Amsterdam runs on a yearly rhythm. Tulips open the calendar in spring, open-air theatre and festivals fill the summer, and lantern-lit canals close out the year. Once you know which events come back every year and roughly when, you can plan family days out without hunting for dates from scratch. Here’s the month-by-month rundown, check our events listings for this year’s confirmed dates as they’re announced.
January
The Amsterdam Light Festival usually stretches from early December into mid-January, so the first couple of weeks of the new year are still your window for the canal light routes and family-friendly boat tours. Ice Amsterdam, the open-air rink at Museumplein, is also still running through January, skate under the Rijksmuseum, grab pancakes rinkside, and rent a skating aid if the kids are new to it.
February
Ice Amsterdam typically wraps up in the first days of February, so this is your last real chance to get the skates on before it packs away for the year. Otherwise, February tends to be quiet on the big-event front, a good month to lean on the year-round markets and activities further down this guide.
March
Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, about 30 minutes from Amsterdam, opens every spring, usually from late March through mid-May. Beyond the tulip fields, there’s a children’s maze, a playground, a petting zoo, and scavenger hunts, so it’s not just a flower walk for the adults. It makes a solid day trip from Amsterdam. Visit early in the morning if you want fewer crowds and better photos.
April
Keukenhof is still in full bloom through April. Alongside it, National Museum Weekend lands in April each year: hundreds of museums across Amsterdam and the wider Netherlands open for free or at reduced prices, with many running children’s tours, hands-on exhibits, and family scavenger hunts for the occasion. It’s a good excuse to finally try one of the kid-friendly museums you’ve been putting off.
May
Keukenhof’s season runs out around mid-May, so this is your last stretch to catch the tulips before the gardens close for the year. It’s worth checking their opening and closing dates directly, since the exact window shifts slightly each spring depending on the flowering season.
June
Two things kick off in June. The Vondelpark Open Air Theatre (Openluchttheater) starts its weekend season, free outdoor performances covering music, dance, and storytelling, aimed squarely at families on weekend afternoons. Bring a picnic and a blanket, because seating fills up fast on sunny days. Later in June, the Amsterdam Roots Festival brings world music, food, and culture to venues including Oosterpark, with a family day built around drumming, crafts, and dance. Look out for the kids’ stage and the DIY instrument-making tent.
July
The Vondelpark Open Air Theatre keeps going through July’s weekends, it’s one of the few genuinely free, reliable options for a summer afternoon out with kids. If you’re planning a fuller summer stretch, our summer Netherlands family guide covers more of what’s on beyond this list.
August
Vondelpark’s open-air performances run through most of August too. This month can also bring two bigger, less frequent events: Sail Amsterdam, a maritime mega-event that happens only once every five years, when historic tall ships and naval vessels fill the IJ river and docks and kids can board ships and meet the crew, arrive early in the day if it’s on, since crowds build fast. And toward the end of August, Uitmarkt, the cultural season’s kickoff, brings free performances, music, puppet shows, and theatre previews to Museumplein and Leidseplein, with a Kinderplein (Children’s Square) for storytelling and crafts.
September
Uitmarkt often spills into the first day or two of September before the festival wraps up, and Vondelpark’s outdoor season tends to run out around now as the weather turns. It’s a natural point to start thinking ahead to autumn, our pumpkin-picking farms guide is worth bookmarking for October.
October
The Cinekid Festival is October’s headline event, Europe’s largest children’s film and media festival, held at Westergasfabriek and other cinemas around the city, with screenings, workshops, VR labs, and meet-the-director sessions built specifically for kids aged roughly 4 to 14. Some sessions sell out fast, so book online ahead of time rather than turning up on the day.
November
Two things typically land in November. The Sinterklaas Arrival Parade, a genuine Dutch tradition, and one of the biggest days of the year for kids aged roughly 3 to 10, brings boats, music, candy, and street performances to central Amsterdam; the Maritime Museum area is a good spot for the best boat views. Mid-to-late November is also when Ice Amsterdam usually opens for the season at Museumplein, running through the winter. For a broader look at what else is on in this stretch, see our roundup of family events from October to December.
December
The Amsterdam Light Festival usually opens in early December and runs into the new year, transforming the canals with installations from artists worldwide, there are dedicated family routes, and family-friendly canal cruises with commentary are worth booking ahead if you want the boat perspective rather than walking. Ice Amsterdam continues through the month too. December is also when Sinterklaas festivities carry on from November in many towns. For the full run-down of what’s on this month, check what’s on with kids in December, and if you’re around for the turn of the year, see our guide to New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam with kids.
Year-Round Kid-Friendly Events & Markets
- Pure Markt, a monthly market that rotates between different parks, with food trucks, crafts stalls, and kids’ workshops.
- Sunday Market (Westergas), family-friendly shopping, food, and performances most Sundays.
- Kinderkookkafé, kids cook their own meals, with workshops offered weekly.
These don’t depend on a season, so they’re a reliable fallback whenever the bigger festivals aren’t running.
Final Tips for Attending Events with Kids
- Arrive early to avoid lines and get a decent spot.
- Pack snacks and water, especially for festivals and parades where queues for food can be long.
- Check event websites for the current year’s dates, weather updates, and ticket details before you leave the house.
- Use public transport, parking near most of these venues is limited or non-existent.
FAQ
Do these events happen every year?
Most of them, yes, Keukenhof, National Museum Weekend, Vondelpark’s Open Air Theatre, Uitmarkt, Cinekid, the Amsterdam Light Festival, Sinterklaas, and Ice Amsterdam are all annual fixtures. The exception is Sail Amsterdam, which only happens once every five years, so don’t expect it every summer.
How do I find exact dates for this year?
Dates shift slightly every year, so treat the months above as a guide rather than a fixed calendar. Check each event’s official website closer to the time, or keep an eye on our events listings for confirmed dates as they’re published.
Are these events free?
Several are free to attend, including Vondelpark’s Open Air Theatre, Uitmarkt, National Museum Weekend (or heavily discounted), and the outdoor light routes at the Light Festival. Others, Cinekid screenings, Ice Amsterdam skating sessions, canal cruises, and Keukenhof entry, charge a ticket, so check pricing before you go.
What should we bring to outdoor festivals?
A picnic blanket, snacks, water, and weather-appropriate layers cover most of these events, since several run outdoors regardless of drizzle. For winter events like the Light Festival and Ice Amsterdam, add warm layers and consider booking indoor breaks nearby.
