Summer in Amsterdam always means a lot of fun festivals, and when I say a lot I mean A LOT! We’ve picked our favourites for this month. You’ll notice our selection has a lot to do with food… what can we say, we just love food & drinks and the festivals are kid-friendly of course. So start the weekend by getting yourself a glass of wine and start filling in those blank spots in your calendar! Hope to see you at one of the festivals!

July 30 – August 2 AMSTERDAM KOOKT  @ NDSM-werf

Amsterdam Kookt is a brand new food festival at a beautiful spot along the IJ. You will find the most exclusive food truck’s, live music, workshops, a market, photo shoots and demonstrations from chef’s and cooking fanatics. There will also be a kid playground and plenty of wine & beer. For more info: amsterdamkookt.nl

August 7 – August 23 DE PARADE  @ Martin Luther king park

De Parade is a real classic. This year she will celebrate her 25th birthday! And like every year it will bring you lot’s of different plays, dance and music shows, very good food, lots and lots of fine wine and don’t forget the merry-go-round! During the day, it’s all for the kids with theater and music shows, woodworking, painting, dancing in the silent disco and baking your own ‘poffertjes’. For more info visit deparade.nl

August 8 – 9 KIMCHI FARM FESTIVAL @ De Ceuvel

The Kimchi farm festival is a small local festival for locally produced beer, food and music organised by Oedipus Brewing. This year it will return at a new location; De Ceuvel.  For more info check their Facebook page here.

August 9 PURE MARKT  @ Amstelpark

A local traveling food market where you can shop and taste locally produced foods and combine doing your groceries with live music, wine and a great atmosphere. It has a really good vibe and the children will love the little merry-go-round. www.puremarkt.nl

August 16  VERHALENFESTIVAL  @ Westergasfabriek

On august 16 it will be all about storytelling for the kids. Imagine a  story village build with 7 yurts where our little boys and girls can listen to stories about knights, dragons and princesses. There will be a lot of other activities too, like play a role in one of the stories themselves. Important for us mama’s is that there will be food & drinks as well. The Festival focusses on kids aged between 4 and 12 but they have a special story yurt for the littlest of your brood. Tickets are 6 euro’s per person. More info on the website hetverhalenfestival.nl

Augusts 16 NEIGHBOUR FOOD MARKET  @ Westergasfabriek

You can combine the ‘Verhalenfestival’ with the Neighbour food market. Or  you can just go to the market. At the NeighbourFood Market, good food sellers from in and around the city meet. It’s a meeting place for caterers, eco farmers, traiteurs, bakers, butchers, celebrated local chefs, cheesemakers, sausagemakers, juice pressers, soup boilers, sandwich heroes, fanatical foodies, baristas, lords of the tea, enthusiastic producers and distributors… in other words: everyone from the city who offers fine food and drinks, along with love and a story. It can be lunch or just bites & drinks or even diner. Enjoy eating from simple, long tables in a relaxed vibe, music and a stylish, urban environment.

August 19- August 23 SAIL AMSTERDAM @ in and around IJ-haven

If you have a thing for boats SAIL Amsterdam is a must do. Every 5 years more than 600 ships will pass by to go to IJ-haven. It is a festival to celebrate the long history of our maritime heritage. You will see grand old ships to modern age vessels. It’s magical and impressive. There are a lot of option during those days for every budget. Visit the website for more info: sail.nl

August 30 PARADISO PLAYGROUND  @ Tolhuistuin Amsterdam Noord

Paradiso Playground is brought to you by the famous Paradiso, and will be an afternoon filled with music, dj-workshops and a kid disco at Amsterdam North. Did I mention this is especially for the music-loving-hippie-rock-kiddo’s? They can take a picture with their favourite rock star, get their face painted, dance or bake music pancakes with Hot Mama Hot and there is more!  If you have a little entertainer at home they can even participate in an open mic (for kids between 4 and 12). For more info go to paradiso.nl

(images: Panda illustration by Sandra Dieckmann, photo’s Kimchi festival from Vesper and the Fox, Photo’s Parade Amsterdam from Joep van Aert, photo’s Neighbourfood market from their website, Sail Amsterdam photo from their website.)