Amsterdam Weekend Tips: 58 Things to Do on February 12, 13, 14 & 15

The new Amsterdam weekend tips are ready for you! For over 14 years, I've been happily creating this Amsterdam Weekend Guide, featuring my personal favorites for fun things to do this weekend. In this weekly column, I'll also tell you all about the must-sees in Amsterdam and give you a behind-the-scenes look at Your Little Black Book. Want to read along?

Amsterdam Weekend Guide: February 12, 13, 14 & 15  

Countdown to the weekend! And in this new Amsterdam Weekend Guide, I've compiled my favorite things to do for you. It's actually quite nice that Valentine's Day falls on a weekend, isn't it? That's why there are so many events happening in Amsterdam! But don't worry: even if Valentine's Day isn't your thing, there are plenty of other things to do. From fun markets to trying new bakeries or a new exhibition I really can't wait for spring, so fingers crossed the sun shows up again this weekend. Have fun making plans with these weekend tips for February 12, 13, 14, & 15!

With love, Anne

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AMSTERDAM WEEKEND TIPS 12, 13, 14 & 15 FEBRUARY

➊ You don't want to miss this: NEMO Science Museum opens for adults on the evening of February 12 with a unique program

Good news for those who know NEMO primarily as a museum for kids: in 2026, the NEMO Science Museum will open its doors more often in the evenings, specifically for an adult audience. Don't expect a traditional museum visit, but an evening program with a mix of small exhibitions, performances, films, science quizzes, music, and lectures. Always with a connection to science and technology, viewed from different perspectives and often in collaboration with inspiring partners.

First edition // February 12: You're too cute to be an astronaut 

The kick-off is on Thursday evening, February 12th with the theater performance You're too cute to be an astronaut by actress Judy Lijdsman. In this personal, funny, and moving one-woman show, you're transported back to the 80s and introduced to Judy Resnik, NASA's second female astronaut. A brilliant engineer who was often seen as a woman by the outside world. The timing is particularly interesting: Artemis II, NASA's first manned lunar mission in 50 years, featuring astronaut Christina Koch, is also scheduled to launch around this time. A fitting context for an evening that brings together space travel, history, and equality.

Book tickets

Practical information – February 12

• Presentation: You're too cute to be an astronaut
• Date: Thursday, February 12
• Time: 8:15 PM (NEMO opens at 6:30 PM)
• Duration: 80 minutes
• Price: € 18,50 (incl. drink). Buy your tickets here >>
• Location: Auditorium, second floor NEMO
• Extra fun: you can visit the Technium exhibition beforehand and eat in the Museum Café (vegetarian ramen € 9,50)

NEMO Science Museum

Valentine's Day in Amsterdam, these are the tips you'll want to know

Pizza Fried Chicken Night

Fancy a night with a difference? On February 14th, Euro Pizza and Nikotin are joining forces for Pizza Fried Chicken Night at Benelux Bar. Expect a late-night dinner shift with pizza from Euro Pizza and fried chicken from Nikotin, followed by a party featuring DJs from both teams. Dinner starts at 8:30 PM, and after 10:00 PM, the evening effortlessly transitions into a party. Get your tickets for the dinner and party via the link in their bio >>

Candlelight concert

How romantic is this: listening to your favorite music together, surrounded by hundreds of flickering candles? The intimate setting, often in unique locations throughout the city, instantly creates a magical atmosphere. Whether you choose classical compositions, film scores, or modern songs with a fresh twist, a candlelight concert is the kind of date that makes you forget everything around you. It also makes a great gift. Read all about the concerts, dates and tickets here >>

Date ideas

For years, we've been keeping a list of fun things to do in Amsterdam that are perfect for a bit more romance. What are your tips? You can read it here >>

Our V-day restaurant shortlists

• 61 X restaurants that are always a good idea. So also for Valentine's Day!
• 10 Cafe-Restaurants with a Special Valentine's Day Menu. 
• 13 Romantic Restaurants in Amsterdam You Want to Know.

| TAKE A WORLD TRIP THROUGH AMSTERDAM THIS WEEKEND: The new hotspots opening in Amsterdam keep the city vibrant, but let's not forget all the great eateries and international restaurants where you can also enjoy truly fantastic food, often on a budget. Your Little Black Book is full of these gems, where you can take a foodie trip in your own city every weekend. TAPAS | ONIGIRI | MOMO'S | EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN | DIM SUM | NORDIC | RAMEN | GREEK | LEBANESE | CHINESE | AFRIKAANS | 

➌ These are the best markets not to miss this weekend

IJ-hallen Flea Market // February 14 & 15

This weekend, stroll through the stalls overflowing with new and vintage items at the IJ-hallen. The market opens at 9:00 AM, and you'll want to be there as early as possible to find the most beautiful gems. Afterward, enjoy a delicious lunch at IJver and maybe even continue on to STRAAT, the street art museum. A perfect day out in the North! Good to know: this edition, on February 14th and 15th, is entirely indoors, and you'll find a lot of clothing. More info >>

Vinyl Record Market (dance edition) // February 15

Looking for that one house record for your record collection? On Sunday, February 15th, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM, The Vinyl Countdown's Vinyl Record Market will be held at De Hallen Amsterdam. This special dance edition focuses on house, techno, and beyond, featuring record dealers from the Netherlands, Belgium, and even Japan. Expect buckets of dance classics, obscure finds, and collector's items, plus DJs who only play what you can actually buy there. A great afternoon to dig, listen, and seriously upgrade your collection. And good to know: admission is free. More info >>

Museum Market // February 15

This Sunday, between 10:00 AM and 6:00 PM, you can once again stroll through the Museum Market on Museumplein. It's a great way to combine it with a visit to one of the museums. Fancy a spot of lunch afterward? Then Sandberg a nice tip! More info >>

 | TIP: Curious about which markets can be found throughout the Netherlands this month? Then check out this shortlist >>

❹ Have you added these 30 delicious events, new restaurants, and other businesses that opened in recent months to your 2026 hit list yet?

Our list of spots we want to visit in the coming weeks is growing every week. Which ones don't you want to miss? Read all about it here!

On the radar this week:

• The team behind Tewatashi is opening a new restaurant on Van Woustraat, where everything revolves around Kappo cuisine and Wagyu. Delicious: during the day they make Matcha Crêpes! More info >>
• Love bubble tea? Just a few doors down, you'll find Kikiboba on Van Woustraat. 
• Mark your calendars now: Wijnlokaal Stern, owned by the team behind De Scheepskameel, opens on February 26th. So excited! 
• During your walk in Noorderpark, you can once again enjoy a delicious meal and drink at the old Pompet location. The team behind the Skatecafé has opened Noorderpark Café there!

Sunday roast at Café Caron // February 15

Sunday afternoons at Café Caron are all about sitting down together for a leisurely lunch. Every Sunday in February, they serve a family-style Sunday roast lunch, perfect for sharing. Large pieces of chicken and/or côte de boeuf appear on the table, served with potatoes, vegetables, and salad. There's also a short menu with starters and desserts, and you can choose from a selection of French wines and excellent non-alcoholic options. Dates for February: February 15th and 22nd.
Frans Halsstraat 28, Amsterdam. More info & reservations >>

 | TIP: Check out the extensive list of tips for delicious Sunday Roasts in Amsterdam here >> 

Sunday Brunch at Anantara Krasnapolsky

Sunday Brunch at Anantara Krasnapolsky on February 15th is entirely dedicated to the Lunar New Year: the Year of the Horse. In the iconic Winter Garden, you can tuck in from 1:30 PM for a lavish brunch with a mix of traditional and contemporary dishes, including sparkling wine and complementary drinks. Families are also catered for: there's a play area for children, and children under 7 enjoy brunch for free. 

Boyfriend

This unique restaurant isn't new (in fact, they recently celebrated their one-year anniversary), but they do have a new chef, and that's worth mentioning. Ivan Beusink (who you might remember from RIJKS) has been in charge here for a few months now. At Copain, you can enjoy a special evening with a culinary and creative theme, created by owner Frederiek. When I tell you that she also organizes all the culinary events for clients like Chanel and Hermès, you know you're in for a special experience. For a few more weeks, you can enjoy Snow Globe, and for Valentine's Day, they're also offering a completely red dinner. The dishes are works of art on your plate and so incredibly delicious. A top tip for a night out that's anything but run-of-the-mill in Amsterdam. More info & reservations >>

just opened in Amsterdam:

• KID is open at a new location in West for your trusted burgers and more.
• For delicious Indonesian food, you can now go to Omahe in De Pijp.
• We love ramen! In De Pijp, you'll now find a new location of Takumi and Smaak Ramen. We thoroughly tested Tensai Ramen in the city center. It was excellent! 
• YUSU coffee (2nd location in the center)
• Wolf & Bear 
• Gorgo 
• Soju Bar at Leidseplein
• Susy
• olyphant
• Lady at the Quay
• Café de Kleine Bes
• Janine
• Email
• Vita Lente
• Eurosoft
• Yubu Bento
• wonton 
• Flour Shop 
• Rondo 
• Room Bar 
• Nido Cocktail Bar

€3 tacos at Camino

OMG, this is such a good deal! And rumor has it they're here forever. Tacos for €3 at Camino. A bit of a Mexico City vibe (price-wise, anyway). So keep this in mind if you're looking for a budget-friendly night out that's truly delicious! More info >>

Glazemade

There's a new wave of creative cafés in Amsterdam. A kind of ceramics 2.0 version! Instead of making your own ceramics (which often takes several days or weeks, making it less suitable as a "quick" activity), you get straight to painting and glazing. You choose your item, create a creative plan, and get started! One of the newest spots where you can do this is Glazemade on Van Woustraat. Fun with a (group of) friends or solo. More info >>

 | OUT IN YOUR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD MORE OFTEN ON THE WEEKEND? Discover YLBB's Neighborhood Guides with all the favorite tips for discovering something new every weekend. CENTRUM | THE PIPE | NORTH | NDSM-YARD | EAST | WEST | BOS & LOMMER | THE PERCHES | WESTERPARK | OLD SOUTH | THE WALLS | JORDAN | HAARLEMMER NEIGHBORHOOD | CANAL BELLE | RIVER NEIGHBORHOOD | NINE STREETS. 

➎ 18 fun weekend tips with the kids in Amsterdam

Looking for something fun to do with the whole family this weekend? Here are some tips to get you started! 

Bricks & Robots: learning to program for kids aged 6 and up 

Looking for a fun and educational activity for kids? At Bricks & Robots, children participate in workshops where they learn to program with LEGO® through play. During the lessons, they build their own robots and learn how to make them move using visual programming blocks. My son is currently taking the course, and it's so fun and educational! New courses for different age groups will be starting soon. Read more about Bricks & Robots here >>

New at Nela: Family Friendly Affair brunch

Good news for those who enjoy spending time together at the table on Sundays. Restaurant Nela is introducing its Family Friendly Affair brunch: a relaxed Sunday afternoon dedicated to enjoying time with family and friends. Dishes are served to share, all prepared over an open fire. Think generous skewers of grilled meat, chicken, octopus, or shrimp. There's a separate à la carte menu for kids, including Italian wood-fired pizzas. We tried it out last weekend, and it was sooooo delicious! Good to know: you can also choose something tasty from the a la carte menu instead of the regular menu; kids can also order from the children's menu. More info & reservations >>

Already seen? The baby elephant at ARTIS

If you haven't been to ARTIS with the kids in a while, this is a great time to go again. From an adorable baby elephant to new enclosures that have just opened, there's plenty to see and do, including indoors. 

Fort Pampus: treasure hunt in search of the secret code

Did you know that Fort Pampus has no fewer than 80 rooms? Discover the fort on an exciting scavenger hunt with hidden clues, only visible under a special blacklight. A thrilling day out in your own city where you and your kids can crack the secret code! More info >>

14 more weekend tips with kids in Amsterdam:

• Have you ever been to Allard Pierson with the kids? It's definitely fun for the exciting museum pieces from Egypt, like mummies. More info >>
• For cool kids: Street art scavenger hunt for kids at STRAAT. More info & tickets >>
• How fun is this? At the Van Gogh Museum, kids can participate in a teacher-led painting workshop every weekend. The themes are constantly changing! More info & reservations >> 
• Amsterdam North has another new must-visit: Barbie: The Dream Experience. A gigantic exhibition of 2.000 m² in the building next to WONDR.
• At the Wereldmuseum in Oost, children aged 6 and up can see "Raaf's Council." This experience focuses on climate change and teaches children about other countries. More info & tickets >> 
• Looking for more fun museums with kids? Then you'll want to check out these lists! These are the family-friendly museums throughout the Netherlands >> & These museums in Amsterdam are also fun with kids >>
• A great new list for parents with early risers at home. These coffee shops are open before 8 a.m. Check out these must-know tips here >>
• Always a good idea with kids: go out for a nice pizza. These are the best spots per district in a row >>
• Fancy a bite to eat with the kids? Fish & Chips is always a good idea. Here's where you eat it in Amsterdam >>
• The Kinder Kook Café has been around for 40 years and here kids are in charge of the kitchen. More info >>
• Teach them young! Theater is fun for kids of all ages. At Black Cat Theatre, you can enjoy theater performances with your children aged one and up. Every weekend, there are various fun (interactive) performances. View the program here >>
• Want to let off some steam in an indoor playground? You'll want to know these tips >>
• Looking for something fun to do with the kids just outside the city? View 7 tips here >>
• Planning a family movie night together? View 35 tips here >>

more Amsterdam tips

TIP: For all my English-speaking followers, I'm setting up the Your Little Black Book and Amsterdam Substacks. You can already subscribe for free and follow the Substacks:

• Your Little Black Book Substack
• Amsterdam Substack