Amsterdam is a hugely popular destination for tourists from around the world and is known for its iconic attractions. From its infamous Red Light District and cannabis cafés to more family friendly attractions like the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam has something for everyone. It is also host to a variety of events each year and below is a compiled list of some of the most important events held in Amsterdam every year.

National Tulip Day (19th January)

The tulip is perhaps one of the most iconic symbols of the Netherlands and rightfully so. So much so, the country holds a national tulip day every year to celebrate! Events are held nationwide, but Amsterdam is home to a ‘picking garden’ that is set up in Amsterdam’s Dam Square each year where visitors can pick and take home a tulip for free.

King’s Day (27th April)

King’s Day is held every year on the king’s birthday, which is 27th April. It is a big cultural event in the Dutch calendar and is marked by live music, parties and events throughout Amsterdam. There are almost too many individual activities to list out here, but they include a citywide street market, night and day parties and plenty more.

Taste of Amsterdam (May – June)

One for the foodies, Taste of Amsterdam is a four day celebration of culinary delights. Top chefs from all over Amsterdam gather in Amstelpark to provide starter-sized plates full of all sorts of delicious food. A live cook-off competition, wine-tasting and farmer’s market round off an event that will surely leave you fit to burst with fine food and drink!

Pride Amsterdam (July – August)

Amsterdam is host to an annual Pride parade that spans 7 days. As one of the biggest Pride parades in the world, Amsterdam is a fantastic place to celebrate the annual event. The streets are dressed up with colourful banners, there are parties and celebrations throughout the city and, in true Dutch fashion, there is even a canal parade.

Amsterdam Dance Event (October)

Amsterdam Dance Event is an amalgamation of over 450 events spanning 140 different locations around Amsterdam. It is an event held to celebrate dance music. ADE spans 5 days and draws some 2,500 different artists from all around the world to celebrate and party throughout Amsterdam.

Amsterdam Light Festival (November – January)

The Amsterdam Light Festival is considered a celebration of art that lights up the streets of Amsterdam in the long, cold winter nights. Applications for art installations are accepted from around the world and whittled down to a list of 30, which are set up all around Amsterdam for visitors to explore and find. The theme of the event changes from year to year and past events have included installations from some of the world’s most famous contemporary artists and designers.

Amsterdam plays host to a huge assortment of events throughout the year and it would be impossible to list all of them here; however, the above list serves to demonstrate that Amsterdam is a diverse city of culture, with events celebrating music, food, the arts, nature and plenty more. No matter how old you are or what your tastes are like, there truly is something for everyone in Amsterdam.

If you are visiting Amsterdam, here might be some fantastic and fun things to do for you.