City guideAmsterdam · Sat 7 – Sun 8 November
Amsterdam this weekend: the PAN art fair at the RAI and Museumnacht
The last days of PAN Amsterdam at the RAI, Museumnacht, 17th-century cityscapes at the Stadsarchief, Imagine’s closing weekend, Joris Bijdendijk’s new Wils Café and free trees at the Tolhuistuin.
The weekend at a glance
Choose a pick to find it on the map; scroll down for the full story.
Saturday · 7 November
Sunday · 8 November
All weekend · Saturday and Sunday
Saturday
7 November
Sat 19:00–02:00
Festival · Across the city
Museumnacht across Amsterdam’s museums
On the first Saturday of November, Amsterdam’s museums stay open late for Museumnacht. Each makes its own programme, drawn from its collection or current exhibitions, with music, workshops and special tours, and one ticket covers them all.
It runs from 19:00 to 02:00. Standard tickets are sold out; Uitpas holders can still buy a last-minute ticket at 40% off while they last. The Museumkaart and I amsterdam City Card are not valid.
Sat 10:00–15:00Free
Event · Tolhuistuin, Noord
Free trees from De Gezonde Stad at the Tolhuistuin
De Gezonde Stad hands out thousands of young trees to Amsterdammers, in the last Bomen voor Amsterdam before the foundation closes at the end of November. Choose a wild apple or a cornelian cherry, both happy in a pot on a balcony; each time slot has a draw for a grapevine.
It runs 10:00 to 15:00, a free ferry from Centraal. Register first on De Gezonde Stad’s site; a green market runs alongside.
Sunday
8 November
Sun 11:00–17:00
Restaurant · Weesperzijde
Wils Café, a new bistro by Joris Bijdendijk on the Weesperzijde
Joris Bijdendijk, the Michelin-starred chef of Rijks and Wils, opens a neighbourhood bistro in French-Amsterdam style on the Weesperzijde, beside the Amstel. The menu is French bistro dishes and Amsterdam classics such as steak tartare, for anything from coffee and a quick lunch to a three-course dinner.
It opens on Sunday, 11:00 to 17:00, and then seven days a week. Book a table online; some tables are kept for walk-ins.
All weekend
Saturday and Sunday
Sat and Sun, 11:00–18:00€28.50 online
Fair · RAI, Hall 8
PAN Amsterdam, the art and antiques fair at the RAI
PAN Amsterdam, the Netherlands’ big art, antiques and design fair, holds its 39th edition at the RAI. More than 125 galleries and dealers bring Old Masters, Japanese lacquer, Murano glass, jewellery, vintage watches and comic art, and fashion designer Tess van Zalinge works in a studio on the fair floor.
Its last days: 11:00 to 18:00 in Hall 8. Tickets are €28.50 online plus a €1.50 fee, or €32.50 at the door.
Sat and Sun, 12:00–17:00
Exhibition · Vijzelstraat
17th-century cityscapes of Amsterdam at the Stadsarchief
In the 17th century Amsterdam grew from a mid-sized port into a world city, and its painters showed it off: the canal belt, the new town hall on the Dam, markets and ships on the IJ. Amsterdam – A Work of Art gathers the best-known of them for the first time.
It opened on 6 November in De Bazel on the Vijzelstraat, made with the Amsterdam Museum for its centenary. Open 12:00 to 17:00.
Sat and Sun, hours vary by venue€13.50
Festival · FilmHallen and LAB111
Imagine film festival at the FilmHallen and LAB111
Imagine, Amsterdam’s festival of fantasy, horror and science fiction, ends its 42nd edition this weekend. The programme has 72 feature films and 55 shorts, the Ghost in the Feed theme on media history, Latin American magical realism and films by guest of honour Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
Screenings are at the FilmHallen, LAB111 and Hal West, at €13.50. Cineville members book most of them free; the VHS cellar at LAB111 is free for everyone.
Saturday
Sat 19:00–02:00
Museumnacht across Amsterdam’s museums
On the first Saturday of November, Amsterdam’s museums stay open late for Museumnacht. Each makes its own programme, drawn from its collection or current exhibitions, with music, workshops and special tours, and one ticket covers them all.
It runs from 19:00 to 02:00. Standard tickets are sold out; Uitpas holders can still buy a last-minute ticket at 40% off while they last. The Museumkaart and I amsterdam City Card are not valid.
Sat 10:00–15:00
Free trees from De Gezonde Stad at the Tolhuistuin
De Gezonde Stad hands out thousands of young trees to Amsterdammers, in the last Bomen voor Amsterdam before the foundation closes at the end of November. Choose a wild apple or a cornelian cherry, both happy in a pot on a balcony; each time slot has a draw for a grapevine.
It runs 10:00 to 15:00, a free ferry from Centraal. Register first on De Gezonde Stad’s site; a green market runs alongside.
Tolhuistuin Sunday
Sun 11:00–17:00
Wils Café, a new bistro by Joris Bijdendijk on the Weesperzijde
Joris Bijdendijk, the Michelin-starred chef of Rijks and Wils, opens a neighbourhood bistro in French-Amsterdam style on the Weesperzijde, beside the Amstel. The menu is French bistro dishes and Amsterdam classics such as steak tartare, for anything from coffee and a quick lunch to a three-course dinner.
It opens on Sunday, 11:00 to 17:00, and then seven days a week. Book a table online; some tables are kept for walk-ins.
All weekend
Sat and Sun, 11:00–18:00
PAN Amsterdam, the art and antiques fair at the RAI
PAN Amsterdam, the Netherlands’ big art, antiques and design fair, holds its 39th edition at the RAI. More than 125 galleries and dealers bring Old Masters, Japanese lacquer, Murano glass, jewellery, vintage watches and comic art, and fashion designer Tess van Zalinge works in a studio on the fair floor.
Its last days: 11:00 to 18:00 in Hall 8. Tickets are €28.50 online plus a €1.50 fee, or €32.50 at the door.
Amsterdam RAI Sat and Sun, 12:00–17:00
17th-century cityscapes of Amsterdam at the Stadsarchief
In the 17th century Amsterdam grew from a mid-sized port into a world city, and its painters showed it off: the canal belt, the new town hall on the Dam, markets and ships on the IJ. Amsterdam – A Work of Art gathers the best-known of them for the first time.
It opened on 6 November in De Bazel on the Vijzelstraat, made with the Amsterdam Museum for its centenary. Open 12:00 to 17:00.
Stadsarchief Amsterdam Sat and Sun, hours vary by venue
Imagine film festival at the FilmHallen and LAB111
Imagine, Amsterdam’s festival of fantasy, horror and science fiction, ends its 42nd edition this weekend. The programme has 72 feature films and 55 shorts, the Ghost in the Feed theme on media history, Latin American magical realism and films by guest of honour Kiyoshi Kurosawa.
Screenings are at the FilmHallen, LAB111 and Hal West, at €13.50. Cineville members book most of them free; the VHS cellar at LAB111 is free for everyone.
FilmHallen