Life here
Food, days out, weekends away, and looking after yourself.
Checked on 14 Nov 2026
Markets on Saturday, parks on Sunday, museums when it rains, and orange everything on King's Day. Here's how to live it like a local.
Start here
Brand facts come from each brand's own site. ONL doesn't endorse any gym, café or attraction; check opening times before you go.
- 1. It's Sinterklaas and Christmas season
Amsterdam welcomes Sinterklaas on Sunday 15 November 2026; pakjesavond is 5 December. Then come Christmas markets, trees and Oud & Nieuw. See the Sinterklaas and Christmas guides under More detail below.
Stichting Sint in Amsterdam · Route and times of the Amsterdam intocht 2026 ↗ · NPO Kennis · Why we celebrate Sinterklaas (pakjesavond 5 December) ↗ - 2. Know the official holidays, then check your contract
Next up: Christmas 25–26 Dec 2026, New Year's Day, Easter 28–29 Mar 2027 and King's Day on Tuesday 27 April 2027. A public holiday isn't automatically a day off: your cao or contract decides.
Government.nl · Public holidays in the Netherlands (2026, 2027) ↗ · Rijksoverheid · Official public holidays ↗ - 3. Get outside with the city's own maps
Amsterdam lists its parks (from the Vondelpark to the Amsterdamse Bos), playgrounds, city farms and swimming spots, and maps every street market.
Gemeente Amsterdam · Parken en recreatiegebieden ↗ · Gemeente Amsterdam · Markets map ↗ - 4. Museum habit? Get the Museumkaart
A year's entry to 500+ museums: €75 for adults (19+), €39 for 13–18s and for kids up to 12.
Museumkaart · museum.nl ↗
Key facts
- King's Day 2027
- Tuesday 27 April 2027 Government.nl · Public holidays in the Netherlands (2026, 2027) ↗
- Public holiday = day off?
- Not by law; your cao or contract decides Rijksoverheid · Official public holidays ↗
- Museumkaart
- €75 adults, €39 youth (13–18) and kids (up to 12), 365 days, 500+ museums Museumkaart · museum.nl ↗
- Women-only gyms (Amsterdam)
- Examples, not recommendations: Basic-Fit Overtoom Ladies (Overtoom 37–43), TrainMore West Ladies (Bos en Lommerplein 284–286), Fit'n Fab and more Basic-Fit · Amsterdam Overtoom Ladies (Overtoom 37-43) ↗ · TrainMore · Amsterdam West Ladies ↗ · Fit'n Fab · Superclub voor vrouwen ↗
- TrainMore
- One of Urban Gym Group's brands Urban Gym Group · Our brands (TrainMore) ↗
- SportCity
- 123 locations nationwide, including Amsterdam SportCity ↗
Bookmark these
- Government.nl · Public holidays in the Netherlands (2026, 2027) ↗
Official public holidays for 2026 and 2027, in English.
- Gemeente Amsterdam · Parken en recreatiegebieden ↗
Every Amsterdam park and recreation area, plus playgrounds and city farms.
- Gemeente Amsterdam · Markets map ↗
The official map of Amsterdam's markets.
- I amsterdam · Family and kids ↗
I amsterdam's family picks: ARTIS, NEMO, the Maritime Museum and more.
- Museumkaart · museum.nl ↗
Buy the Museumkaart from the official site.
- Basic-Fit · Ladies Clubs ↗
Basic-Fit's Ladies Clubs and how to find one.
- TrainMore · Amsterdam West Ladies ↗
TrainMore West Ladies, TrainMore's women-only club.
- SportCity ↗
SportCity clubs and memberships.
- I amsterdam · Learn Dutch and connect ↗
I amsterdam on community, clubs and international groups.
- I amsterdam · A guide to holidays and festivities in the Netherlands ↗
A guide to Dutch holidays and festivities through the year.
- I amsterdam · Amsterdam events for internationals ↗
Events for internationals in Amsterdam: meet people and settle in.
Common questions
- Is there a women-only gym on the Overtoom?
- Yes. One example, not a recommendation: Basic-Fit Amsterdam Overtoom Ladies, a women-only club at Overtoom 37–43, 1054 HB. Basic-Fit lists two more Ladies clubs in Amsterdam: Sloterparkbad (President Allendelaan 2–4) and Europaboulevard (Europaboulevard 21). Check the club page for hours. Basic-Fit · Amsterdam Overtoom Ladies (Overtoom 37-43) ↗ · Basic-Fit · Amsterdam Sloterparkbad Ladies ↗ · Basic-Fit · Amsterdam Europaboulevard Ladies ↗
- Which other women-only gyms are there in Amsterdam?
- From their own sites: TrainMore West Ladies (Bos en Lommerplein 284–286, TrainMore's only women-only club), Fit'n Fab (Jan Rebelstraat 12), Convert2Fit (Van Karnebeekstraat 79) and In Shape Gym (Maroastraat 21–23). Examples only, not recommendations. TrainMore · Amsterdam West Ladies ↗ · Fit'n Fab · Superclub voor vrouwen ↗ · Convert2Fit · women-only gym ↗ · In Shape Gym · women only ↗
- Is TrainMore part of Urban?
- TrainMore is a brand of Urban Gym Group, which runs other gym brands too. Urban Gym Group · Our brands (TrainMore) ↗
- Is a public holiday always a day off?
- No. There's no legal right to a day off on a feestdag; your cao or contract decides. Rijksoverheid · Official public holidays ↗
- When is King's Day?
- 27 April. In 2027 that's a Tuesday. Government.nl · Public holidays in the Netherlands (2026, 2027) ↗
- Is the Museumkaart worth it?
- €75 a year for adults covers 500+ museums; it pays off if you go a few times. Kids' and youth cards are €39. Museumkaart · museum.nl ↗
Insider tips
- Keep the Museumkaart in the official app: the digital card works at the door. Museumkaart · museum.nl ↗
- Sunny Saturday and the Vondelpark is packed? The city's parks list makes it easy to try Rembrandtpark, Flevopark or the Amsterdamse Bos instead. Gemeente Amsterdam · Parken en recreatiegebieden ↗
- Opening hours and facilities differ per club, so check the club page before you sign up. Basic-Fit · Amsterdam Overtoom Ladies (Overtoom 37-43) ↗ · TrainMore · Amsterdam West Ladies ↗