There are many festivals and events going on in Amsterdam throughout the year. If you find yourself in Amsterdam at  a time of the year when a major festivity is taking place it is a great opportunity to get a real feel for the people and culture of the city. Below you will find a list of some of the events going on in and around Amsterdam at various times of the year.

February:

Amsterdam Boat Show
28th February – 5th March 
The  Amsterdam Boat Show takes place every year at the Amsterdam R.A.I.

Chinese New Year
12th February
Festival through Zeedijk and China town.

April:

Queensday
30th April
Queensday is the official national celebration of the birthday of the Queen Mother. Everybody wears Orange and goes wild. This is party time all over the Netherlands.
By far the largest open-air festivity in Amsterdam with an estimated 750,000 people travelling to the city to join in every year.

June:

Amsterdam Roots Festival
18th - 26th June
Each summer, the Amsterdam Roots Festival presents a wide range of global music and non-western culture. The festival goes on for seven days and takes place at various locations around the city.

July:

Kwakoe Festival
July - August
Bijlmerpark, (Saturday-Sunday, 10am – 8pm)
Wind down on a hot summers day with theatre, music, film, literature, sport and everything on offer at this very buzzing multicultural and family-oriented festival.

August:

De Parade
July 30th - August 15th
Martin Luther King Park (various times)
17 days of 75 spectacles, featuring dance, theatre, magic, art, animation and music amongst other things.

Gay Pride
August 5th - August 8th
The gay pride festival incorporates a number of activities and events culminating in the Carnival like Canal boat parade passing through the canals of Amsterdam

Uitmarkt
August 27th - August 29th
Leidseplein, Museumplein (various times)
Uitmark heralds the official start of the national cultural season. A celebration of the hundreds of free events and performances that will take place in the following months.

September:

Flower Parade Aalsmeer - Amsterdam
September 4
A 3kilometre long flower chain of boats running from Aalsmeer to Amsterdam.

Jordaan Festival
September 17th - September 19th
Jordaan
Festival celebrating this local district with street music, markets and other events.

November:

High Times Cannabis Cup
November 20th - November 25th  2005
Various coffeehouses
Everything to do with Cannabis celebrated throughout the city