live funky-jazz rock @ Badcuyp, May 13th

Music: The Ploctones @ Badcuyp, Thursday May 13th, 21.30, €8.

End your free day with some swining jazz from the Ploctones.

Underground farmer's market, May 16th, somewhere in Amsterdam

Event: Underground Boerenmarkt @ near Downtown 75, Rokin 75 - follow the clues via Twitter, Sunday May 16th, 12.00 - 17.00, FREE. 

A wild underground farmer's market where a semingly "spontaneous" market arises somewhere in Amsterdam on Sunday.  Except an eating extravaganze with sweets, handmade kroketten, traditional mosterds, bier, jams, worstjes, soepjes, home grown sambal, gourmet food, and organic butchers.

New soundtrack film at Goethe-Institute May 14th

Film: Tabu - A Story of the South Seas @ Goethe-Institut, Friday May 14, film starts 20.00, €5.

Live soundtrack by Filippo Castellazzi, Michael Stratz, Mark Van Soest,Mataklap & Hakki Takki. A love story out of Bora Bora to more "civilized society".

IDFA film at Kriterion, May 9th

Film: Necrobusiness series @ Kriterion, Sunday May 9th, 15.00, €6.50, includes a discusion and the three films.

Check out the preview here.

Stop & GO - Motion animation films, May 11th

Film: Stop & GO @ OT301, Tuesday May 11th, 20.30, €4.

Stop & Go features 22 films by established filmmakers and visual artists of motion animation films, from around the world. With an 80-minute program of short videos that highlight the process of stop-motion animation in many of its forms.

Open Day at the Opera, May 9th

Open day: De Nederlandse Opera @ Het Muziektheater, Sunday 9th May, 12:00 - 17:00.

At 12.00 the doors open with choir workshops for children and adults, tours, performances, demostrations of theater techniques, acting techniques, opera quiz and an open podium. A panel discussion: begins at 14.00 with Klaus Bertischm Dramaturg for the Netherlands Opera speaks with guests about 'Animals on stage'. With musical intermezzos and a grand finale at 17.00.

If you want to show your own talents during the open day, then register for the open podium. If you need musical accompaniment by piano indicate this with your registration. Send an e-mail indicating your name, the title of the music piece you will perform and how much time you need for the performance to: openpodium@dno.nl

National Windmill Day, May 8th and 9th

Event: Nationale Molen en gemalen Dag/National Windmill and Pumping Station Day @ throughout the Netherlands, Saturday May 8th and Sunday 9th.

This must be the most exciting day next to Queensday the celebration of another Dutch icon - the windmill. Millers open their doors for you to visit the inner secrets of these buildings. It is an ideal opportunity to understand the important role the windmill played in the economic development of the Netherlands. Yes these high-tech machines were one of the main reasons why the Dutch ruled the seas during the Golden Age.

Mills that take part in this festive day can be recognized by the blue flag on the windmill sail or by more high-tech means you can look at the online map; take your pick.

Now let's keep our fingers crossed for a national tulip or clogg day. Or maybe we should create a special day for ourselves like krokettendag?

Van Gogh Museum Avond, Every Friday at the Van Gogh Museum

Event + Museum: Van Gogh Museum Avond @ the Van Gogh Museum, Friday, 18.30 – 22.00, entrée to museum, stuff for older kids. Guaranteed - free guided tour at 19:30 of the exhibition Paul Gauguin (in Dutch and English) and a DJ to bring you through the rest of evening between all the other acts.

May 7th - Science/technology program by De Praktijk at 18.30 with a the showing of artist Sander Veenhof's "invisible" outfit that visitors can use to avoid being seen by surveillance cameras, plus 'Formamat' (Leiden University) - a machine that frees you of all the unnecessary data on your USB device. In exchange for your old data files you'll receive sweets as payment. Also in the Central Hall check out the Giro d'Italia special from 19:30-20:00 o'clock / 20:45-21:15 o'clock with a theatrical music program by the passionate and multitalented singer Quirine Melssen, Napolitan artist. Free Italian wine tasting from 18:30-20:30  (Central Hall).

May 14th - Introductory tour

At 19:30 free guided tour of the exhibition Paul Gauguin (in Dutch and English). Plus the Music conservatory takes the stage at 20:15.

May 21st - 2 move Wear

From 18:30 check out Ok 2 moveWear - an interactive suit that causes music and images to respond to your movements. Then at 20.30 a discussion with the maker of the suit - Angelina Baker on her intentions and the results of this installation.

May 28th - Augmented Reality

From 18:30 students from the Royal Academy of the Visual Arts in The Hague present their newest inventions and discoveries of 2010. Discussion with the students from AR-RFID lab at 20.30 with a

moderator asking the students of the KABK about the project.

Biking exhibition - Sur Place May 8th - August 22nd

Still can't get enough of the biking craze?  Check out Mediamatic exhibition on biking culture @ Mediamatic, from May 8th - August 22nd, various prices and times.

With photos of bike crashes, a collection of awesome bikes, workshops and lots of other craziness!:)

Animation for Kids, May 8th

Animation for Kids: Minibios an animation afternoon for kids from 5 – 10 years @Paradiso, Saturday May 8th, 14:00 – 15:00, €5.

First screening of:

Joris en de Liefde

Een sprookje in een Monsterklas

Bling Bling Boy en zijn vijf zussen

These animations are based on stories that were conceived by children of “Group 6” (10/11 years) of primary school. The participating children were the winners of a writing contest organized by the public library. 10 additional animations will be screened inspired in musical poems, supported by live music.

Cannabis bevrijdingsdag/ marijuana liberation day

Event: Cannabis bevrijdingsdag/ Marijuana liberation day @ Westerpark Manifestatieterrein, Saturday May 8th, 14.00 - late, price unknown.

A day to celebrate cannabis with live music, speaker,s a market, old time circus, and acts from Joost Belinfante, Hans Plomp, Edith Rignalda, and possibly Spinvis (yet to be confirmed).

Friday Night Skate

Looking for some skating/rollerblading buddies? Check out Friday Night Skate- with weekly routes around the City. 

Go get your butt back in shape after a cold winter of watching re-runs and stuffing your face with mini-stroopwafels.

Rocking da farm at Buurtboerderij Westerpark May 7th

Music + Farm: Rocking da farm @ Buurtboerderij Westerpark, May 7th, 21.00, €3.

Live bands and djs at the farm! in Westerpark. Yes, this is serious there is a party at the boerderij!

Very Short International Film Festival, May 8th and 9th

Film: Very Short International Film Festival @ CREA, Saturday May 8th, 20.00, Sunday May 9th 13.00, €5, students €3, for reservations call 020 525 1400.

The Very Short International Film Festival is a festival for short films of three minutes or less. Every screening consists of three parts, with two breaks; with from Japan, England, Romania, France, Iran, Norway, Mexico, Spain, Lebanon, China, New Zealand, Bulgaria, Germany, the United States, Belgium, Isreal, Switzerland, Singapore, and a few from the Netherlands. See 72 best videos, hand picked from more than 1,000 submissions; and you can vote for your favorite.

Bicycle Film Festival May 8th

Film: Bicycle Film Festival  @ Pathé Tuschinski, Saturday May 8th, three program, first one starts at 18.30 (see below), € 11/program; after-party starts at 20.00 at Mediamatic.

"The Bicycle Film Festival has been a major catalyst for the spread of urban bike culture internationally. From its roots in New York City, the BFF has grown exponentially into a multi-faceted, international event that visits nearly every continent. This year 300,000 people are expected to attend worldwide."- Mediamatic

Program 1, LET OP! the time changed, again!! back to 18.30 - 19.30, Urban Bike Shorts

A collection of short films that highlight the experiences of urban riders, including Anima d’Acciaio (Soul of Steel).

Program 2, 20.30 - 22.30, Standing Start + Tour Des Legendes

Tour Des Legendes is a Dutch production that premiered at the Bicycle Film Festival in 2003, in which director Erik van Empel digs through the annals of the Tour de France to capture the history of the world’s most beautiful bike race.

Program 3, 22.30 - 00.30, Made in Queens + Where Are You Go

Where Are You Go: chronicles four months on bicycle from Cairo to Cape Town, en route with the Tour d’Afrique, the world’s longest bicycle race and expedition.

An after party starts at 20.00 at Mediamatic Bank, free admission with program ticket.

Giromania! May 6 - 9

In just a few days, the Giro d’Italia, a long distance road bike race, begins in Amsterdam! wtih three stages/days of cycling circus through the City. If are into eyeing up men in tight spandex or a genuine cycling fan you will certainly enjoy this weekend. For an overview of the stages and side-events visit Giromania. Keep in mind many main through-fares/streets will be closed off to bike and car traffic during this three day event.

There are a number of side-events that may also tickle your fancy with a GiroRun, Italian films, and exhibitions all in celebration of the big event:

1) Photo Exhibition @ het Stadsarchief Amsterdam, ongoing, daily 10.00 - 18.00, price of museum.

A historical exhibtion of the past 100+ years of Giro d'Italia race with films, photos, and artifacts from Dutch racing champions Gerrie Knetemann and Piet van Heusden and other fietsfoto's/biking pictures.

2) On Friday the 7th Tourist Run Amsterdam hosts a special run to discover the route of the Giro d'Italia individual timetrial on foot! (reservation necessary)

The 8km runs will be in small groups of 5 - 10, from Museumplein to Olympischstadion. Participlants recieve a public transport ticket to return to the start, as well as a pink "Giromania" T-shirt.

3) New Italian Cinema Events (NICE) @ Filmmuesum, May 6 - 19th, various times, price of film. 

In cooperation with the Istituto Italiano di Cultura and the EYE Film Instituut Nederland, this international festival takes the stage in celebration of the start of the Giro d’Italia with a selection of films from Italian films from the 1960s.

FYI, if you can't get enough of road biking plan to get to Rotterdam for the start of the Tour de France on July 3rd.

Hard rock karaoke, May 6th

Hard rock karaoke @ Pakhuis Wilhelmina, Thursday May 6th, 22:00, €5.

Hard rock karaoke accompanied by a live band.

On a serious note...

It is quite something to see just how much the Dutch genuinely appreciate and respect the significance of a liberation that took place 65 years ago. With my own parents who were back then just small children in the bombing of Rotterdam, I am amazed and grateful how Nederlanders continue to pass on the historical importance of the war and the subsequent liberation to their kids. I've heard that to this day, Dutch families tend the gravesites of fallen Allied soldiers throughout the country.

If you are in a solemn and reverent mood and would like to see and appreciate the level of this respect, there are a ton of locations in the city to be to experience the 'Herdenking' or commemoration/memorial services.

Between 18.30 and 21.00 on Tuesday, May 4th, there are no fewer than 30 spots around the city to pay your respects and to witness how the locals do the same. Each corner of the city has a number of locations - see the full listings.

- Jeff Funnekotter, check out his Big City Blog about life in Amsterdam and everywhere else the road takes him.

Architecture workshop for kids, May 8th

Workshop for kids: Archikidz @ Westerpark Gashouder, Saturday May 8th, children 7 -12, FREE, must register in advance here.

A workshop kids about the future of transporation; what is the ultimate vehicle?, what does it look like?, how does it function?  Kids work in small groups with an architect to build different forms of vehicles.

Bevrijdingsdag / Liberation Day, May 5th

Various events: Bevrijdingsdag / Liberation Day, the evening of May 4th and entire day and evening of May 5th. First, don't forget Tuesday evening May 4th, the day before Liberation Day, is the Nationale Herdenking at 20.00. This national commemoration has been held since 1946 to commentate the victims of the Second World War. At 20.00 the entire country is quiet for two minutes of remembrance. The official event is held at the Dam, starting around 19.45ish with the Queen and other officials holding an official ceremony which can be seen on National Television, but also is host to about 20,000 people lining the Damrak to het Nationaal Monument! But where ever you are on Tuesday at 20.00 stop! and be quiet; that counts for driving in your car, in the Metro, on the street, at your house, etc...

1) Amsterdams Bevrijdingsfestival - Liberty City @ Museumplein, a whole day of music, events, activities, stuff for kids, etc..., FREE.  Check out the program for more details.

2) Every year, since 1996, in front of the Carré a special concert is set-up on the water. This year Het Limburgs Symfonie Orkest takes the stage, with an opera. The concert starts at 21.00 but in order to get a decent seat on the water get there by 20.00. The concert can also be seen on NOS on Nederland 1 at 20.30.

3) Haarlem is the usual host to a full day of music, djs and fun at Bevrijdingspop @ Haarlemerhout, 12.00 - midnight, FREE.