Festivals and Fairs

Apart from everyday parties there are annual festivals and events.

Queens Day takes place on the April 30, and it is the day of birth for the Queen Mother. The day becomes a huge party with people dressed up in orange, which is the color of the royal family.

Festival van de Fantastiche Film, among the others like: Cinekid, International Documentary Film Festival, Kids & Docs , and Uitmarkt, is celebrated during April 19 and May 21. It features all sorts of fantastic films: fantasy, anime, thriller, cult, horror and sci-fi, showing in cinemas across Amsterdam.

Kwakoe Festival is a rather exhausting event, taking place from July to August, and lasting 20 days. That's 20 days of pure dancing, eating and anything else in between.

Parade, July 30 - August 15, offers a unique experience of brilliant kaleidoscopes of brightly colored tents, with dance, theatre, magic, art, animation and music amongst others.

Canal Gay Parade is what Amsterdam is well-known for. Taking place from August 5 to August 8, it is a cultural and slightly naughty event.

Other music and culture festivals like Amsterdam Roots Festival, Crossing Border Festival, Grachtenfestival, and Impakt Festival are carried throughout the season.