By Harry Nara · Last updated
- Where
- Venues across Amsterdam, from canal pontoons to concert halls
- Tickets
- Ticketed
- Time of year
- August
- Dates
- Around the same dates every year
From the festival: its 30th edition runs Friday 13 to Sunday 22 August 2027. Tickets go on sale in June and the programme is announced at the end of June. It ends on the last day of the summer school holiday in the north of the Netherlands.
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The Grachtenfestival, the canal festival, is ten days of classical music and jazz across Amsterdam every August, played by young musicians up to the age of 35. Many concerts are free, on squares, pontoons and in parks, and need no booking. The rest are ticketed, from concert halls to private houses, gardens and rooftops whose address is only sent on the morning of the concert. The programme comes out at the end of June.
What Grachtenfestival actually is
It was founded to take classical music out of the concert hall, and it still roams: its venues run from concert halls to canal-side pontoons, parks and allotment gardens. The festival describes itself as the largest in the Netherlands for classical music and jazz.
Its focus is young talent. The performers are all 35 or under, from children in the Junior Grachtenfestival to conservatory students in the festival’s own classical and jazz competitions, with an artist in residence and series such as Jazz Gems alongside.
Each edition balances traditional and contemporary music, and it runs to the end of the Dutch summer school holiday, so the city is busy with families as well as listeners.
Where the concerts are
- Squares, pontoons and parks, for free. The free concerts are out in the open around the city, some of them on pontoons on the water. You cannot book a place; there is usually room, but arrive on time.
- House, garden and rooftop concerts. A ticketed series in private houses, gardens and roof terraces in the city centre. The exact address is emailed on the morning of the concert, and these are a rare way into spaces normally closed to visitors.
- Concert halls and churches. The rest of the ticketed programme plays in halls and churches across the city, with the competitions and the artist in residence among it.
Tickets and what it costs
Tickets go on sale in June, around the time the programme is announced, and are sold online until shortly before each concert while seats last. They cannot be refunded or exchanged, but the festival points to TicketSwap for reselling them.
The free concerts need no ticket and cannot be reserved. For any concert, arrive about half an hour early: once it starts, nobody is let in, because many are recorded or broadcast.
Official information and booking: www.grachtenfestival.nl
Getting there
Walk, cycle or take the tram: most venues are in and around the centre, and the house, garden and rooftop concerts are all in the city centre. Check the address the morning of a secret-location concert before planning the rest of the day.
August is one of Amsterdam’s busiest months and the wettest of its summer, so book a room early and take something for rain to the outdoor concerts.
Mistakes worth avoiding
Arriving as the music starts
No one is let in once a concert has begun, because many are recorded. Half an hour early is the festival’s own advice.
Trying to reserve a free concert
Free concerts cannot be booked. There is usually room, but come on time for a good place.
Fixing the day before the address arrives
The house, garden and rooftop venues are only revealed by email on the morning of the concert. All are in the centre, so keep that part of the day loose.
Filming every concert
You may photograph and record the free outdoor concerts, but not the ticketed ones, nor free concerts indoors or in private gardens.
Other Amsterdam events
Frequently asked questions
Is the Grachtenfestival free?
Partly. Many concerts on squares, pontoons and in parks are free and need no ticket; the rest, including the house, garden and rooftop concerts, are ticketed.
When is the Grachtenfestival programme announced?
At the end of June, with tickets on sale from June. The dates card above has this edition’s dates.
What are the Grachtenfestival house concerts?
Ticketed concerts in private houses, gardens and roof terraces in central Amsterdam. The location stays secret when you buy and is emailed on the morning of the concert.
Who plays at the Grachtenfestival?
Young classical and jazz musicians up to the age of 35, from children to conservatory students and rising professionals.
Can I get a refund on Grachtenfestival tickets?
No. Tickets cannot be refunded or exchanged; the festival suggests reselling them through TicketSwap.
Sources
- Grachtenfestival, the next festival’s dates
- Grachtenfestival, about the festival (Dutch)
- Grachtenfestival, frequently asked questions (Dutch)
Dates on this page are checked against the organiser’s own listing and confirmed through 2027. Written and maintained by Harry Nara.