Events for April 2009
Party boats cram the canal water and orange flags wrap around everything in sight as Amsterdam romps into carnival mood this April, celebrating Queens Day and more.
Story Highlights
- Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival
- Ajax Amsterdam versus AZ Alkmaar
- The Butterfly Effect @ Winston Kingdom
- Queens Day
Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival ‐ April 15 to 26, 2009
This April visitors to Amsterdam have the opportunity to engage the 25th incarnation of the Fantastic Film Festival, an event that guarantees movie enthusiasts a week of fantasy, animation, Indie, Horror and Sci‐Fi film screenings, all housed inside the Pathe Tuschinski cinema on Amsterdam’s famous Rembrantplein. Since 1984 the Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival has grown from a two night mini‐festival to a week long showcase of diverse film premieres and theatrical presentations, from all over the world.
In addition the event also offers aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to mix with experienced movie professionals. This year some of the biggest names on the film circuit like Paul Verhoeven (best known for directing RoboCop, Total Recall, Basic Instinct, Hollow Man, and Starship Troopers) and Italian horror legend Dario Argento, will be on hand to tender lashings of professional advice. For further schedule and listing information visit the official festival website.
Ajax Amsterdam versus AZ Alkmaar ‐ April 26, 2009
It’s still all to play for in Dutch football’s top league as Ajax Amsterdam battle it out with Steve McClaren’s FC Twente and AZ Alkmaar for the Eredivisie title. Traditional rivals Feyenoord and champions PSV Eindhoven have fallen away this year and are presently too far behind the leading pack to challenge. This means the April match between Ajax and AZ is likely to go some way to deciding who’ll be crowned Dutch champions at the end of May.
Expect the whole city to be buzzing on match day, with those who can’t obtain a ticket for the Amsterdam Arena creating a lively atmosphere in and around the pubs, and bars on the Rembrandtplein.
The Butterfly Effect @ Winston Kingdom ‐ April 28, 2009
The Butterfly Effect are renowned for being one of the most exciting and hard working live acts in Australia today. Since 2002 they’ve registered an exhausting 800 national and international performances, all as the headlining act.
Extensive touring of both Australia and Europe has seen The Butterfly Effect establish a strong and continuously growing fan base. They’ve performed at all the major rock festivals in Australia including Big Day Out, Homebake, Livid and Falls Festival, sharing the stage with superstar acts like Metallica, Muse, The Strokes, System of a Down, Oasis, Tool, My Chemical Romance and The Killers.
Their sophomore album Imago reached number two in the Australian charts in 2006 and became their second gold record after the success of Begins Here in 2003. After the second album the band embraced a self‐imposed solitude in the sanctuary of Grove Studios with producer Forrester Savell, where they recorded their third LP ‐ Final Conversation of Kings. The album was released in September 2008 and debuted at number three in the Australian charts. Their Winston gig is set to be something special so don’t miss it.
Queens Day ‐ April 29 and 30, 2009
If you’re feeling in the carnival mood this April then head to Amsterdam and celebrate the birthday of the Queen of the Netherlands, with millions of other revellers who roll up every year to embrace the unique party atmosphere! Queens Day is officially celebrated on April 30 but in truth the party lasts a lot longer, with an array of special club nights, events, and performances engulfing the city for three or four days.
Expect live music to boom from the outdoor stages on the Nieuwmarkt, Leidseplein, Reguliersdwarsstraat, Westermarkt, Westerstraat, Rembrandtplein and Amstelveld, and the streets to be awash with vendors, market stalls, musicians, and food stalls, all of whom are permitted to sell their wares and play music on the roads, and sidewalks of central Amsterdam for one day only!
‐ Johnny Lee
