Culture Guide (June 2025)

Holland Festival

For: the performing arts fanatic...

For close to 80 years, Holland Festival has pushed artistic boundaries. This year’s edition is its most ambitious yet, with bold reimaginings of Russian opera, immersive theatre, Japanese butoh and groundbreaking collaborations. From choreographer Trajal Harrell’s intimate performances as part of ‘Asbestos Hall’ to Paraorchestra’s immersive surround-sound concert, the festival inventively blurs lines between artist and audience. With events across Amsterdam throughout June, Holland Festival is a celebration of performance in all its forms, offering a deeply human take on what it means to connect on the stage.

Holland Festival | 6 – 29 June | citywide

Open Gardens Day

For: the green thumb...

Peek into the private world behind the city’s stately canal houses, where you’ll find some of Amsterdam's best-kept secrets. These beautifully landscaped gardens, open to the public for one weekend in June every year, offer a quiet green oasis right in the heart of the city. Experience the beauty and variety of these spaces with more than 30 canal gardens on show this year. 

Open Gardens Day | 13 – 15 June | citywide

Open Towers Day

For: the high-flier…

The sky’s the limit with this special event for Amsterdam’s 750th anniversary. For one day, you can traipse up the tower of the iconic Westerkerk and take in one of the city’s most enchanting views completely free of charge. Visit Marathon Tower or the observatory at Science Park, wander up to the top of the lighthouse on Vuurtoreneiland, or explore the unusual forms of Zandkasteel in Zuidoost. 

Open Tower Day | 14 June | citywide

Boom Chicago Comedy Festival

For: the laugh-out-loud crowd…

Laughs are guaranteed at the fifth edition of the Boom Chicago Comedy Festival, a ten-day celebration of comedy in all its forms. Its star-studded program includes stand-up, improvisation, sketches and queer performances by some of the best in the industry. While the festival showcases plenty of international talent, there are also workshops open to all levels, offering you a chance to try your hand at comedy yourself.  

Boom Chicago Comedy Festival | 27 June - 6 July | Boom Chicago, Centrum

Red Light Jazz Festival

For:  the jazz aficionado…

Amsterdam’s city centre comes alive every June with the Red Light Jazz Festival. While the historic Red Light District is often known for its late-night pursuits, in fact, it is one of the oldest and most beautiful parts of the city, with a rich and diverse cultural history and a tight-knit community. As the three-day festival unfolds, musicians perform in intimate local spots – from street corners to small historic cafes – offering their audiences a slice of authentic Amsterdam life. 

Red Light Jazz Festival | 6 – 8 June | Red Light District, Centrum

Little Women

For: the theatrical at heart…

Louisa May Alcott’s classic sisterly tale is reimagined for the stage of Mike’s Badhuistheater. Tracing the lives of the four unforgettable March children – Jo, Meg, Beth and Amy – Little Women navigates themes of family, love and loss on the cusp of adulthood. Set in a small New England town during the American Civil War, this atmospheric and heartbreaking story will ensure you never forget these little women.  

Little Women | 13 – 15 June | Mike’s Badhuistheater, Oost

Vondelpark Open-air Theatre

For: the stage sage...

This beloved Amsterdam institution returns with another diverse program of cultural events all summer long. Across May, June, July and August, this intimate stage smack-bang in the middle of the city’s popular Vondelpark will host everything from laugh-out-loud comedy and captivating dance and song, to children’s theatre and cabaret. Bring the whole family to experience the magic of performance in the city’s green heart.

Vondelpark Open-Air Theatre | May - August | Vondelpark, Oud-Zuid

20 Years of De Nieuwe Anita

For: the cultural enthusiast…

Quirky cultural centre De Nieuwe Anita celebrates twenty trips around the sun with a week-long program of events that capture the venue’s playful nature. Expect anything from film nights to an experimental burlesque show, a dance party, and a unique dining experience with Robin Food Club, a sustainable collective fighting food waste by offering vegan three-course meals for 15 euros. Now that’s bang for your buck.  

20 Years of De Nieuwe Anita | 16 – 22 June | De Nieuwe Anita, Westerpark

Craig Ferguson - Pants on Fire tour

For: the jester…

With multiple Grammy nominations, Netflix Specials and a New York Times bestselling book under his belt, Craig Ferguson is no stranger to fame and acclaim. But the Scottish actor and comedian’s vibe is disarmingly authentic and down-to-earth, bringing his new stand-up show “Pants on Fire” to the Netherlands. With his unique blend of vulnerability and hilarity, Ferguson captures the hearts of his audience at the Meervaart Theatre this June.  

Craig Ferguson | 16 June | Meervaart Theatre, Nieuw-West

Amsterdamse Bostheater

For: the cultural aesthete...

Summer in the city is synonymous with the Amsterdamse Bos, and it’s here that you’ll find the Bostheater. A hidden amphitheatre in the forest, the Amsterdamse Bostheater offers a summer program of open-air performances under the hanging branches of age-old trees. From classical plays to performances by big names in the music industry – think Spinvis, Nick Mulvey and Jake Bugg, to name a few – a night at the Amsterdamse Bostheater is always one to remember. This June, you'll find a wealth of performances playing out in this magical spot.

Amsterdamse Bostheater| May - August 2025, Amsterdamse Bos

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