Queen's Day, a street party on April 30, celebrates the queen's birthday. June brings the star-studded Holland Festival of the Arts, which is part of a longer Amsterdam Arts Adventure. That adventure lasts well into the summer. National Windmill Day is in May and open garden days are held the same month. If you are in Amsterdam on August 22, don't miss the canal jumping contests.
Locals leap from one side of a canal to another with the aid of an aluminum pole.
September hosts the Flower Parade. The Cannabis Cup in November celebrates everything worth celebrating about pot. Amsterdam has so much more than the red light district to explore after dark. Amsterdam is a gathering spot for fringe performances, underground clubs, and unique entertainment. Rock, jazz, and Latin American music venues range from large stadiums like the Amsterdam Arena, where international headliners play, to more intimate venues like the Melkweg.