Summer is here! Let yourself be surprised on a city break in the Netherlands this summer. Whether you like good food, music, films or a day at the beach? There is plenty to experience. Are you planning to be in the Netherlands this summer and looking for inspiration? We have selected the best activities in Amsterdam, Zaandam, Utrecht and The Hague for you! Get inspired to visit Holland this summer!
The best festivals & parties
The theatre festival De Parade travels from Eindhoven and Rotterdam to The Hague, Utrecht and Amsterdam this summer. A must for true theatre lovers, but also definitely if you come for the food, the Ferris wheel and the fun. The programme is packed with cabaret, theatre and dance performances. When night falls, De Parade’s one and only ‘silent’ club opens its doors. Dance the night away in the silent disco.
Eindhoven Fri 21 to Sat 29 June
Rotterdam Fri 21 to Sun 30 June
The Hague Fri 5 to Sun 21 July
Utrecht Fri 26 July to Sun 11 August
Amsterdam Fri 16 August to Sun 1 September
For the programme and tickets, go to deparade.nl
Festival TREK turns city parks into one big open-air restaurant. For a long weekend, enjoy a wide range of street food. From sushi to Surinamese food and from veg to burgers. Each food truck has its own speciality. For drinks to match, there is a cocktail bar, a Biergarten and an extensive wine bar with a terrace. With good company, you’ll have an enjoyable and tasty evening here!
Special acts by young theatre-makers and intimate live performances complete a visit to TREK. This year, the festival celebrates its 10th anniversary in Utrecht.
Admission is free.
Amsterdam – Amstelpark Fri 5 – Sun 7 July
The Hague – Westbroekpark Fri 30 August to Sun 1 September
Utrecht – Maximapark Fri 6 to Sun 8 September
Festival calender
Festival Festival season is in full swing. These parties are not to be missed this summer:
Pinkpop, Landgraaf 21 to 23 June
Concert At SEA, Ouddorp 27 to 29 June
Down The Rabbit Hole, Beuningen 5 to 7 July
Milkshake Festival, Amsterdam 26 – 28 July
Lowlands, Biddinghuizen 16 – 18 August
Live on the Beach, Scheveningen 29 August – 2 September
Open-air concerts & films
The Muziekgebouw aan het IJ and 4’33 Grand Café are collaborating on the Terrace Concerts. On the beautiful waterside terrace, enjoy a delicious dinner or drinks while listening to live music.
After this musical evening, you can stay overnight at Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Landmark. This hotel is within walking distance of this location.
One of Amsterdam’s coolest spots is Pllek in Amsterdam Noord. This raw industrial place near the NDSM wharf offers one of the best panoramic views of the IJ River. In the summer months, at night this is transformed that an open-air cinema during Films with a View.
Discover the history of Verkade
The Verkade factory in Zaandam once baked biscuits and made chocolate bars. Today, the building is a bustling meeting place on the Zaan. It is home to a number of cultural institutions and the library.
On the ground floor you ‘ll find De VersKade, a fresh market where everything revolves around good food and drinks. Here you can buy fresh bread, croissants and cakes, as well as meat products and a good bottle of wine. And De Koffiezaak is the place to go for a cup of coffee. In short, all delicacies under one roof.
Keep an eye on their socials; they regularly organise a Stand Up Comedy Surprise Night!
Learn to surf this summer
Take up a surfing challenge on Scheveningen beach. Beach Club and Surf school Aloha has surf lessons for everyone: young, old, beginner, advanced, solo or with a group. The Noordelijk Havenhoofd provides protection from wind and current. This provides perfect conditions for learning to surf. Aloha’s instructors are on hand all year round.
Fancy having breakfast or dinner overlooking the sea? The menu is full of tasty dishes, from pancakes and asian bites to burgers and salads.
Conveniently, this beach club is within walking distance of Inntel Hotels Den Haag Marina Beach. So after a day of surfing, you can stay the night in Scheveningen.
You’ll be surprised.