What's On Amsterdam - May 2015
Names, Not Numbers
Dutch Resistance Museum 23 April - 25 October
This exhibition at the Dutch Resistance Museum focuses on the plight of Dutch political prisoners in the Dachau concentration camp. The exhibition is centred on the work of Dutch school children, who composed biographies of the prisoners. Once the prisoners entered the camp, their names were replaced with numbers, making this celebration of their names and lives particularly moving. The Dutch Resistance Museum partners with Amnesty International on this exhibition to bring light to the plight of political prisoners around the world today.
http://www.verzetsmuseum.org/
Liberation Day Party
Homomonument, 5 May
Perhaps the best place to be in Amsterdam on Liberation Day, the Homomonument dance party hosted by the city's homegrown G-Team duo celebrates freedom as only the vibrant Amsterdam gay scene can. Since Liberation Day celebrates Dutch freedom from Nazi occupation, the Homomonument dedicated to minorities oppressed in WWII serves as an ideal location. Live performances and DJs run from 15:00 to 23:00 and entrance is free. The Homomonument party is welcoming to all visitors, gay or straight, and the friendly atmosphere and cheap drinks help make it an unmissable event.
http://www.homomonument.nl/
Rolling Kitchens
Westergasfabriek, 13 - 17 May
A must for food lovers, the Rolling Kitchens festival brings food vans from all around the Netherlands to Amsterdam for one weekend. Whether you like smoky barbeque, vegan snacks or delicious baked treats, there is guaranteed to be a van at the fair for you. Live music throughout the weekend and the requisite beer and wine stands make the Rolling Kitchens much more of a festival than a food fair, so give yourself at least one day to enjoy all that it has to offer. Entry is free; simply show up and start eating!
http://rollendekeukens.amsterdam/en/
Hemeltjelief Festival
NDSM Wharf, 14 May
This unique festival helps answer one of the trickier questions for visitors to the city: what to do when visiting Amsterdam with children. Not only is the Hemeltjelief Festival packed with activities for kids, but the live music programme makes it more than enjoyable for parents as well. The NDSM Wharf itself is something visitors to Amsterdam should experience at least once; an artists community that formed around squatted former shipyards. To get there simply grab a free ferry from behind Central Station. Tickets to the festival start at EUR 13 and are available from the festival website.
http://www.hemeltjelieffestival.nl/
Bill Maher in Amsterdam
Meervaart Theatre, 20 May
Controversial American comedian Bill Maher kicks of his short European tour in Amsterdam's Meervaart Theatre this month, before heading to London, Stockholm and Oslo. Maher rarely does live shows outside of the US, so this is a special treat for European fans of his caustic political comedy. Perhaps best known for his anti-religion documentary Religulous and his HBO show Real Time, Maher's performance promises to be both popular and polarising. Tickets are still available through the venue website and start at EUR 30.
http://www.meervaart.nl/
For details on annual festivals and events, check our Amsterdam events page.