Grachtenfestival Amsterdam (‘Canal Festival’) is an annual festival of classical music held at special locations on and around the canals in the centre of Amsterdam, with offshoots in other parts of town such as North of the IJ. Over a period of ten days, the Grachtenfestival provides a stage for young musical talent, choosing an appropriate and often historical setting for each musical event on or beside Amsterdam’s numerous waterways.

The Prinsengracht Concert

One of the highlights is the Prinsengracht Concert which you can visit by boat. The concert is always held on the famed canal pontoon in front of Hotel Pulitzer and broadcasted on national television. The concert is on Saturday 19th of  August 2017. Preliminary programme: 8 p.m. Main programme: 9:20 p.m.

The programme

The programme of the Grachtenfestival will be announced on the Grachtenfestival website, fromt the 20th of June. The full programme is also published in the Grachtenfestival newspaper that is issued around the same time.

Grachtenfestival Amsterdam covers a broad spectrum and makes a conscious decision not to limit itself to a particular instrument or musical tendency. This method makes it possible to follow the development of young talent over the years, and to offer these new talents a stage that reflects their development. This enables the Amsterdam Grachtenfestival to present a yearly overview of talented classical musicians in the Netherlands and their musical progression.

Every year, renowned soloists and ensembles come together in unprecedented combinations, inspired by a different theme, especially for the festival’s programme of concerts. The Grachtenfestival also features previews of programmes from elsewhere in the country that will begin later in the year.

The Grachtenfestival’s combination of location and repertoire means that classical music is performed to the highest levels, but presented in a way that is accessible to all. This is what makes the festival unique in the world.

When do tickets for the Grachtenfestival go on sale?

Advance ticket sales will start in the middle of June.

Where can I buy tickets?
Tickets can be purchased on the  website (www.grachtenfestival.nl/kaartverkoop), at the Amsterdams Uitburo and at the Festival office.

Where is the Festival office located?
The Festival office is located in the Festival centre at Theater Bellevue on Leidsekade 90 in Amsterdam. The office will be open from 3 p.m. on Friday 11 August. For information about opening times, see our idioms website and the festival newspaper.

Where can I find more information about ticket sales?
Detailed ticket information will be published on our website in June. You can also find this information in the festival newspaper.