Grachtenfestival Amsterdam

For ten days each August the Grachtenfestival turns Amsterdam's UNESCO-listed canal ring and beyond into a stage for classical music and jazz. Billed as the largest festival of its kind in the Netherlands, it is built around a love of unusual settings: concerts unfold on pontoons and boats on the water, in churches and canal-house living rooms, in gardens, parks and grand halls, so the city itself becomes part of the performance.

What to expect

The 2027 festival runs 13–22 August at locations across the city; in 2026 it staged roughly two hundred concerts at more than 95 locations. A central mission is to give emerging young musicians a platform, so alongside established names the programme is full of prizewinning conservatoire talent. Highlights typically include performances at landmark venues such as the Royal Palace on Dam Square, and the free Prinsengracht Concert, an evening concert staged on the water of the Prinsengracht that draws crowds to the quaysides and bridges. Many neighbourhood concerts are free; others are ticketed.

The full programme and tickets are released in early July on the official site; book popular indoor concerts ahead, and note that free canal-side events fill up early, so arrive in good time for a good spot.

Fly into Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS), about 15 km southwest; direct trains reach Amsterdam Centraal in 15-20 minutes. The Grachtenfestival stages classical concerts at intimate venues along the UNESCO-listed canals, so no single address applies, but the Grachtengordel canal belt is the heart of it. From Centraal, trams 2, 12 and others, or a 15-minute walk, bring you into the canal ring around the Prinsengracht and Keizersgracht. Many performances are best reached on foot or by bike; central Amsterdam is small, flat and far easier walked than driven.

• Before you go, read the UK government's FCDO travel advice for the Netherlands (entry requirements, safety and local laws).
• Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights and live alerts.