The city of canals is throwing the biggest party in its history.
The city of Amsterdam is famous for its beautiful canals, its rich artistic history, and its laid-back charm, but in 2025, the city is celebrating a massive milestone: its 750th anniversary. To mark the occasion, the entire city is being transformed into a year-long festival, with a host of special, once-in-a-lifetime events that will celebrate its unique history and its vibrant, creative spirit.
For anyone planning a trip to Europe this year, the birthday party in Amsterdam is the place to be.
1. A massive, floating concert will take place on the Amstel River.
The highlight of the anniversary celebrations will be a massive, open-air classical music concert held on a floating stage on the Amstel River. The world-renowned Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra will perform a special program of music that is inspired by the city’s history, with the beautiful backdrop of the historic canal houses and bridges, as shared at Amsterdam750. The concert will be free for the public to enjoy from the riverbanks.
This promises to be a magical and unforgettable evening of music in a uniquely Amsterdam setting, a true celebration of the city’s cultural soul.
2. The Rijksmuseum is hosting a “Golden Age” mega-exhibition.
To celebrate the anniversary, the world-famous Rijksmuseum is putting on a blockbuster exhibition that will bring together the greatest masterpieces of the Dutch Golden Age from museums all over the world. This once-in-a-lifetime show will feature an unprecedented number of works by Rembrandt, Vermeer, and other Dutch masters, all displayed together in their home city, as mentioned in Nexus Radio.
This will be a unique opportunity to see some of the most famous paintings in art history all under one roof, a must-see for any art lover. It is a celebration of the era that made Amsterdam a global powerhouse.
3. A spectacular parade of historic ships will fill the canals.
The story of Amsterdam is a story of water, and the anniversary celebrations will include a spectacular, canal-wide parade of historic ships. Hundreds of beautifully restored sailboats, barges, and other traditional vessels from all over the Netherlands will sail through the city’s main canals, which will be closed to other boat traffic for the event, Time Out Worldwide reports. The parade will be especially beautiful at night, when many of the ships will be illuminated.
It will be a stunning and festive tribute to the city’s rich maritime history and its enduring connection to the water.
4. A city-wide “open house” will unlock secret doors.
For one weekend during the celebration, Amsterdam will host a massive “open house” event, where hundreds of historic buildings, private homes, and other spaces that are normally closed to the public will open their doors. This will be a unique opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look at the city and to discover the hidden courtyards, beautiful interiors, and secret gardens that are hidden behind the famous canal house facades.
It’s a chance to explore the city in a completely new way and to get a glimpse into the private world of Amsterdam’s most beautiful and historic buildings.
5. A temporary, floating park will be created in the harbor.
As a tribute to the city’s innovative spirit and its relationship with water, a massive, temporary floating park will be constructed in the city’s harbor. This new public space will be a marvel of sustainable engineering, with gardens, walkways, and performance spaces all built on a series of interconnected floating platforms. The park will host a variety of events throughout the anniversary year.
It will be a fun and futuristic new public space that will offer incredible views of the city’s waterfront and will be a symbol of Amsterdam’s forward-thinking approach to urban design.
6. Nightly light shows will be projected onto historic buildings.
Throughout the anniversary year, the city will be transformed at night by a series of spectacular light shows. The facades of some of the city’s most iconic buildings and bridges will be used as the canvas for large-scale video projections that will tell the story of the city’s 750-year history through a dazzling display of light, color, and animation.
These nightly shows will create a magical and festive atmosphere throughout the city, turning a simple evening stroll along the canals into an unforgettable artistic experience. It will be a beautiful and modern tribute to the city’s past.
7. A massive, city-wide street party will close out the year.
The anniversary celebrations will culminate in a massive, city-wide street party and festival. For one day, the streets of the city center will be closed to traffic and will be filled with live music stages, food stalls, and a variety of performances. The party will be a celebration of the city’s diverse and multicultural identity, with music and food from all over the world.
It will be a huge, joyous, and inclusive event that will bring together both locals and visitors to celebrate the city they love. It promises to be the biggest party in Amsterdam’s long and storied history.
8. A new, permanent public art installation will be unveiled.
As a lasting legacy of the 750th anniversary, the city will commission a major new piece of public art from a world-renowned international artist. The new sculpture or installation will be unveiled at the end of the year and will be located in a prominent public space in the city. The project is designed to be a new, modern icon for the city.
This new landmark will be a symbol of the city’s enduring commitment to art and culture and will serve as a permanent reminder of this historic milestone for generations to come.