Weekend tips: October 16-18 (and more)
Weekend Incoming? Yes, please! And when we do it, we do it right. The summer months are the most fun, which is why we have another list full of the very best and most enjoyable weekend tips ready for you. With cultural outings, culinary pop-ups, new openings, festivals and everything that adds zest to your weekend.
Not only in Amsterdam by the way (our home base), but also definitely outside. And handy: not only for this weekend, but also for the coming weekends. That way you are always prepared. With this list you ensure that your weekend becomes one that you would like to extend for a few more days. Let's go!
Star restaurant hopping without having to leave the table even once? Yes please. During the very first Michelin Stars Dinner Cruise on Saturday, October 17, dishes from Aan de Poel, Parkheuvel, Restaurant 212, and Bij Jef will simply come to you. And all this while you sail across the IJ aboard the historic saloon boat Prins van Oranje and watch the Amsterdam skyline pass by. Expect a multi-course dinner featuring signature dishes from the various star chefs, the stories behind those dishes, and live jazz by Sammy Uivel & Combo. In other words: a very decadent affair, and we sometimes quite like that.
Get here your tickets for October 17.
Harmony makes its debut at the Gashouder in Amsterdam from November 17 to 22 with ten Music Ceremonies. Yes! For six days, everything here revolves around music, with Live performances van contemporary classical to ambient electronicThink of piano, cello, string quartets, synthesizers, and choirs. About 1.000 people listen to the performances simultaneously, in silence and without distraction.
You take a seat on one of the many mattresses scattered across the floor. Above you, nature images play in a projection art installation created especially for the Gashouder, turning the impressive space into part of the show as well. Upon entering, there is time to settle in and put away your phone in a lockerAfter that, it is mainly a matter of lying back and enjoying the music.
View the program and buy your tickets here.
Actually, we love all the museums in Amsterdam and the initiatives they have during the holidays for kids of all ages. But right now, our hearts are beating faster especially because of the amazing exhibition showcasing the entire career of the recently deceased Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama: “Dots, infinite mirror spaces, groundbreaking experiments, and massive installations: that is Yayoi Kusama in a nutshell.” And that is, of course, a huge treat for both the young ones and yourself.
That works out well: you can join us right away at Café Restaurant Sandberg. Great tip, too.
Two Michelin-starred restaurants, two top chefs, and one evening. Now that sounds like music to our ears. On October 19, the restaurant Flora namely a visit from San Hoon Degeimbre, the chef of the Belgian L'Air du Temps. And he isn't just dropping by for a chat. His restaurant holds two Michelin stars as well as a Green Star and is known for dishes featuring vegetables, herbs, fruit, and flowers from its own garden. For one evening, the kitchens are joining forces, and you can pull up a chair for a special menu in which vegetables take center stage. Who said you need meat for a feast? We certainly didn't.
For a bit of art, you might as well take the train to Alkmaar at the end of October. On Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October, the Chapel Church namely filled with work by artists from the Netherlands, South Africa, Germany, and the US during Connecting the World Through ArtFrom paintings and sculptures to photography and art made with butterflies (yes, really): there is plenty to pause and take notice of. Among others, Chantal Brink, Fhatuwani and Justice Mukheli, Stefan Stichler, and the American Nathan Terborg are participating in the exhibition. And you don't have to just look: you can also roll up your sleeves during a linoprint workshop led by artist and designer Isi de Jongh. Viewing art in a centuries-old church, creating something yourself, and then heading straight into Alkmaar. Quite a nice cultural weekend plan, we think.
The exhibition can be visited on Friday from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM and on Saturday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Admission is free, but please register. You can do that here. here.
Do you want to linger in the Italian atmosphere a little longer after the summer holidays? From September 18th, you can at Fabrique des Lumieres Admire all the masterpieces by your favorite Italian artists. Da Vinci, Raphael, and Michelangelo take you back to the Italian Renaissance in just under an hour. And not like your average museum visit, but at Fabrique des Lumières, art is brought to life. Are you checking your weather apps this month and are dreary autumn days on the menu? Then that is the perfect time for this outing. Get your tickets here.
The Maaltuin transforms the most unique places in the Netherlands into a pop-up restaurant. You are not only served a delicious five-course dinner, but also the stories, music, and atmosphere of the location. An evening out that is just a little bit different.
In Amsterdam, you can take a seat at two special places until the end of October. Dine at the Hollandsche Manege (August 27 to October 17), between the stables and the riding arena of the oldest city riding school in the Netherlands. Or take a seat in the First-class waiting room at Amsterdam Central (September 4 to October 25), where you normally just rush past to catch your train. Two unique locations, each an unforgettable evening.
You can find tickets and other editions here
Watching theatre and then just staying seated at the table to discuss it a bit further? We think that's a great concept. Starting October 14, The UT Three weeks over De Paardenkathedraal in Utrecht with If a father is fightingA performance about growing up with a father who is there, but actually isn't, and what that means when you yourself are faced with the question of what kind of parent you want to be later in life. Quite a theme, then. The audience sits around the stage, under a cloud of hundreds of light bulbs, and watches from very close up a story that spans thirty years. And the evening isn't over yet: everyone gathers at long tables for a dinner with large platters of crayfish to chat together. An evening at the theater that will probably leave you thinking a little longer than just on the way home.
If a father is fighting plays from October 14 to November 1 at De Paardenkathedraal in Utrecht. The evening begins at 5:30 PM and includes dinner. Afterwards, Het NUT packs up and the performance goes on tour: from November 7 to January 14, it will play fourteen more times at various locations.
Here find the tickets!
We of course know the A'DAM Tower for the view over Amsterdam, but on Saturday, November 14, there is at least as much to experience inside. For one day, the tower will be transformed into a real music festival for War Child. During the day To the Moon and Back Intimate concerts will be given by more than twenty artists at eight unique locations in the tower. And with names like Goldband, Typhoon, Douwe Bob, RONDÉ, and Chef'Special (acoustic) on the program, that promises quite a lot. You can put together your own program with individual tickets and, between performances, you can also join masterclasses and pub quizzes or hit the dance floor with the DJs. Best of all? The artists perform free of charge, and the proceeds go to War Child, which helps children growing up with war and conflict. Tickets start at €50, and sales begin on September 24. A whole tower full of music, and for a very worthy cause.
You can find more info and tickets here.
2026 excels in wonderfully fun brand collaborations: Burberry at Hôtel Belles Rives in Antibes, Louis Vuitton and Pharrell, Rhode and Justin Bieber, and Erewhon (a smoothie brand) and Barbie: a real treat. The trend has now reached Amsterdam as well: kick off the weekend with a moment for yourself, thanks to neighborhood restaurant Moos (Spaarndammerstraat) and the neighbors at feel-good studio NǓMA. The best ideas are simple: on the site of Moss Check when you would like to come for lunch or breakfast. There, you can immediately indicate which NǓMA class you would like to take (yoga, pilates, sauna, or an ice bath, for example), and Team Moos will take care of the rest. For €22, you can attend one of NǓMA's classes or enjoy a sauna session with an ice bath, and afterwards (or beforehand), join Moos for breakfast or lunch with a drink. The perfect start to your weekend.
A one-way ticket around the world in about forty minutes? No problem. Starting October 15, the photographer will take jimmy nelson At Fabrique des Lumières, you are taken on a journey through remarkable communities, traditions, and landscapes from all over the world. And not with just a few photos neatly on the wall, but his images are projected around you from floor to ceiling, accompanied by music and Nelson himself in your ears, telling you the stories behind his photos. Mirrors of Humanity By the way, it isn't just for those who missed the previous edition. There are never-before-seen images to see, and you get a behind-the-scenes look at Nelson's analog photography. Lights out, projectors on, and for forty minutes, somewhere completely different. We say: a world trip without jet lag, please.
Here find your tickets and more info!
For a fun autumn holiday activity with your child, nephew, niece, or little brother or sister, you really don't always have to go to the zoo or the cinema. At Move Lab There is plenty to experience in Amsterdam-Zuid as well. In this interactive museum, everything revolves around cars, bicycles, and technology. And not just for looking at, but especially for trying out yourself. From building your own race car and taking a first driving lesson to testing your reflexes: sitting still is not really the intention here. There is also plenty to do for the youngest visitors, with life-sized building blocks and a marble run no less than ten (!) meters long. During school holidays, there are also extra workshops, ranging from LEGO programming to drone flying. Afterwards, stop by Wils Bakery Café for lunch or a treat, and you’ve got yourself a great afternoon. Especially when it’s pouring rain outside again.
You can find more information, the holiday schedule, and tickets here.
Don't have a Picasso budget? No problem. From November 25 to 29, the Affordable Art Fair descends on the Kromhouthal for the twentieth time. And the name gives it away a bit: buying art here is meant to be pleasantly accessible. You will find work by more than 400 artists, spread across 67 galleries from 14 countries. From paintings and photography to ceramics and textiles, with prices starting at €100.
Not quite at home in the art world yet? No problem. During the public days, you can ask an art expert for advice on looking, buying, and discovering your own taste. And for those who want to start cautiously, there is the Under €1.000 Wall, full of works by new exhibitors that all cost, yes indeed, less than €1.000. Of course, you are also simply allowed to look.
Vegetables boring? I don't think so! Especially not when you put two star chefs behind the stoves together. On November 9, Flora Namely, a visit from Sebastian Frank, chef of Berlin's Horváth, which holds two Michelin stars and a Green Star. And he certainly knows what to do with a carrot or two. At Horváth, everything revolves around what Sebastian himself calls the 'emancipated vegetable kitchen.' In other words: vegetables are not an afterthought, but the stars of the show. Together with Flore chef Bas van Kranen, he is cooking a fully plant-based menu for one evening in which both cuisines come together. Two top chefs, a lot of vegetables, and zero meat. We are joining you!
The autumn holidays are just around the corner again, and we are completely readyIt's just a shame that that week always flies by before you're fully in holiday mode, which is why we love heading out in our own country! There is more than enough fun to be found in our little country that saves travel time and still feels like a mini-vacation. This autumn, Schiedam is high on our list. With atmospheric streets, great restaurants and bars, the famous windmills, exceptional gin, and lively harbors to sail through. Well worth a visit!
Curious about our tips and highlights of Schiedam? Then read on here.
Some things you should just leave the way they are. Take the mussels from Proeflokaal A. van Wees on the Herengracht. You see, they have been prepared here in exactly the same way for fifty (!) years. And we know this thanks to an old newspaper clipping from 1975 that recently resurfaced. On the menu? Zeeland mussels with tomato, garlic, chili pepper, and vegetables, served with bread and cocktail sauce. Sounds good? Well, they thought so fifty years ago too. And because the letter 'r' is back in the month, this is naturally the perfect time to pull up a chair. Even better: on Tuesday, November 10, Van Wees is organizing a special mussel evening where you can eat unlimited mussels for just €10 per person. Yes, really! Including sauce, but fries and drinks are ordered separately.
Planning a weekend in Amsterdam? Then head east. Whether you’ve lived there for years or are coming all the way from afar: Bar Basquiat on Javastraat is the place to be on Friday night for Eats & Beats. And yep, the name says it all. Beats, dancing, drinks, and delicious food. A little bit of everything, basically.we likeFrom 20 PM onwards, a DJ will be behind the turntables, and you can slowly roll onto the dance floor while eating and drinking. And as if that weren't reason enough to head to Javastraat: you can drink a Lellebel all evening for just five euros. The Lellebel, we hear you thinking? A delicious blonde beer from Brouwerij de Eeuwige Jeugd. So come on, put on your coat (or pack your bags), head East, and let the weekend get off to a good start.
You make a reservation here.
Are you a tourist in Amsterdam? Or do you have friends or family from abroad visiting the Netherlands and want to give them the Dutch food experience? Let's go Dutch ExperiencesFor anyone who claims that the Netherlands has “no cuisine of its own” will probably think differently after these twelve courses. Okay, there are countries that do it better, but we do have a story behind almost everything that ends up on your plate.
In an hour, you get a dive into Dutch history with twelve Dutch specialties to taste. Naturally, with a jenever (or beer, wine, or soft drink, that's fine too). You sit at a table, and the history is explained through the lens of dishes. That way, you suddenly understand why the Dutch eat what they eat. It turns out, for example, that this has to do with trade routes, interesting!
And even as a Dutch person, you learn a lot from it!
From breakfast to cocktails and from coffee to dancing: you can hang around all day at Papa Zatarra in Oostenburg. The corner building with glass facades has a nice raw edge that fits well with this new neighborhood. During the day it is quiet, and you catch up with that friend you haven't seen in ages or head into a work meeting. Later in the day, you pull up a chair for dishes to share, cocktails, and drinks with a bit more substance. spice. And then there are the boozy brunches, salsa nights, oysters & bubbles and drag brunchesSo keep a close eye on the schedule. See you there?
If we could, we would hop on a plane to the Caribbean right now. Endless sunshine, good vibes, and delicious food. Unfortunately, that isn't always possible. Luckily, Mondi has come up with a solution. At both Mondi Nieuw-West and Mondi Skybar, you can attend Mondi Weekends every Friday and Saturday. Sultry evenings with flavorful Caribbean à la carte dishes, Mondi DJs behind the turntables, and a special Mondi Moment as the cherry on top. So, food, drinks, and dancing! Always a good choice. It is also highly recommended for a birthday or other special occasion. There is even a balloon decoration service for that (yes, really!).
Book now here.
Handy, aren't those weekend tips from Bart? Are there never enough and do you want even more inspiration? things to do and good ideas for the weekend (and the rest of the week)? Of course we also have something for that, namely the Barts Boekje Newsletter. No endless spam, we hate that too. Just an email once a week with tips for your holiday (or just a... staycation), for your interior, countries you want to go to now that the weather is possible, the most beautiful tree houses, the tastiest coffee, tips for your offspring and so on. Lots of good ideas in a small email – we can't make it any easier, but we certainly can make it more fun.
More tips
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Vlees & Co in Amsterdam, Eindhoven, Nijmegen, and Arnhem is a bullseye for meat lovers.
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New restaurants in Amsterdam: this is the definitive Barts Boekje list
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YUYOU Amsterdam: the place where women get moving (women only)
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Wander Island Vinkeveen
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work.club: work where it suits you in Amsterdam (and more)
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Favorite Toscanini in Amsterdam is getting a little sister: Capri Enoteca
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Omakase sushi at the new Sushi Oodo in Amsterdam
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From Bar Gui to Bistro de Fles: a new bistro on the Prinsengracht
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White Birch Nature Hotel in Epe, Veluwe
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The Barts Booklet list of new (and not to be missed) restaurants in Rotterdam
