What To Do in Amsterdam in January 2024

Hello and nice to see you in 2024!
One of my plans for the year ahead is to experience more culture, attend more events and see more beautiful/inspiring things. There are many things happening in Amsterdam every month, and I thought I would share with you my curated list, to save you a lot of time browsing the numerous websites. From photo exhibitions to flea markets and from AI workshops to picking tulips, everything is on the menu.

Let’s dive into this curated monthly selection of things to see and do in Amsterdam in January 2024!

• Amsterdam Light Festival – until 21 January. To add some light to the grey winter days, check out the art works placed around the city. They come alive after dark and you can see them by following the walking route or from the water, by taking a canal cruise.

• Last days to see the amazing exhibitions at the City Archive (Stadsarchief Amsterdam). First one is ”Famiri/Family Surinamese-Amsterdam stories from 1611 onwards” until 14 January. This exhibition is a collaboration between staff of both the National Archives of Suriname and the Amsterdam City Archives and can be seen free of charge in the hallway of the City Archive.
• The other exhibition is ”To Dance is to be Free. Club Culture in Amsterdam From 1980 Until Today” – until 18 February. This exhibition is creating the image of the club culture in Amsterdam, using photos, personal stories, flyers, video, music, visual art, documents and unique objects.

• Carlijn Jacobs – Sleeping Beauty at Foam, until 21 January. An exhibition showcasing the fascinating work of this artist, completed with designs by Sabine Marcelis.
  Also at Foam you can attend one of the walk-in workshops where you will have the chance to create images using DALL·E, under the guidance of their experienced museum teachers (every Sunday  from 14.00 – 16.00 hrs).
• Song of the dark forest – Dance show at ITA Amsterdam, by Scapino Ballet Rotterdam, 23-24 January. It promises to be a compelling performance that includes Scapino’s entire troupe of dancers, an opera singer and live music by the DoelenEnsemble.
• Anton Corbijn – MOØDe at the Cobra Museum. Until 12 May 2024. You can see the world of fashion through the lens of Anton Corbijn, in this exhibition featuring around 200 photographs from his extensive work (1979-2023).

• Nan Goldin exhibition ”This will not end well” at the Stedelijk Museum, until 28 January. I really want to see this one and I have to hurry booking a visit (you can only buy a ticket with a time slot for this exhibition, because of its popularity).

• ”News from the future” – a pop-up expo in Fashion for Good Museum. If you are a fashion afficionado, check out this exibition where a selection of up-and-coming talents composed of Dutch fashion students and emerging designers are trying to respond to the question: “what could the future of fashion look like?”
• Kanaval: A People’s History of Haiti in Six Chapters (2022) – film at Melkweg, 18 and 20 January. This is an award-winning documentary about the Haitian history. The display is organised in celebration and commemoration of the 220th anniversary of Haitian independence.
• New Year Concert Grachtenfestival – 14 January at the Waalse Kerk in Amsterdam. When did you last attended a harp concert? Check it out here.
• Moving Words – Immersive storytelling event at MACA, on 18 January. This show invites storytellers to explore how visual imagery can heighten and contrast their words.

• Dali, the Endless Enigma, until 25 February at Fabrique des Lumières Amsterdam. It promises an immersion in the psychedelic works of one of the world’s most magnificent artists, while listening to the sounds of Pink Floyd.
• Open Stage Storytelling night at Mezrab, 17 January. Time to take the stage and tell your stories, or get inspired by others in this spontaneous show.
• Cas Oorthuys, Resistance photographer – at the Resistance Museum until 14 January. This exhibition showcases the work of Cas Oorthuys during the Second World War in the Netherlands and in Indonesia on the eve of independence.
• Record & CD Fair Amsterdam – 20 January at RAI Amsterdam. This is an event for all vinyl collectors, DJs, music fanatics, CD lovers and bargain hunters, with around 120 specialised exhibitors from all over Europe bringing their best offer to the fair.
• Amsterdam Hotel Night – 13&14 January. For a weekend, Amsterdammers can experience the city as tourists, by booking hotel rooms at special rates and attending hotel parties.
• National Tulip Day – on 20 January in Dam Square. Colourful tulips to remind us that spring is coming! This event has grown a lot in the past years so you might need to stay in a long queue if you want to pick your free tulips.

• Distilling a scent bouquet – workshop at Mediamatic on 21 January. This is an introduction to scent extraction and the distillation process.
• Flea Market IJhallen – 6 & 7 and 27&28 January. The largest flea market in Europe, with over 500 stalls. Worth checking it out.
• The Maker Market – 27&28 January in De Hallen. Everything from handmade jewellery to prints and clothing, workshops and the chance to meet the makers behind wonderful, local products.

I hope this list has given you some idea on how to make the winter months a bit more interesting. And, of course, let me know if there is an event you think should be on this list!

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Don’t forget to check out my photo book: Amsterdam Through the Seasons!
If you want to buy prints and other cute objects, check out my store on Society6!