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Amsterdam in January 2027: Best Exhibitions, Festivals, Markets & Cultural Events

Updated: Jul 11

January in Amsterdam offers a refreshing start to the year, combining the charm of the Dutch winter with a calmer, more authentic side of the city. After the holiday crowds have departed, visitors can enjoy Amsterdam’s historic canals, world-class museums, cozy cafés, and cultural attractions at a more relaxed pace. It is one of the best times to experience the city like a local while enjoying the elegance of the winter season.

Throughout January 2027, Amsterdam hosts a variety of exhibitions, cultural events, seasonal traditions, and unique festivals, including the annual celebration that marks the beginning of the Dutch tulip season. Whether you're planning a winter city break, a museum-focused itinerary, or a cultural journey through the Netherlands, January offers plenty of rewarding experiences. Here is a curated guide to the top exhibitions, festivals, markets, and events taking place in Amsterdam in January 2027.

Typical canal houses of Amsterdam, before sunset when the clouds are pink and the light is soft. Bicycles decorated with flowers tied to the railing of a bridge.
Amsterdam | Photo: © Inbal Tur-Shalom

👉🏼 Being put off by the cold winter weather in Amsterdam? Read my Practical Guide to Cold-Weather Urban Travel.

Festival: Amsterdam Light Festival

Each winter, Amsterdam’s historic canals are transformed into a spectacular open-air gallery as carefully selected artists, architects, and lighting designers showcase large-scale illuminated artworks. For the 2026–2027 edition, 20 artists from around the world will present installations inspired by this year’s festival theme, which will be announced at a later date.

📅 Dates: November 26, 2026 – January 17, 2027

🎟️ Festival Canal Cruise Tickets: Available approximately two months before the festival opens.

👉🏼  Photography enthusiasts visiting Amsterdam during the Light Festival? Be sure to read my guide: Amsterdam Light Festival Through the Lens – Night Photography Tips for Capturing the City's Illuminated Canals.

National Holocaust Remembrance Day in Amsterdam

Each year, the Netherlands commemorates National Holocaust Remembrance Day with a solemn ceremony at the “Nooit Meer Auschwitz” (Never Again Auschwitz) memorial in Wertheimpark. A silent procession departs from Amsterdam City Hall and proceeds to the memorial, where the official ceremony includes speeches, the recitation of Kaddish, official wreath-laying, and an opportunity for private commemorations.

📅 Date: January 31, 2027  🕦 Memorial Ceremony: 11:30 AM

Black and white image, a brick bridge with three arches, a boat passing under the middle arch, bicycles tied to the bridge railing, lamp posts, people on the bridge and leafless trees, reflected in the canal water.
Amsterdam | Photo: © Inbal Tur-Shalom

Best Museums and Art Exhibitions in Amsterdam (January 2027)

Amsterdam is one of Europe’s great museum cities. Here are some of the most interesting exhibitions and cultural experiences happening this month.

Rijksmuseum

The Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands, is dedicated to Dutch art and history.

Located on Museum Square, it displays more than 8,000 artworks and historical objects, including masterpieces by Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer and Frans Hals.

Temporary Exhibition
Willem de Kooning at Work 

This exhibition explores the creative process of Dutch-American artist Willem de Kooning, one of the most influential figures in 20th-century modern art. Through paintings, drawings, archival materials, and personal documentation, visitors gain a rare insight into his working methods, artistic evolution, and sources of inspiration. 

📅 Exhibition dates: October 9, 2026 - January 17, 2027

Van Gogh Museum

Dedicated to Vincent van Gogh, this museum holds the largest collection of his paintings and drawings in the world. It also showcases works by artists who influenced him or were influenced by him.

Temporary Exhibition
Whistler. Dandy and Disruptor

This exhibition is dedicated to American-British artist James McNeill Whistler, celebrated for his refined aesthetic, provocative personality, and lasting influence on modern art. Through paintings, prints, and historical materials, the exhibition explores how Whistler blurred the boundaries between art, fashion, and urban culture in the late nineteenth century.

📅 Exhibition dates: October 16, 2026 - January 10, 2027

Stedelijk Museum

Amsterdam’s museum of modern and contemporary art and design, covering works from the late 19th century to the present. Artists featured in the permanent collection include Piet Mondrian, Kazimir Malevich and Karel Appel.

Temporary Exhibition

The exhibition: Yayoi Kusama - will present a major exhibition dedicated to iconic Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, one of the most influential figures in contemporary art. The exhibition will feature significant works spanning multiple decades of her career, including immersive installations, sculptures, paintings, and her celebrated Infinity Rooms. It offers a rare opportunity to step into Kusama’s mesmerizing visual universe, where art, psychology, and boundless imagination converge.

📅 Temporary exhibition dates: September 11, 2026 - January 17, 2027

H’ART Museum (Former Hermitage Amsterdam)

This museum hosts rotating international exhibitions.

Current Exhibitions
Chez Matisse

The exhibition, organized in collaboration with Centre Pompidou, will feature more than thirty paintings, sculptures, and prints by Henri Matisse, alongside works by contemporaries such as Georges Braque, Pablo Picasso, Sonia Delaunay, and Le Corbusier, as well as later artists influenced by his legacy, including Barnett Newman, Ellsworth Kelly, and Mark Rothko. 

📅 October 3, 2026 – February 14, 2027

Allard Pierson Museum 

This is an archaeology and special collections museum in the heart of Amsterdam, showcasing treasures from the ancient world alongside thought-provoking temporary exhibitions.

Rembrandt House Museum

Step inside the house where Rembrandt lived and worked during the height of his fame in the Dutch Golden Age.

Visitors can explore: Rembrandt’s reconstructed studio, Etchings and drawings and Works by his students.

The back of the floating flower market stalls, behind the stalls Amsterdam canal houses and a gray sky with orange clouds.
Amsterdam | Photo: © Inbal Tur-Shalom

Foam Photography Museum

One of Europe’s leading photography museums, Foam presents four rotating exhibitions at a time, featuring both emerging and internationally known photographers.

 👉🏼 Photography enthusiast and planning your visit? Read: my photography category posts here.

National Maritime Museum

A fascinating museum dedicated to Dutch maritime history.

Highlights include: historic maps, ship models, maritime artifacts and a full replica of a Dutch East India Company ship.

Temporary Exhibition

The exhibition Crimson Gilt  created by visual artist Vincent Ruijters is an art installation based on the replica of the Dutch East Indiaman Company merchant ship "Amsterdam." The installation includes gold and crimson ribbons, images, and sound.

📅 Temporary exhibition dates: September 17, 2026 - March 21, 2027

Royal Palace Amsterdam (Dam Square)

Still used by the Dutch Royal Family for official state events, this magnificent 17th-century palace is open to visitors when not in official use.

Nieuwe Kerk (The New Church)

Temporary Exhibitions

  • In celebration of WorldPride 2026, hosted this year in Amsterdam, De Nieuwe Kerk presents Queer Amsterdam: The Pink City. This major exhibition traces the rich and layered history of Amsterdam’s LGBTQ+ community—a powerful story of culture, love, resilience, and freedom that helped shape the city’s identity as one of the world’s most progressive capitals.

📅 Dates: July 9, 2026 – April 4, 2027

Museum of the Canals

An interactive museum located inside a 17th-century canal house, telling the story of how Amsterdam’s iconic canal ring was built.

Eye Filmmuseum

Amsterdam’s stunning museum of film and cinema.

The Jewish Cultural Quarter of Amsterdam

In the heart of historic Amsterdam, the Jewish Cultural Quarter brings centuries of resilience, faith, and cultural brilliance to life. This moving collection of sites offers an intimate look at Jewish history in the Netherlands — from the grandeur of the Portuguese Synagogue to powerful stories of survival and heritage.

For a truly meaningful visit, I strongly recommend purchasing tickets in advance and arranging a private guided tour to fully understand the depth, historical context, and personal stories behind these remarkable landmarks.

Jewish Museum

Located in a former synagogue complex, the Jewish Museum explores Jewish history and culture in the Netherlands through multimedia presentations, art, and photography.

A man walks on a bridge over a canal in the fog, leafless trees with small lamps, an off street light pole, a bicycle decorated with flowers tied to the bridge railing.
Amsterdam | Photo: © Inbal Tur-Shalom

Unique Attractions to Visit in Amsterdam

If you’re looking for something beyond traditional museums:

Body Worlds Amsterdam

A fascinating exhibition exploring the human body using preserved anatomical specimens.

STRAAT Museum – Street Art

The largest street art museum in the world, located in a former shipyard warehouse.

Moco Museum

A popular museum showcasing works by artists such as:

  • Banksy

  • Andy Warhol

  • Jean-Michel Basquiat

  • Yayoi Kusama

Banksy Museum Amsterdam

A newer museum dedicated to the mysterious British street artist Banksy, featuring over 160 artworks and recreated murals.

Family-Friendly Attractions in Amsterdam

(Great for Visiting with kids or Grandkids especially on a rainy day)

Fabrique des Lumières – Immersive Digital Art

Fabrique des Lumières presents three stunning immersive exhibitions blending classical, modern, and contemporary art with advanced projection technology, light, and music.

A visually spectacular experience for art lovers of all ages.

📅 Ongoing exhibition

Rembrandt Immersive Experience

Located not far from Leidseplein, this multimedia exhibition explores the life and artistic world of Rembrandt van Rijn, one of the greatest painters of the Dutch Golden Age.

The experience includes an immersive video installation and a reconstruction of Rembrandt’s studio on the Rozengracht, offering visitors a glimpse into his creative process.

📅 Ongoing exhibition

Nxt Museum – Digital & Media Art

The Nxt Museum is the Netherlands’ first museum dedicated entirely to new media art.

This innovative museum blends art, technology, light installations, and digital storytelling, creating a fascinating experience that appeals to both art lovers and younger visitors.

Expect immersive video installations, light projections, and interactive exhibits that explore the intersection between creativity and technology.

Amaze Amsterdam

Located in a former industrial nightclub in Amsterdam’s western harbor district, Amaze Amsterdam is a fully immersive audio-visual experience.

The attraction spans 3,000 square meters and eight different stages, combining music, light, visual art, and interactive environments designed to stimulate the senses.

The experience lasts about an hour and moves visitors through a series of unique sensory environments — from energetic and playful to calming and atmospheric.

WONDR Experience

A colorful and playful immersive attraction featuring 15 themed rooms designed for fun and creativity.

Visitors can explore rooms filled with disco balls, oversized installations, a life-size dollhouse, and playful karaoke booths.

It’s an especially enjoyable stop for families traveling with children or teenagers, and it’s one of Amsterdam’s most entertaining interactive experiences.

The Upside Down Museum Amsterdam

One of Amsterdam’s largest interactive museums, designed around optical illusions and surreal environments.

The museum features upside-down rooms, playful installations, and visually striking spaces that invite visitors to explore and take memorable photos.

It’s a lighthearted and entertaining experience that appeals to visitors of all ages.

👉🏼 You may also enjoy reading: Amsterdam with Kids and Teens – Family Travel Guide

A bursting sunset star, typical Amsterdam canal houses, a brick bridge with three arches, cloudy skies and golden light.
Amsterdam | Photo: © Inbal Tur-Shalom

Festivals, Performances & Art Fairs – January 2027

Vegas Show & Dinner Experience

A spectacular dinner show featuring Dutch illusionist Hans Klok, live music, and dance performances.

📅 Weekends (tickets sell out quickly)

Supperclub Night Experience

Supperclub offers immersive dining and live performances in an energetic, theatrical setting for guests 21+. A unique evening experience blending music, art, and fine dining.

📅 Thursdays–Saturdays 

Event: Winter Castle at Muiderslot Castle

Step back in time and experience winter life in a medieval Dutch castle. Discover how residents heated the grand halls, illuminated dark chambers, what they ate and drank during the coldest months of the year, and how the holiday season was celebrated centuries ago. An atmospheric audio tour brings the castle’s winter traditions and stories to life.

📅 Dates: December 9, 2026 – January 10, 2027

Event: World Christmas Circus

Often described as the "circus of circuses," this prestigious holiday production brings together some of the world's finest circus performers under one roof. Held at the historic Royal Theater Carré—originally designed as a royal circus venue—the show features world-class acrobats, jugglers, clowns, breathtaking choreography, elaborate sets, dazzling costumes, and spectacular acts that delight audiences of all ages.

📅 Dates: December 16, 2026 – January 3, 2027

📍 Venue: Royal Theater Carré

Performance: CINEMA OF DREAMS

The renowned Holiday on Ice returns to the Netherlands with a visually stunning ice-skating spectacular. Combining world-class skating, elaborate costumes, innovative stage design, and cinematic storytelling, this family-friendly production delivers an unforgettable winter entertainment experience.

📅 Dates: December 10, 2026 – January 17, 2027

Event: National Tulip Day

Celebrate the start of the Dutch tulip season at Amsterdam’s annual National Tulip Day. A temporary tulip garden featuring approximately 200,000 tulips is created in Museumplein, and from 1:00 PM onward, visitors are invited to pick up to 20 tulips free of charge and take them home. Admission is free.

📅 Date: January 16, 2027

Festival: Design in Motion Amsterdam 2027

Design in Motion is an international showcase dedicated to motion design and moving graphics. As part of the festival, the large digital screens at Amsterdam Centraal Station become a public gallery, displaying a continuously changing series of animated artworks from designers around the world, with new visuals appearing every ten seconds.

📅 Date: January 28, 2027

Fair: Amsterdam Tea Festival 2027

A celebration of tea, ceramics, craftsmanship, and contemporary tea culture. Visitors can sample teas from around the world, attend workshops and demonstrations, meet producers and artisans, and connect with a vibrant community of tea enthusiasts. The festival takes place at the Kromhouthal in Amsterdam North.

📅 Date: January 30, 2027 ⏰ Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM

The blue hour, typical Amsterdam canal houses, a lit bridge - bursting stars of light, a houseboat, leafless trees and the scent of boat lights sailing in the canal.
Amsterdam | Photo: © Inbal Tur-Shalom

Best Weekend Markets in Amsterdam – January 2027

Pure Markt

A high-quality food market featuring some of the best artisanal food producers in the Netherlands.

📍Frankendael Park 📅 January 24, 2027

🕚 11 AM – 5:30 PM

IJ-Hallen Flea Market

One of the largest flea markets in Europe, with hundreds of stalls selling vintage items, antiques, clothing, and collectibles.

📍 Amsterdam Noord

📅 January 2-3 and 30-31, 2027

🕚 9 AM - 4:30 PM

Sunday Market

A lively market selling fashion, jewelry, design, art, and food.

📍Westergas 📅 January 3, 2027

🕚 12 PM – 6 PM

Museumplein Market

A charming Sunday market offering art, handmade goods, food, and live music.

📅 January 17, 2027

🕚 10 AM – 6 PM

Planning a visit to Amsterdam in January?

Amsterdam in January is one of the city’s most relaxed and atmospheric seasons. The streets are decorated, the crisp air adds to the charm, and Amsterdam’s museums, festivals, and cultural events bring the city to life in a refined and inspiring way. It’s the perfect time to enjoy Amsterdam at a slower pace, with a memorable blend of art, culture, and winter ambiance.

To make the most of your time in Amsterdam and beyond, a bespoke private tour allows you to experience the city in depth—at your own pace, with a refined focus on culture, art, history, and exceptional culinary experiences.

🚶‍♀️ Private tours in Amsterdam – in-depth storytelling, living history, and hidden gems tucked between the canal houses 

🌿 Curated day trips beyond the city – picturesque villages, Dutch landscapes, and local treasures 

🖼️ Art and museum tours – from the Dutch Masters to the contemporary art scene

While writing the post, I am checking the information, but dates and details may change and events may be canceled at short notice.

A quick note: bookings made through the links may earn me a small commission. Thank you for the support 🫶🏼

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