What is free in Amsterdam on Fridays

Official sources checked Oct 5, 2026

Free museum hours in Amsterdam change with the day of the week. This is the list for Friday: first what is free on this day in particular, then what is free on any day.

Free on Fridays in particular3

Vondelpark Open Air Theatre

Vondelpark

Free on certain daysPay what you wishGood with kidsMusicLocal life

A covered stage in the middle of Vondelpark with more than 100 shows a summer. Friday night is dance, Saturday afternoon family theatre, Saturday night comedy, Sunday morning classical and Sunday afternoon pop.

Sunday 11:00 classical concerts, the calmest slot
Unreserved benches fill 30 minutes before the start
Sunday afternoon bands, with the lawn behind as overflow

Free when: May to mid-September, almost every weekend, Fri evening to Sun afternoon. Shows go on in the rain
Free for whom: Everyone. No tickets are sold. Staff pass a collection box after each show and ask every visitor for a voluntary contribution
Reservation: Not needed. You can reserve a seat on the stands for €8.50, held until five minutes before the start
Time needed: 1–1.5h
How to get there: Tram 2, 5 or 12 to Van Baerlestraat, then 8 minutes on foot into the park

Worth it? Yes.Free summer evenings do not come better organised. Comedy is in Dutch, so pick dance, classical or the Sunday bands. Arrive 30 minutes early for the unreserved benches.

Source: Vondelpark Openluchttheater · checked Oct 5, 2026Open in Maps

~~€25~~FREE

Rijksmuseum for under-19s

Museumplein

Free on certain daysBooking requiredIndoorGood with kidsArtHistory

The national museum of Rembrandt and Vermeer charges adults €25 and lets in everyone aged 18 or under for nothing, every day of the year. That includes visiting teenagers, whatever their nationality.

Rembrandt's Night Watch at the end of the Gallery of Honour
Vermeer's Milkmaid, a few alcoves before it
Quietest before 11:00 and after 15:30, says the museum

Free when: Every day 09:00–17:00, including all public holidays
Free for whom: Anyone aged 18 or under. Adults pay full price
Reservation: Required. Every visitor, free or paying, books a start time online
Time needed: 2–3h
How to get there: Tram 2, 5 or 12 to Rijksmuseum

Worth it? Yes.A family of two adults and two teenagers saves €50 here. Book the 09:00 slot, go straight to the Gallery of Honour on the second floor, and you get the Night Watch before the tour groups do.

Source: Rijksmuseum · checked Oct 5, 2026Open in Maps

~~€25~~FREE

Van Gogh Museum for under-18s

Museumplein

Free on certain daysBooking requiredIndoorGood with kidsArt

The world's largest Van Gogh collection, shown in order of his life from the dark Dutch years to the last wheatfields. Adults pay €25. Visitors under 18 get in free.

Sunflowers and The Bedroom on the first floor
The Potato Eaters, from his Dutch period
Wheatfield with Crows, among the last works

Free when: Every day. Hours change with the season, so check the calendar when you book
Free for whom: Anyone under 18. Students pay €16 with a student card
Reservation: Required. Free tickets also need a start time, booked online only. Nothing is sold at the door
Time needed: 1.5–2h
How to get there: Tram 2, 5 or 12 to Van Baerlestraat

Worth it? Yes.Slots sell out days ahead in every season, and the free child tickets come out of the same pool. Book as soon as you know your dates and take the first or the last hour.

Source: Van Gogh Museum · checked Oct 5, 2026Open in Maps

Free every day, Friday included18

Free ferries across the IJBehind Centraal StationAlways · every day, every few minutes to Buiksloterweg, which also runs through the night
NDSM WharfAmsterdam NoordAlways · the grounds are open public space. Galleries on site keep their own hours, mostly 12:00–17:00 or 18:00
BegijnhofCentre, off SpuiAlways · daily 09:30–18:00, all year, for visitors
Rijksmuseum gardens and passageMuseumpleinGardens daily 09:00–18:00. The museum's English page says the gardens are open in the summer season only, so check before a winter visit. The passage is open at all hours
Amsterdam City Archives TreasuryVijzelstraat, Canal BeltAlways · Tue–Fri 10:00–17:00, Sat–Sun 12:00–17:00. Closed Monday
VondelparkOud-ZuidAlways · open day and night, every day
Albert Cuyp MarketDe PijpAlways · Mon–Sat 09:30–17:00. Closed Sundays and public holidays
OBA Oosterdok public libraryOosterdok, east of CentraalAlways · Mon–Fri 08:00–22:00, Sat–Sun 10:00–20:00. Shorter hours on some holidays
NEMO rooftop squareOosterdokAlways · Tue–Sun 10:00–17:30. Closed Monday
The Jordaan and BrouwersgrachtJordaanAlways · public streets
Amsterdamse BosAmstelveen, south edge of the cityAlways · the forest never closes. Goat farm open 10:00–17:00, closed Tuesday
Westerpark and WestergasWesterparkAlways · open every day. The children's paddling pond is filled from 1 May to 1 October on days of 20°C or warmer
National Holocaust Names MemorialWeesperstraat, PlantageAlways · daily 08:00–20:00, and until 21:00 from 1 March to 1 October
Max Euwe Centre chess museumLeidsepleinAlways · Tue–Sat 12:00–16:00. Closed public holidays
Swimming at MarineterreinKattenburg, east of CentraalSummer months, in daylight. Check the water-quality notice at zwemwater.nl before you go
Eye Filmmuseum buildingAmsterdam Noord, on the IJAlways for the building · Tue–Thu and Sun 10:00–22:00, Fri–Sat 10:00–23:00. On Mondays outside school holidays it opens at 18:00. Closed 27 April
Waterlooplein flea marketFormer Jewish QuarterAlways · Monday to Saturday, daytime. Closed Sundays
De Poezenboot (the Cat Boat)SingelTue, Fri and Sat 13:00–15:00 only

PAID · ONE PER CITY

If you spend on one thing in Amsterdam, make it this.

Anne Frank House

Nothing free comes close to standing in the rooms behind the bookcase, with the pencil marks of the children's heights still on the wall. Tickets are sold online only for a fixed time slot and go weeks ahead, so book before you book anything else.

Everything above is free. This is the only paid pick on the page, chosen because no free option replaces it.