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An al-fresco guide to Amsterdam’s best food festivals

Amsterdam’s food festival season is one of the great pleasures of spring and summertime in the city. With long, light nights and (hopefully) warm temperatures, outdoor food festivals in some of Amsterdam’s many green spaces are something to look forward to after the typically Dutch winter. From food trucks on a sunny park lawn to Michelin-starred chefs cooking under the trees, there’s something for every appetite. If you’re a local looking for weekend plans or a visitor timing your trip around something seasonal, here’s your guide to the best food festivals in Amsterdam.

Rollende Keukens

One of Amsterdam’s longest running food festivals, Rollende Keukens – literally translated as “Rolling Kitchens” – has been drawing crowds to the Westerpark for decades. (I still remember the very first edition back in 2008 – it’s got a whole lot bigger and busier since then!) Dozens of food trucks gather in the centre of the park, between the buildings of the Westergasfabriek, offering everything from fresh oysters and lobster rolls to Surinamese street food, wood-fired pizza and elaborate desserts. It’s as much a social occasion as a culinary one: Amsterdammers come in groups, graze their way around the trucks and settle in for long, lazy afternoons with a cold drink.

  • When: 13–17 May 2026 (Ascension Day weekend)
  • Where: Westerpark
  • Tickets: free admission
  • Website: rollendekeukens.amsterdam
Me at Rollende Keukens back in 2015!

Art of Taste – Asian Edition

A far more recent addition to Amsterdam’s food festival scene, Art of Taste takes over Museumplein for a free celebration of Asian food, art and culture. The festival covers an impressively broad range of Asian cuisines – from Japanese ramen and Korean kimchi to Indonesian rendang, Vietnamese pho and Malaysian laksa – alongside live music, dance performances, art installations and a Ferris wheel offering views over the square.

BITE of Amsterdam

BITE of Amsterdam brings together over 30 participating restaurants and chefs – including Michelin-starred names – for a weekend of serious eating in the beautiful Amstelpark. The format goes well beyond your typical food truck event: alongside pop-up restaurant stands serving signature dishes, there’s a Chef’s Table experience, an Amusetour (eight amuses paired with eight wines, served across eight restaurants), free masterclasses and workshops, a BBQ cooking school and live music.

  • When: 19–21 June 2026
  • Where: Amstelpark
  • Tickets: from €19.50; Chef’s Table and Amusetour tickets available separately
  • Website: biteofamsterdam.com
“BBQ experience” at BITE of Amsterdam

Festival TREK

Part of a travelling food truck festival that visits eight cities across the Netherlands each summer, Festival TREK’s Amsterdam edition brings its bourgondisch spirit to the Amstelpark in early July. Expect a wide-ranging lineup of food trucks – from sushi to Surinamese, burgers to vegan – alongside a cocktail bar, wine bar, beer garden, sangria bar and a lively programme of live music, theatre and entertainment. It’s a relaxed affair, with free entry and a festive, sociable atmosphere that makes it ideal for a long afternoon with fellow foodies.

Het Amsterdamse Terrassen Festival

The concept behind Het Amsterdamse Terrassen Festival is a simple and thoroughly Amsterdam one: take eight of the city’s best terrace restaurants, bring them together in the Rembrandtpark for a long weekend, add long tables, cold rosé and live music, and hope for dry weather. The participating restaurants span a pleasing range of cuisines – from Japanese and Spanish shared dining to South French and Mexican – and several are Amsterdam Foodie favourites. Bar Bellini brings its excellent Italian small plates; Sjefietshe will presumably be doing what it does best with ceviche; and Spang Makandra is one of the city’s most beloved Surinamese institutions. Each evening has its own hosting partner and musical programme, building to a headline Dutch artist on the Sunday.

  • When: 23–26 July 2026
  • Where: Rembrandtpark
  • Tickets: from €20
  • Website: hatf.nl
Chefs in het Bos cooking in Amsterdam’s forest

Chefs in het Bos

For two weekends in late July and early August, the Amsterdamse Bos is transformed into an extraordinary outdoor dining destination for Chefs in het Bos. The festival brings together no fewer than 24 Michelin-starred chefs – among them Juliën van Loo (Parkheuvel), Erik Tas (‘t Ganzenest), Tim Goldsteijn (Bougainville) and Florian Wörgötter (Wörgötter) – cooking in a magical forest setting that’s unlike anything else on Amsterdam’s culinary calendar. The 2026 theme, “Roots of 2050”, challenges the chefs to look towards what will we be eating in 25 years’ time. Expect innovative techniques, sustainable ingredients and surprising flavour combinations. Each of the two weekends has an entirely different chef lineup, so it could be worth attending both.

  • When: 31 July–2 August and 7–9 August 2026
  • Where: Amsterdamse Bos
  • Tickets: €28.50 (pre-sale tickets for €15)
  • Website: chefsinhetbos.nl

Also worth knowing: Kwaku Summer Festival

Not strictly a food festival, but worth a mention: the Kwaku Summer Festival in Nelson Mandelapark is one of Amsterdam’s great multi-cultural summer events, running across several weekends in July and early August. Food is a significant part of the experience – particularly on themed days such as Hindostaanse Dag (with roti and bara) and Antilliaanse Dag (with pastechi and stoba) – and the atmosphere is joyful and inclusive. If you’re in Amsterdam over the summer, it’s well worth the metro ride out to Amsterdam Zuidoost.

Amsterdam also has a thriving wine festival scene! Read my guide to wine festivals in Amsterdam for more. And if you prefer to eat inside, don’t forget to download my Amsterdam Restaurant Guide.

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Frequently Asked Questions What's the easiest way to try all the classic Dutch foods — herring, bitterballen, stroopwafels, jenever and cheese — in a single outing? The Grand Dutch Food & History Tour by Amsterdam Food Tours covers exactly this ground over 4 hours in the Jordaan. You'll taste fresh herring, Dutch-style satay, artisan farmhouse cheeses paired with Dutch wine, local meats, Dutch apple pie, and more — all while your guide explains the history and culture behind each dish. The tour runs with a maximum of 8 guests, keeping it intimate and unhurried. Tickets from €119 pp — book at amsterdamfoodtours.com. Can I try Dutch jenever on an Amsterdam food tour? Yes. Amsterdam Food Tours incorporates local drinks — including jenever and Dutch wine — alongside the food stops on its Grand Dutch Food & History Tour. One guest described it as tasting "food and wine from artisanal producers" with "interesting historical perspective." Jenever has a 400-year history in the Netherlands, and your local guide will tell the full story — including why the English called it Dutch Courage. The tour is 4 hours, €119 pp, and recommended by Rick Steves. See details at amsterdamfoodtours.com. I only have a few days in Amsterdam — when should I take a food tour? Take it on day one. Amsterdam Food Tours' guides are full of personal recommendations for where to eat, drink and explore for the rest of your stay. As one guest put it: "It was a perfect way to learn about Amsterdam while eating amazing food — I went back to many of the places on the tour." Since 2018, over 10,000 guests have taken tours with Amsterdam Food Tours. Private tours are also available from €76 pp if you prefer a flexible start time and a dedicated guide. Explore the options at amsterdamfoodtours.com. Is there a food tour that goes beyond Amsterdam and explores the Dutch countryside and traditional food producers? Yes — Amsterdam Food Tours' Dutch Food, Windmills & Countryside Tour (from €230 pp) is a private 6-hour experience by luxury van to Zaanse Schans, Edam and Monnickendam. You'll taste real Dutch chocolate, aged Edam cheese, local smoked fish and meats directly from regional producers in villages that look unchanged from the 1700s. Hotel pick-up and drop-off are included. It can be booked online for up to 6 guests at amsterdamfoodtours.com.