Local artist collective Ferguut brings a summer exhibition to the Athenaeum bookshop in Zuidoost. Free to visit, and the perfect quiet stop during a walk through the neighbourhood.
Location: Athenaeum Boekhandel
Starts Thursday 2 July – ends 30 August
More info: Zomerexpositie van Ferguut bij Athenaeum Zuidoost | I amsterdam
Kwaku started in 1975 as a football tournament for kids in the Bijlmer who couldn’t go on holiday. Fifty years later it draws 300,000 people over four weekends. Music, food from every corner of the diaspora, sports, debates, and a Pink Sunday that’s become one of Amsterdam’s best-known queer celebrations.
Confirmed concerts:
En Vogue (17 July)
Broederliefde (24 July)
Kassav’ (31 July)
Location: Nelson Mandelapark, Amsterdam Zuidoost
More info: https://kwakufestival.nl/
Every year, Kwaku dedicates a Sunday to the LGBTQI+ community of Zuidoost — joyful, colorful, and deeply rooted in the neighborhood’s spirit of inclusion. Pink Sunday is one of the most loved moments of the entire festival season.
Location: Bijlmer Parktheater
Sunday 14:00 –18:00
More info: Kwaku festival weekend 2 | Roze Zondag 19 juli | I amsterdam
B! Music School is a Zuidoost institution, giving local kids a place to discover, play, and grow through music. This summer edition is a window into the neighbourhood’s dedication to nurturing the next generation of artists. A beautiful thing to witness — or to bring your own children to.
Location: B! Music School
Starts Tuesday 21 July – ends 24 July
More info: B!MS Summer Music School (4 t/m 12 jaar) | I amsterdam
Tucked away in the green east of Zuidoost, Kinderboerderij De Gliphoeve is one of Amsterdam’s hidden gems — a community farm that has been a gathering place for families for decades. This free summer afternoon transforms the farmyard into the Wild West. Bring the kids, or simply come to see this wonderful neighborhood space in action.
Location: Kinderboerderij De Gliphoeve
Saturday 12:00 –16:00
More info: Kinderboerderij Gliphoeve: Het Wilde Westen | I amsterdam
The Ricciotti per Tutti Orchestra brings free classical music to unexpected places across the Netherlands — and this afternoon they land at De Gliphoeve in Zuidoost. Outdoor, free, and full of energy. Exactly the kind of surprise that makes this neighborhood so special.
Location: De Gliphoeve petting zoo
Saturday 15:00 – 16:00
More info: Kinderboerderij Gliphoeve: Riccioti per Tutti Orkest | I amsterdam
Molukse Dag is one of Kwaku’s most significant evenings — a celebration of Moluccan culture and heritage that has found a home in the Bijlmer for generations. Theatre, music, and storytelling that connects past and present in one of Amsterdam’s most multicultural communities.
Location: Bijlmer Parktheater
Saturday 16:00 –17:40
More info: Kwaku festival weekend 3 | Molukse Dag 25 juli | I amsterdam
Afro-Caribbean Day closes out Kwaku’s third weekend with dance, workshops, debate, and performance rooted in the African and Caribbean diaspora. A powerful and celebratory day that sits at the very heart of what makes Zuidoost unlike anywhere else in the Netherlands.
Location: Bijlmer Parktheater
Sunday 15:00 – 16:00 and 17:30 – 18:30
More info: Kwaku festival weekend 3 | Afro-Caribische Dag 26 juli | I amsterdam
The Grachtenfestival — Amsterdam’s beloved classical music festival — makes a rare appearance in Zuidoost this year. Inner Duo performs at Brasapark, bringing chamber music to a neighborhood green space. Free entry, no fuss: just bring a blanket and settle in.
Location: Brasa Park
Sunday 17:00 –18:00
More info: Grachtenfestival: Inner Duo | I amsterdam
Another Grachtenfestival gem comes to Zuidoost, this time at Bloei & Groei — a community garden and meeting place in Bijlmerwest. Janna and Joshua perform in an intimate outdoor setting. Free, warm, and utterly Amsterdam in the best possible way.
Location: Bloei & Groei,
Tuesday 14:00 – 15:00
The Junior Grachtenfestival brings its open jam session back to De Gliphoeve, inviting the very youngest music lovers — from age two — to participate, listen, and play. A free, joyful hour that reminds us why community spaces like this one matter so much.
Location: Kinderboerderij De Gliphoeve
Wednesday 13:00 –13:45
More info: Junior Grachtenfestival: Open Jamsessie (2+) | I amsterdam
*You will receive a confirmation email with full details. Cancellations are refundable up to 48 hours before the tour.*
