Grachtenfestival Amsterdam

The summer isn’t complete without the Grachtenfestival in Amsterdam. This is a huge classical music festival in the middle of the city. The Grachtenfestival is all about young, upcoming and more established artist in the classic music scene that fly in from all over the world to perform during this festival in the charming city center of Amsterdam.

Opening of the festival

The festive opening of the festival is Friday August 10 at 21:00 at the Kloveniersburgwal 50 in Amsterdam. The opening concert of the Grachtenfestival boosts musicians such as cellist and Artist in Residence Ella van Poucke, who will perform with pianist Camiel Boomsma, nominee for the Grachtenfestivalprijs 2018. Pianist and composer Julian Schneemann wrote a new work, Ode to Tomorrow, for his ensemble Caravan and three singers from all parts of the world – of this concert is a foretaste for you to enjoy. Jazz singer Sanne Rambags will perform a few of her own poems with saxophonist Jesse Schilderink and drummer Joost Lijnbaart. The concert itself will take about one hour and you can attend by watching from the shore or try line up with your boat to view the concert from the water.

Please visit their website for a complete overview of the 90 locations and the 250 concerts.

Free concerts during the Grachtenfestival 2018 throughout the city

Besides the festivities in the city center, the rest of Amsterdam gets a taste of the grachtenfestival too! The following neighborhoods in Amsterdam have the following locations where they’ve planned (free!) concerts during the festival:

• 11th of August: Zuid, Harmoniehof; Noord, Buiksloterbreek; Noord, Middeliestraat; West, Van Beuningenplein
• 12th of August: Noord, Van der Pek; Oost, Joris Ivensplein
• 15th of August: Oost, Mariotteplein (Junior Grachtenfestival)
• 18th of August: Zuid, Gijsbrecht van Aemstelpark; Nieuw-West, Iseoplantsoen (Junior Grachtenfestival); Nieuw-West, Noorderhof
• 19th of August: Noord, Vogelbuurt; Zuidoost, Nellestijn