A month by month guide of family-friendly events in Amsterdam:
January
until 22nd January 2017, Amsterdam Light Festival www.amsterdamlightfestival.comA festival of light and water in the centre of picturesque Amsterdam.
28 January 2017, Chinese New Year celebrations
Around Chinatown at the Nieuwmarkt, street party and parades with lion dances, gongs and firecrackers.
February
March
25 March, Open Tower Day 2017 open torendag
28 historical and modern towers are open to the public for one day only, From 10:00 - 16:00hrs.
April
14 April - 9 July, World Press Photo 2017 world press photo
27th April, King's Day kings day family fun
Formerly known as Queen's Day and celebrated on 30th April until the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander in 2013. Free market for people to sell their wares tax-free. The Vondelpark is reserved for children to set up shop selling their old toys, clothes or food, with buskers, dancing and games.
24 - 29th April, Aprilfeesten
Feel like a local at this village-like, open-air, child-friendly fair with live music and food stalls at the Nieuwmarkt, right in the heart of Amsterdam.
May
14 April - 9 July, World Press Photo 2017 world press photo
4th May, Remembrance Day
Ceremony at Dam Square with the Dutch Royal Family, with 2 minutes silence at 20:00 hrs.
5th May, Liberation Festival
Live music at Dam Square.
24th - 28th May, Rolling Kitchens 2017 www.rollendekeukens.nl (in Dutch)
Annual open air food fair in Westerpark, open 13:00 - 23:00 hrs.
June
14 April - 9 July, World Press Photo 2017 world press photo
2nd - 5th June, Taste of Amsterdam 2017 www.tasteofamsterdam.com
Annual foodie festival celebrates the start of summer at Amstelpark. Tickets are cheaper when purchased online.
17th - 18th June, National Architecture Day 2017 www.dagvandearchitectuuramsterdam.nl
25 June, Amsterdam Roots Open Air Festival 2017 www.amsterdamroots.nl (in Dutch) Annual open air music festival in Oosterpark.
July
until 9 July, World Press Photo 2017 world press photo
August
5th August, Amsterdam Gay Pride Canal Parade 2017 www.amsterdamgaypride.nl
13:30 hrs Canal Parade departs Westerdok and travels along the Prinsengracht, ends around 18:00hrs at the Scheepvaartmuseum.
11th - 20th August, Grachtenfestival 2017 www.grachtenfestival.nl
12th - 27th August, Theatre Festival Parade 2016 www.deparade.nl
Annual travelling theatre festival makes it's 27th annual appearance at the Martin Luther King Park.
25th - 27th August, Uitmarkt 2017 www.uitmarkt.nl
Annual launch of the new cultural season with free performances at the Museumplein, Leidseplein and Vondelpark.
September
4th September 2017, Amsterdam schools restart The 2017-18 school year begins for children at primary and secondary schools in North Holland.
9th - 10th September, Amsterdam Heritage Days 2017. open-monumentendag
Visit historical buildings and monuments, not normally open to the public.
October
8th October, 'I'm not a tourist' Fair 2017 www.expatica.com
A community fair for internationals living in the Netherlands, held at the Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam. Register in advance for tickets online for free entry.
15th - 21st October, Cinekid Festival 2017 www.cinekid.nl
Film, television and new media festival for children aged between 4 and 14.
November
11th November, Sint Maarten
Children carry lanterns, knock on doors and sing songs in exchange for a treat.
Sunday 18th November 2017, Sinterklaas parade in Amsterdam www.amsterdam.nl
Traditionally Sinterklaas and his entourage arrive in Holland from Spain the day before. He will arrive on Sunday morning at the Scheepvaartmuseum (National Maritime Museum) by boat, followed by parading through the city on his horse, Amerigo, via Dam Square and ending at the Stadsschouwburg on Leidseplein.
15th - 26th November 2017, International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) www.idfa.nl Suitable for children 10 years upwards.
December
1st December 2017 - 21st January 2018, Amsterdam Light Festival www.amsterdamlightfestival.com
A festival of light and water in the centre of picturesque Amsterdam.
31st December, New Year's Eve
There is a small fair at Dam Square. Enjoy your last oliebollen (deep-fried dough balls) and watch Dutch pyromania enjoy their opportunity to purchase fireworks (officially only allowed between 29 - 31 December).
