What To Do in Amsterdam in May 2024

May is here, with the promise of sunny days and so many exciting events! This month, Amsterdam has so many cool things on offer that I already have FOMO! We will start the month with the observing of Remembrance Day on 4 May and then continue with many Liberation Day concerts on the 5th, culminating with the famous Amstel Concert (free entrance). And from then on, there are open air concerts and markets to choose from, exhibitions (lots of art this month!) and more. Check out the list and mark the days in your agenda.

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

Tiny Theatre – Monologues Live! by Orange Theatre Company. On 7 May at Boom Chicago. A curated night of original monologues performed live by actors, accompanied by a musician. It’s OTC’s way of giving a stage to new writing and performing artists, as mini plays in their own right.

TAPT Festival in Flevopark. On 10-11 May. A weekend of fun with friends in the sun (hopefully, if the weather cooperates). You’ll have the chance to sample beer from more than 80 breweries from the Netherlands and abroad, but also wine and champagne and food from the food trucks.

ExploreZ Festival. On 7-18 May. This is the ninth edition of the festival, organised by ZID Theater. The multidisciplinary and international festival takes place at various locations in Amsterdam and it promises to present an inspiring mix of local and international talents under the theme “Change”. During the (inter)national festival, visitors enjoy groundbreaking performances of theatre, music, dance, workshops and artist talks.

Zomer in de tuin (Summer in the garden). Free live music at Tolhuistuin, for local residents and all visitors to the Garden, every Sunday from May through August.

ARTZUID – May is the month when this outdoor art exhibition starts, and it will last till September 2025. The exhibition will showcase 50 artworks along a 2.5 km route. The heart of the exhibition is in Plan Zuid with its beautiful Apollolaan, Minervalaan and Churchilllaan streets.

Vondelpark Open Air Theatre – from May to September, beautiful Vondelpark becomes a cultural hotspot. There will be dance, live music, Dutch stand-up comedy, kids theatre and classical music.

Double Dutch: Live. On 1, 15, 16 May at Podium Mozaïek. You might know Derek from his funny TikTok videos, and now you have the chance to see him on stage.

Free lunch concert on the famous Müller organ of De Waalse Kerk. On 14 May.

“Manahahtáanung or Nieuw Amsterdam?” exhibition at the Amsterdam Museum. From 16 May till November. This exhibition explores the history of current day New York from the perspective of indigenous people who lived in the area 400 years ago, when the Dutch arrived to create New Amsterdam.

Lentekabinet – 18-19 May in Het Twiske. A multi-genre electronic music festival in a beautiful natural area in Amsterdam Noord.

Open Ateliers Jordaan 2024 – 18-20 May. During the Pentecost weekend, more than 65 artists in the beautiful Jordaan neighbourhood will open their doors! Explore the current cultural world of this area – from paintings to design, from photography to sculpting and much more. Free entrance.

Museum Market on 19 May at Museumplein. A market with all kinds of unique products offered by the designers/collectors themselves. From art and design to fashion and home, jewellery and toys for kids, but also food and drinks.

Jardin Rouge – 19-20 May. Jardin Rouge is an innovative and diverse international festival that travels to different locations. It aims to provide a space for freedom and creativity, where various artistic forms intersect and challenge expectations. The festival takes place in theaters or cultural venues that support artists and prioritise their freedom of expression. Led by the international artists’ collective Snowapple, Jardin Rouge champions both emerging and established creators who push boundaries, experiment with new forms, and defy conventions.

Foam Talent – until 22 May. This exhibition at Foam Photography Museum showcases the work of around 20 artists from the new generation. This year’s central theme is an in-depth exploration of essential social issues in which artists investigate how individual identity relates to the collective.

24 Hours West – on 25 May. The best way to explore this neighbourhood, equally interesting for newcomers or locals. Check all the activities on IAmsterdam website.

Deborah Turbeville – Photocollage. Until 16 June at Huis Marseille. This is the first major retrospective of the American artist Deborah Turbeville and contains a substantial range of vintage collages, unique works some of which have never been shown before.

World Press Photo at Nieuwe Kerk. From 19 April to 14 July. Presenting the results of the 2024 World Press Photo Contest, the annual exhibition showcases the best and most important photojournalism and documentary photography of the last year, selected by an independent jury.

Do Not Run Fly – A show by Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) at the National Opera & Ballet. 22 -23 May.

Farmsterdammers 2024: Seed & Plant Swap Amsterdam on 25 May on various locations across the city (check the website for the map). On this day, gardening enthusiasts will plant vegetables in a few public spaces around the city and will organise seed and plant exchanges.

Amsterdam Art Week. From 29 May to 2 June. The 12th edition of the event offers five days of contemporary visual art, with the focus on identifying young talent. Participants: galleries, museums, project spaces, residencies and more. Best way to explore Amsterdam’s contemporary art world.

BITE Amsterdam – 31 May-2 June in Amstelpark. A food festival, where you can sample food made by the best chefs. There are also workshops, demonstrations, tastings and many drinks terraces, and music, for a special atmosphere.

The Art of Drag – until October 2024 at the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem. This is the first exhibition in the Netherlands about drag from an art historical perspective in the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem.

With so many things to do, no one will get bored this month! Enjoy!

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Don’t forget to check out my photo book: Amsterdam Through the Seasons!