Holland Festival 2027 – Amsterdam, Netherlands

Overview

The Holland Festival is the largest and oldest international performing arts festival in the Netherlands. Since 1947, this prestigious event has been bringing world-class performances to Amsterdam, featuring a wide range of art forms such as theatre, dance, music, and visual arts. The festival finds place every year in June, in and around Amsterdam on different locations, inside and outside, large-scale and intimate, online and offline.

Performing arts are shown in full breadth: music, music theatre, theatre, dance, multidisciplinary forms, visual arts and film. The Holland Festival is artist driven: it puts artists centrally, who show art in all its facets in unbridled freedom, innovative, leading and artistically challenging.

The festival celebrates in 2026 its 79th year, and the 2027 edition will be the 80th edition. It is known for bold mix of tradition and experimentation, elegance and edge, and for commissioning new works that premiere in Amsterdam before touring internationally.

The Holland Festival organizes interesting meetings, conferences and issues its own publications, making it more than a performance series but a platform for discourse.

What Makes This Event Special

Oldest and largest in the Netherlands: Founded in 1947, it is the largest and oldest international performing arts festival in the Netherlands. With 80 editions, it has shaped Dutch cultural history.

Artist driven: The festival is artist driven, putting artists centrally. Each edition invites associate artists who curate part of the program. Alumni include South African artist William Kentridge and the late Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakamoto. For 2027, Singapore artist Ho Tzu Nyen has been named associate artist, fresh from opening the Gwangju Biennale in South Korea.

Multi-disciplinary: Unlike music-only festivals, Holland Festival covers theatre, dance, music, music theatre, opera, visual arts and film. You can experience what makes the festival special as you move through different genres and disciplines.

International world premieres: Many works are commissioned specifically for the festival, with world premieres of theatre, opera and dance that later tour to major international festivals.

City-wide venues: Performances mainly take place in large musical buildings in Amsterdam, such as Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, Bimhuis, Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, Westergasfabriek and Royal Theatre Carré. The festival also uses outdoor spaces, parks and online platforms.

Accessible pricing: As events are subsidized, tickets are usually not expensive, starting as low as €7.50, making high art accessible.

Lineup / Featured Artists

The Holland Festival 2027 program is curated around the associate artist and a theme that is announced in spring.

2027 associate artist: Singapore artist Ho Tzu Nyen, known for video installations like One or Several Tigers and River of Fundament collaborations. His work explores Southeast Asian history, mythology and digital art films. The festival has asked to subtitle digital art films like Matthew Barney’s six-hour River of Fundament as well as Ho Tzu Nyen’s work.

Expected program includes:

• Music theatre and opera, including large-scale productions at Nationale Opera & Ballet and Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ
• Theatre from Internationaal Theater Amsterdam and international companies at ITA
• Dance from Dutch National Ballet and international companies
• Music from Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Bimhuis jazz series and contemporary ensembles
• Visual arts, film and multidisciplinary installations at Hartwig Art Foundation, Amsterdam Museum and Frascati Productions
• Club evenings: Holland Festival x Lofi at Lofi, Basisweg 63, exploring fringes and grey areas where night culture and performing arts meet, with lineups like Blue Lab Beats live, Esa, Nedda Sou, Philou Louzolo
• Special projects like Holland Festival x Africadelic: From Kuduro to Afrotech at Parallel
• Opera in the park: Boris Godoenov and similar open-air events

Past highlights include: Performances like ROHTKO by Łukasz Twarkowski and Dailes Theatre Latvia, Otemba – Daring Women by Misato Mochizuki, One Ocean, From Dust, Cyber Subin and other multimedia performances.

The perfect introduction to Holland Festival includes moving through genres to experience bold mix.

Event Experience

The festival offers a full month of performing arts.

Venues: Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam, Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, Piet Heinkade 1, Het Concertgebouw, Koninklijk Theater Carré, Nationale Opera & Ballet, Westergasfabriek, Bimhuis, DeLaMar, De Balie and others. Some events are attended free of charge.

Meetings and discourse: The festival organizes talks, conferences and publications, with media partners VPRO and NTR. Audiences can meet artists and join debates.

Online and offline: In addition to live performances, the festival offers online streams, digital art films and interactive music videos.

Accessibility: The festival strives to make performances accessible and enjoyable for people with disabilities, with many venues fully accessible.

City experience: June in Amsterdam means long daylight, open garden days and Vondelpark shows, creating a festive atmosphere beyond the performances.

Date & Schedule

Event Dates:
Holland Festival 2027 will take place from 3 to 27 June 2027. Official listings show Thursday 3 – Sunday 27 June 2027 as the 80th edition. The Holland Festival, the Netherlands’ major performing arts festival, runs June 3-27, 2027 at Amsterdam venues. I amsterdam lists the festival as 2027-06-03 to 2027-06-28.

Schedule:
Based on traditional format:

• Early June: Opening week with theatre premieres at Internationaal Theater Amsterdam and music at Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ
• Mid June: Dance, opera and music theatre at Nationale Opera & Ballet and Concertgebouw, plus club nights at Lofi
• Late June: Closing weekend with large-scale productions, open-air opera and final talks

Performances typically start at 8:00 PM for evening shows, with matinees at 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM on weekends. The full program is announced in February, with tickets for all performances available through Holland Festival Ticket Service.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Location & Venue

Venue: Multiple locations in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Main hub is Amsterdam city centre and cultural venues.

Key venues include:

• Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ, Piet Heinkade 1, 1019 BR Amsterdam
• Stadsschouwburg Amsterdam / Internationaal Theater Amsterdam
• Het Concertgebouw
• Koninklijk Theater Carré
• Nationale Opera & Ballet
• Westergasfabriek
• Bimhuis
• DeLaMar, De Balie, Frascati Productions
• Lofi, Basisweg 63 for club evenings
• Parks for opera in the park

Venue details: All venues are in and around Amsterdam, reachable by tram, bike or boat. The festival uses both grand and intimate settings, from large concert halls to small theatre spaces.

Box office: Holland Festival Ticket Service: +31 20 523 77 87. Festival box office at various venues.

Event History

The Holland Festival was founded in 1947, shortly after World War II, as a way to bring international performing arts to the Netherlands and rebuild cultural life.

Since then, it has grown into the largest international performing arts festival in the Netherlands, presenting world-class performances across theatre, dance, music and visual arts.

The festival has always been artist driven, inviting associate artists to curate. Past associate artists include William Kentridge and Ryuichi Sakamoto.

The 75th anniversary was celebrated with a retrospective of its history, highlighting its role in commissioning new works and bringing international avant-garde to Amsterdam.

In 2026, the festival celebrated its 79th year, with venues including Hartwig Art Foundation, Amsterdam Museum and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra as partners. Media partners VPRO and NTR supported broadcasts.

The 2027 edition marks the 80th edition, with Singapore artist Ho Tzu Nyen as associate artist, continuing the tradition of international curation.

Getting to the Event

By public transport: Amsterdam has extensive tram, metro and bus network. Most venues are reachable via tram lines to Muziekgebouw, Stadsschouwburg and Concertgebouw. From Amsterdam Centraal, take tram 26 to Muziekgebouw, tram 1, 2, 5 to Concertgebouw and Leidseplein.

By bike: Amsterdam is bike-friendly with bike parking at all venues.

By car: Driving in Amsterdam center is not recommended. Use P+R locations like P+R Sloterdijk, P+R Arena or P+R Zeeburg with public transport to venues. Parking garages include Muziekgebouw garage and Stadsschouwburg area.

From abroad: Fly to Amsterdam Schiphol, then train to Amsterdam Centraal, 15 minutes. From there, tram or bike to venues.

Walking: Many venues in city centre are walkable from each other, especially around Leidseplein, Rembrandtplein and IJ waterfront.

Where to Stay Nearby

Amsterdam offers extensive accommodation.

Near Muziekgebouw:

• Hotels on Piet Heinkade and near Central Station, 5 minutes walk
• Boutique hotels on IJ waterfront

Near Stadsschouwburg and Leidseplein:

• Hotels around Leidseplein, including American Hotel and boutique options
• Apartments in Jordaan and city centre

Near Concertgebouw and Museumplein:

• Hotels around Museumplein and Vondelpark

Budget options:

• Hostels and budget hotels near Sloterdijk and Arena with P+R connection
• ShortStay apartments for longer stays

Price indication: Hotels during June typically range from $130 to $350 per night depending on category and location. Book early for the 80th edition, as June is high season with Open Garden Days and other events.

Things to Do Before or After the Event

Open Garden Days: Open Garden Days opens canal gardens June 18-20 on one three-day pass sold through Museum Van Loon, coinciding with Holland Festival.

Vondelpark shows: Free Vondelpark open-air shows take place in June.

Museums: Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam Museum and Hartwig Art Foundation are all near festival venues.

Canal tours: Take a canal boat tour between performances.

Day trips: Day trips to Zaanse Schans, Haarlem or beach at Zandvoort.

Other festivals: Amsterdam Open Air and Amsterdam Roots Festival also take place in June.

Restaurants & Dining Nearby

Near Muziekgebouw:

• Restaurants on Piet Heinkade and Oosterdok with IJ views

Near Stadsschouwburg and Leidseplein:

• Extensive dining around Leidseplein, including Italian, Indonesian, modern Dutch and international

Near Concertgebouw:

• Restaurants around Museumplein and Concertgebouwplein

Festival catering: Venues have their own cafes and bars open before and after performances, with pre-theatre menus.

Tip: Many venues offer combined dinner and performance packages, especially at Nationale Opera & Ballet and DeLaMar.

Ticket Information

Tickets for Holland Festival 2027 are sold via https://www.hollandfestival.nl/ and Holland Festival Ticket Service: +31 20 523 77 87.

Pricing based on previous editions, converted to USD:

• As subsidized, tickets are usually not expensive starting as low as $8. Tickets for most popular events should be reserved in advance.
• Tickets and passes vary according to events. You can expect tickets to start from around $22 to $33 and passes to start around $16 to $22.
• Examples: Price range $54 to $70 for large productions, EUR20 for some events, EUR7.50 for cheapest.
• Converted: Small theatre and club evenings $8 to $25, mid-scale dance and theatre $33 to $65, large opera and orchestra $60 to $110, special galas up to $150
• Some events are attended free of charge, especially talks, outdoor installations and park events
• Discounts available for students, CJP and Stadspas holders

Where to buy: Official website hollandfestival.nl, Ticket Service and venue box offices.

Partners and funding: Festival funded by Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Municipality of Amsterdam, production partner Ammodo and main patron Fonds 21.

Tips Before You Go

Book early for popular events: Tickets for most popular events should be reserved in advance, especially for associate artist premieres and large-scale opera.

Use the route for first-timers: The festival offers a route My first Holland Festival as perfect introduction, moving through different genres to experience bold mix of tradition and experimentation.

Combine with Open Garden Days: Since Open Garden Days opens canal-belt gardens Friday to Sunday in mid-June, combine with festival for full cultural weekend.

Check free events: Some events are free, including talks and outdoor performances, so check the free program.

Plan transport between venues: Venues are spread across Amsterdam. Allow 20 to 30 minutes between venues by tram or bike.

Official Event Information

Official website: https://www.hollandfestival.nl/
Email: info@hollandfestival.nl
Phone: +31 20 788 2100, Ticket Service +31 20 523 77 87
Location: Multiple locations in Amsterdam, Netherlands
Founded: 1947
Organizer: Holland Festival Foundation
Partners: Hartwig Art Foundation, Amsterdam Museum, Internationaal Theater Amsterdam, De Balie, BIMHUIS, DeLaMar, Dutch National Opera, Dutch National Ballet, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Frascati Productions, Royal Conservatoire

For program details and tickets, visit the official website.

Attendee Experiences

Attendees describe Holland Festival as a place to plunge into culture, with bold programming that surprises with combinations of arts not seen before.

The festival is praised for its artist-driven approach, where artists show art in unbridled freedom, innovative and challenging. Audiences appreciate the mix of large-scale opera at Carré and intimate performances at Bimhuis and Frascati.

International visitors note the accessibility despite high artistic level, with tickets starting low due to subsidies, and the ability to see world premieres that later tour to major festivals.

The city-wide nature is also highlighted, with performances in large musical buildings and outdoor spaces, making June in Amsterdam feel like a continuous cultural celebration.