Uitmarkt is Amsterdam’s biggest cultural festivals. Image courtesy of meiburgin on Flickr.
Attracting half a million visitors annually into Amsterdam, Uitmarkt is the biggest cultural festival in The Netherlands and celebrates all genres of music from hip-hop to classical, theater, books, dance and film – 2013 dates are August 29 through September 1.
Uitmarkt translates from Dutch as ‘outdoor market’, and with over 450 performances from 2,000 artists, the festival literally spreads across the city into more than 30 venues between the Vondelpark, Museumplein and Leidseplein. Uitmarkt also takes to the streets of Amsterdam, with street theater and concerts in many public places. And what’s more, it’s all free.
Uitmarkt has been an annual event on Amsterdam’s arts calendar since 1979. In a year that has so far seen re-opening of the Rijksmuseum after 10 years and the revamping of the Van Gogh and Stedelijk museums, the central focus of this year’s festival will be in Musemplein, where information booths advising on each day’s events will be set up. The piazza will also host the spectacular opening concert as well as public sing-alongs, the annual book market and open-air film screenings.
As yet the line-up for Uitmarkt 2013 has not been confirmed but it is likely to include Uitmarkt Junior, which is full of activities and workshops for kids and takes place in the Vondelpark.
Tickets for 2013 will be available on Uitboro website at the beginning of July. Festival visitors are advised to walk or take trams to the venues as parking will be very limited and the streets congested.
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