runs 28 Oct 2019 to 2 Feb 2020.
Hollandsche Schouwburg – Perspectives of the Holocaust, a penetrating installation with audio, video, photos and virtual reality which tell of Holocaust survivors’ experiences. [Note, some images are shocking and are not suitable for under 16s.] Runs until 1 May 2020.
Jewish Historical Museum – Rembrandt’s Masterpiece from the Israel Museum, exhibition about Rembrandt’s painting St. Peter in Prison (St. Peter Kneeling). Runs 13 Sep to 10 Nov 2019. Amsterdam, City of Diamonds, an exhibition on 400 years of the diamond industry in Amsterdam and how Jews played an important role. Runs 27 Sep 2019 to 1 Mar 2020.
FOAM Photography Museum – Brassaï, retrospective exhibition of the key 20th century French-Hungarian photographer. Runs 13 Sep to 4 Dec 2019. Lorenzo Vitturi, Materia Impura, exhibition from the Italian artist-photographer. Runs 18 Oct 2019 to 19 Jan 2020.
Huis Marseille Photography Museum – Berenice Abbott, Portraits of Modernity, large retrospective from the American photographer. Runs 7 Sep to 1 Dec 2019. Chikako Watanabe, The Third House Owner, a dollhouse installation based on the history of Huis Marseille. Runs 7 Sep to 1 Dec 2019.
EYE Film – Andrei Tarkovski, retrospective exhibition about the Russian filmmaker and mystic. Runs 14 Sep to 6 Dec 2019.
Body Worlds – Display of human body plastinate specimens at the permanent venue on Damrak. The exhibition focuses on happiness.
Cobra Museum (Amstelveen) – New Nuances, exhibition showing the work of 8 women artists in and around the Cobra movement. Runs 12 Jul to 1 Dec 2019. Intense Mexico: Politics, Identity, Sex and Death. Exhibition featuring 46 exuberant works of art from the collection of the Museo de Arte Moderno in Mexico City. Runs 11 Oct 2019 to 29 Mar 2020.
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The Iamsterdam City Card (1-5 days) offers free entry and discounts to numerous Amsterdam attractions and also includes a free transport pass as well. It costs €60 to €115. You can order the Iamsterdam City Card online here |
Sport in Amsterdam and Netherlands
Football:
International match (Euro 2020 Qualification group C):
Netherlands vs Estonia – 19 Nov 2019, 2045 (Johan Cruyff ArenA, Amsterdam)
Ajax home fixtures at Johan Cruyff Arena Amsterdam:
AFC Ajax vs FC Utrecht – 10 Nov 2019, 1215 (Eredivisie)
AFC Ajax vs Heracles Almelo – 23 Nov 2019, 2045 (Eredivisie)
Athletics/Running:
Olympic Stadium Run – The Olympischstadionloop (42nd edition) is a 1km/5km/10km running event which starts and finishes at the Olympic Stadium in the south of Amsterdam. Scheduled for 10 Nov 2019.
Friday Night Run – Free monthly 1 hour run organised by running group Phanos. Meet at Olympic Stadium Amsterdam at 1930 on Friday 8 Nov 2019.
Movember Run Amsterdam – 5km charitable (and humorous) run around the Vondelpark in Amsterdam to raise funds for Movember. Also counts as the official Dutch Championship (NK) for running with a moustache. Expected 30 Nov 2019.
Boxing:
Ben Bril Boxing Gala – Ben Bril (1912-2003) was a Jewish Dutch boxer who fought at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam and later survived deportation to a German concentration camp. This annual boxing and dinner show at Theater Carré is held in his memory. 13th anniversary edition due to be held 7 Nov 2019.
Darts:
World Series of Darts Finals – International PDC darts tournament featuring the world’s top players comes to AFAS Live in Amsterdam. 1-3 Nov 2019.
Inline Skating:
Friday Night Skate – 20km organised skate around the streets of Amsterdam held every Friday night (2030, weather permitting) from Vondelpark Pavilion.
See the full annual sport calendar for Amsterdam
Festivals in Amsterdam
IDFA 2019 – International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam. Annual event (31st edition) showing a wide variety of thought-provoking documentaries. Main locations at Pathé Tuschinski, Het Ketelhuis, de Brakke Grond theatre. Runs 20 Nov – 1 Dec 2019.
KABOOM Animation Festival – New animation film festival which replaces the former KLIKxHAFF Festival. It will feature a separate program for both children and adults. It runs in Utrecht (9-13 Nov 2019) and then moves over to Amsterdam (13-17 Nov 2019) with locations Het Ketelhuis & Machinegebouw at Westergas.
Amsterdam Art Weekend – Special contemporary art event with around 100 events in total (exhibitions, performances, film screenings and debates) at 40 locations around the city. Expected 21-24 Nov 2019 (8th edition) at various locations including Stedelijk Museum, EYE Film, Rijksakademie and Oude Kerk in Amsterdam.
Amsterdam Light Festival – Heading into its 8th year, this event promises to light up the city during the festive season. Featuring a Water Colours boat route which can best be seen by taking an evening canal cruise; or check out the the new land exhibition around Amsterdam’s Marineterrein. Runs 28 Nov 2019 to 19 Jan 2020.
See our complete festival calendar for Amsterdam
Fairs & Expos in Amsterdam and Netherlands
Affordable Art Fair – 12th edition of the international art fair with art objects under €6,000 for sale. At Kromhouthal on the north bank of the IJ, 31 Oct to 3 Nov 2019.
Sieraad Art Fair – International jewellery art fair (17th edition). At Westergas in Amsterdam, 7-10 Nov 2019.
PAN Amsterdam – Large international fair for art, antiques and design. Amsterdam RAI, expected 17-24 Nov 2019.
Christie’s Amsterdam – The Zuiveringshal West at Westergas in Amsterdam is turned into a contemporary art museum as part of Christie’s auction. 22-24 Nov 2019.
IAMExpat Fair The Hague 2019 – One-day event connecting the expat community with various stands, workshops and presentations. At Grote Kerk (church) in The Hague, 9 Nov 2019). Annual Amsterdam event takes place in April.
Comedy & Shows in Amsterdam
Amsterdam Magic Show – At Boom Chicago’s Rozentheater, Rozengracht in Amsterdam, Tuesday 5 Nov 2019 at 2000. Book Amsterdam Magic Show tickets here
The Good Soldier Svejk – A mainly English theatre production of the satirical dark comedy set in Austria-Hungary in WW1 will be performed at the Badhuistheater Amsterdam. Runs 31 Oct and 1/2/3 Nov 2019.
Bill Bailey – The popular British comedian performs at the Theater Carré in Amsterdam on 3 Nov 2019 (2000).
Hannah Gadsby – The Australian comedian plays her stand-up show Douglas at the Theater Carré in Amsterdam on 13 Nov 2019 (2000).
Boom Chicago – Comedy and improv show held Wed – Sat and playing at Rozentheater on Rozengracht. Book here
Classical Concerts & Theatre in Amsterdam
Internationaal Theater Amsterdam (ITA) – Amsterdam’s renowned theatre company performs shows in Dutch which have live English surtitles above the stage – for Thursday night shows at the Stadsschouwburg theatre.
Dutch National Opera & Ballet – Production highlights in November are Die Walküre (opera) and Best of Balanchine III (ballet).
The Barber of Seville – The popular Rossini opera will be performed at Theater Carré in Amsterdam on 31 Oct and 2 Nov 2019.
Orange Theatre Company – Presents the English language plays Dutchman (by Amiri Baraka) which premieres on 1 Nov 2019 with performances 2/7/8/9 Nov 2019. Location is Het Amsterdams Theaterhuis.
Queen’s English Theatre Company – Theatre performance of Oscar Wilde’s comedy of manners The Importance of Being Earnest. Runs 5-9 Nov 2019 at CC Amstel theatre in Amsterdam.
Lieder, Reigen, Liebe! – Music of Schönberg, Berg and Dvorák will be performed by American Soprano Laura Bohn and Romanian pianist Oana Tomai at Goethe Institute Amsterdam (Herengracht 470), 23 Nov 2019 from 1930.
Candlelight Concert – Evening performance by Dutch chamber music ensemble Lumaka. At the Portuguese Synagogue on 28 Nov 2019 (1930). Book here
Other Events in Amsterdam
WesterFête – Special evening event at Westergas in Amsterdam held monthly in winter. Venue partners will open their doors to the public and offer special events from live music, vegan cocktails, pop-up vinyl night market and Amsterdam’s smallest club. Free entry, runs from 1800 on 1 Nov 2019.
TEDxAmsterdam 2019 – The 11th edition of the speaker’s conference event is scheduled to take place at the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam on 8 Nov 2019 from 1000. This year’s theme is “Planet Act”.
Ice*Amsterdam – Get your skates on and hit the spectacular ice rink on Museumplein in the shadow of the Rijksmuseum. Opens 16 Nov 2019, runs until 2 Feb 2020.
Sinterklaas Arrives – The Dutch version of Santa Claus (or St Nicholas) makes his annual arrival in Amsterdam on Sunday 17 Nov 2019. His boat will sail along the Amstel river before arriving at the Maritime museum at midday. He then jumps on his white horse surrounded by his (controversial) helpers the Zwarte Pieten (“Black Petes”) and heads to Dam Square and Leidseplein. This marks the start of the festive season – Sinterklaas is usually celebrated around 5 December.
Bijenkorf lights – Check out the lights and window displays at the Bijenkorf department store on Dam Square.
De Balie – The multimedia venue near Leidseplein in Amsterdam hosts regular events about current affairs, politics and culture.
Free Concerts in Amsterdam
Bimhuis – Jazz venue has free Workshop & Session every Tuesday in November at 2000.
Concertgebouw – Free lunchtime concerts held on occasional Wednesdays at 1230 in either the small hall (kleine zaal) or large hall (grote zaal). Concert dates this month are 6/13/20/27 Nov 2019. For concerts in the small hall, free tickets must be collected from the ticket desk.
Dutch Opera & Ballet – These lunchtime concerts in the Opera & Ballet foyer present music by small groups of musicians, including members of the Chorus of Dutch National Opera, the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra and Netherlands Chamber Orchestra. Concerts this month on Tuesday 5/12/19/26 Nov 2019 and run 1230-1300, doors open 1215.
Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ – Free monthly concert showcasing young classical talent. The Thursday lunchtime concert this month is on 14 Nov 2019 at 1230.
Market Events in Amsterdam
Pure Markt – Regular market event with high quality local and seasonal produce, music, food stalls and other activities. 24 Nov 2019 (1100-1700) at Park Frankendael.
Sunday Market – Sunday market at Westergas with a mix of fashion, design, arts, food and kids stuff. 3 Nov 2019 (1200-1800). Sunday Market Rokin edition at Oude Turfmarkt on 10 Nov 2019 (1200-1800). New Market (Deli & Lifestyle) at Nieuwmarkt on Friday 29 Nov 2019 (1100-1800).
Museum Market – Museumplein hosts this Sunday market with arts and crafts, food and music on 17 Nov 2019 (1200-1800).
IJ-Hallen – Huge weekend flea market event held at NDSM-wharf in north Amsterdam with 500 indoor stands. 23-24 Nov 2019 (0900-1630).
Expat Family Market – Special market aimed at expats families and parents, free entrance but pre-registration required. Sunday 10 Nov 2019 (1100-1600) at Boom Chicago on Rozengracht 117 in Amsterdam.
Rock & Pop Concerts in Amsterdam
Michael Bublé – 2 Nov, Ziggo Dome
Flume – 6 Nov, AFAS Live
Bobby McFerrin – 7 Nov, Concertgebouw
A-Ha – 8 Nov, AFAS Live
James Blake – 13 Nov, AFAS Live
Lizzo – 18 Nov, AFAS Live
Fink – 21 Nov, AFAS Live
Fat Freddy’s Drop – 22 Nov, AFAS Live
Dido – 24 Nov, AFAS Live
Beth Hart – 29/30 Nov, AFAS Live
Hotels in Amsterdam
You should book your Amsterdam accommodation in advance if possible. During popular events rooms can be difficult to find and prices can rise significantly! Book your Amsterdam hotel here via Booking.com, which usefully offers free cancellation if your plans change.
Some specific Amsterdam hotel recommendations:
• At the very top-end with 5 star luxury consider Waldorf Astoria, Sofitel Grand, Hotel De L’Europe and Conservatorium.
• Stylish, quality mid-range choices near the city centre include The Toren, Banks Mansion, The Hoxton, Kimpton-De Witt and Sir Adam Hotel.
• For those on a budget check out Conscious Hotel Vondelpark, The Student Hotel, Volkshotel, Jaz Amsterdam (close to Ziggo Dome/ArenA) and Motel One.
