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Hello Reader, We got a taste of sunny weather this week, and lots of families have spent their time outside, enjoying the sun ahead of summer. If you want to keep the outdoor momentum going or try something a bit different with the kids over the next few days, here is our pick of interesting and interactive community events happening around town. Events Happening This WeekendScoops by MOVE Lab A high-energy, interactive pop-up event specifically designed for kids. MOVE Lab is challenging children to complete a series of engaging engineering and motion challenges. The best part? Once they complete the “Build and Race” challenge, they get to “Taste” their reward: a free scoop of ice cream. An event that perfectly balances a hands-on, active brain challenge with a sweet reward? Looks like a recipe for a fun afternoon! This is happening at Move Amsterdam on 30 & 31 May. Access to the pop-up space itself is free, though it doesn’t include the standard admission fee for the main MOVE Lab exhibition. You can find more information and planning details here. Summer Ice Rink Yup, you read that right. An ice rink in summer. Apparently, it’s possible with solar energy! From 29 May to 2 June, the grounds right next to the Olympic Stadium will open for ice skating from 12:00 to 18:00 daily. But not only that, they are also setting up a neighbourhood space with a film, snacks, and drinks on site. More information on how it works and what to expect can be found here. Children’s Book Festival Just off the ferry from Centraal Station, Tolhuistuin in Amsterdam Noord is hosting a Children’s Book Festival again for the 8th year. This is a vibrant family arts festival that brings the best children’s books of the past year to life. Instead of just static book readings, it features a highly interactive, curated mix of performances, music, theater, visual arts, fashion, and hands-on workshops tailored for kids aged 4 and up. This happens on Sunday 31 May 2026, with doors opening at 11:00. Tickets and the full schedule of activities can be found here. Farmer’s Day at Elsenhove From 13:00 – 16:30 on Sunday 31 May, children can visit Elsenhove for their Farmer’s Day. Kids can witness up close a sheep shearing demonstration, an insect tasting, stalls and fun games. Such a wonderful experience that the whole family can enjoy, all for free! Speelboerderij Elsenhove is in Amstelveen, not far from Amsterdam but cycling or coming by car is recommended. Find out more on Elsenhove’s website. Upcoming EventsHeads up for June: A free family festival on the Bosbaan (19–21 June) If you are planning out your June weekends, the Koninklijke Holland Beker rowing regatta is returning to the Amsterdamse Bos with a great, free family festival along the water. The shoreline is being taken over by the team behind the Rollende Keukens food festival, meaning it will have a really relaxed, bohemian vibe with live music, food stalls, a retro mini-Ferris wheel, and plenty of space for kids to play. It’s a nice, non-commercial option for a weekend hangout—and for anyone tracking the World Cup, they are also screening the Netherlands vs. Sweden match on Saturday evening. Entry is entirely free all weekend. Find out more. The Little Big Things Musical The Royal Theatre Carré is exclusively hosting the acclaimed West End musical The Little Big Things this summer from 20 June to 16 August. Performed entirely in English with a spectacular live band, the show tells the deeply moving, true story of an ordinary teenager and his family learning to completely redefine their lives and find resilience after a sudden accident. It is a high-caliber production brought directly to Amsterdam, and because it’s a limited, exclusive run in the city, prime weekend family seating will sell out well in advance. More details on the show and ticket reservations can be found here. Holland Festival The annual Holland Festival returns from 3-28 June 2026, bringing its usual massive lineup of international performing arts to Amsterdam. While much of the programme leans toward avant-garde theatre and adult contemporary dance, the opening event on Wednesday 3 June is exceptionally family-friendly. Titled City of Floating Sounds, it kicks off as a giant, collective musical walk through the city toward the Royal Theatre Carré. Families use a free smartphone app that plays different fragments of a classical symphony as you walk, blending everyone’s phones together to create a giant, moving soundscape in the streets before a live orchestra takes over inside the theatre. It is a highly sensory, interactive way to introduce kids to orchestral music while moving around outdoors. You can check out the route details and the rest of the programme here. Heroes Dutch Comic Con: Summer Edition If you have kids (even pre-teens or teenagers) who are into gaming, anime, or movies, the summer edition of Dutch Comic Con is coming up at the Jaarbeurs Utrecht on 20 & 21 June. It gets busy, but the energy is great, and it’s a huge hit for families with older kids who want to check out the gaming tournaments, see the incredible costumes, or browse the dealer hall. Tickets for this always disappear weeks in advance, especially the family passes (which cover two adults and two youth tickets) or the individual youth tickets for kids aged 6 to 12. Little ones aged 5 and under get in free, but you still have to grab a free ticket for them online beforehand to secure a spot. You can check out the lineup and book tickets here. Parents’ CornerCoffee and Beats Parents need to take a beat, and by that we mean enjoy curated beats over your choice of specialty coffee. Since having kids, some parts of our lives have definitely changed. But with everything going on between work, home, and the endless loop of school drop-offs and pick-ups, a relaxed afternoon out to mingle and enjoy music while sipping coffee sounds tempting. You can check out the details and purchase your tickets here. Write & Collage We endeavour to include everyone and are happy to mention events connected to all special holidays/festivities. Please email us with events/celebrations you want us to mention. AM will make the ultimate decision on what to publish. A team of volunteers compiles this newsletter, and we would welcome some new colleagues on the team. Are you interested and do you have a few hours to spare every few weeks? Please contact Amsterdam Mamas for more information at info@amsterdam-mamas.nl This Weekend Roundup was compiled by Jackie Liban. The above information is given to the best of our knowledge and ability, but please check the event links to confirm details. These are often events that the Amsterdam Mamas cannot personally recommend from experience but are provided as a starting point to help you find activities that are a good fit for your family. If you have seen any upcoming events that we should know about, please let the newsletter team know by replying to this email. Thanks, and have a good weekend! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. |
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