Much to my enjoyment, there was yet another event happening right outside my door. Well, a hundred…read moremeters or so down to the south of me right on the Prinsengracht canal. Much of the year the canal near the Pulitzer Hotel is a serene strip of water with picturesque boats slowly gliding by. During the latter part of August is the Grachtenfestival. The area in front of the Pulitzer Hotel is closed off and a very large pontoon barge is assembled to hold a massive stage that various musical performances will be held on. The barge reaches all the way to either side of the canal and is probably about 30 meters or more deep. Suffice it to say large enough to hold an entire orchestra. The infrastructure is massive inclusive of all the necessary stage lights, spot lights, sound devices necessary to put on a major concert. The area in front of the stage where the canal is still visible is filled with boats full of festival goers who will enjoy the performances from their boats. These people will spend at least one night on the canal holding their spot up until the concerts are over. Prior to the concerts, a veritable party happens on the canal among all the boats moored there. The shore is also filled with festival goers and a festive atmosphere dominates with all the support people buzzing around directing traffic and people. The music starts later in the day so prior to that people mill about jockeying for better spaces from which to watch the show. The musical performances delight and enthrall the mass of people and command their attention with solid musical performances. If you've ever spent any time in Amsterdam you know how frequently it rains. Yes, it rained. People were prepared with umbrellas. Still, it rained. Regardless, the show went on. What a concert! It was magical with the lighting, the music and the weather all in sync unfolding a truly memorable show. In addition to this performance on the Prinsengracht canal there were other performances of varying sizes in other locations. One of which was a duet, a cellist and violinist, performing atop a houseboat located in a smaller canal a short distance to the south. It was a great weekend full of music and performances to remember.

F A B Amsterdam at its best (same as Pride and Koningsdag)…read moreDifficult to get close and impossible to get near on a boat unless you go in the morning But don't let that put you off - the concert is A-MAY-ZING!!

Maybe not the gorgeous venue on the outside that you would expect from a major world city such…read moreAmsterdam and all its historical homes, but there are convenient amenities present here that give the location an almost 4-star designation, so I did. By the way, there is ample parking underneath the building if you take the car. When taking the metro, you arrive outside underground. Signage is pretty good in Holland. 1. There is an app so that you can pre-order your drinks, and snacks if you llike, which allows you to not have to stand in line with the masses and all other locations are equally busy. 2. There are not enough toilets (as usual for ladies!). 3. The view from each seat is magnificent. 4. The sound of the live orchestra is amazing. 5. Balconies are steep so consider taking the second row for people afraid of heights. 6. The outside view of the canal in Amsterdam is wonderful, so pop up if you're on the ground floor and check it out. 7. Expect the red velvet treatment, comfortable and cushy chairs, and people dressed up, even for a 2:30PM event. Final imperative: enjoy yourselves!

From the owner: Modern theater, especially designed for traditional en new opera and ballet performances.read more

This Dutch National Opera is the home of the Dutch opera company based in Amsterdam. The Stopera…read morebuilding opened in 1986 and was designed by Cees Dam & Wilhelm Holzbauer. The Opera House hosts 11 performances annually. It has a choir of 60 singers and a technical staff of 260. Various orchestras including the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra (NPO), the Netherlands Chamber Orchestra (NKO), the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, Residentie Orkest, The Hague Philharmonic, and the Asko/Schönberg ensemble have provided the orchestral forces for DNO productions. The DNO has lent its productions to the Metropolitan Opera, the Brooklyn Academy of Music & the Lincoln Center Festival in New York, as well as the Adelaide Festival in Australia.

I really like this theater. It is a small venue with a ground floor and balcony. They have a really…read moregood service and staff that is very helpful. Good location either for ballet, comedy or play.

The Rotterdamse Schouwberg is THE place for live theater and dance in Rotterdam. Very conveniently…read morelocated in the centre of town, 5 mins walk from Rotterdam Centraal Station. The architecture of the building is not my favourite, it's a style I refer to as "concrete chique". Very of it's time, it's basically just a big block of concrete. What it lacks in architectural beauty it makes up for in the programming. I spent a week here working on the production PABLO with Scapino Ballet and Sinfonia Rotterdam. The people who work at the Schouwberg are all really nice, and made us feel really welcome. The café Floor in the lobby is a great place to go for a quick after show drink with friends and colleagues, and the artist's canteen backstage is surprisingly gezellig (for a concrete room) and has delicious homemade meals by the kitchen ladies. That's something that most members of the public won't get to experience but if you happen to come as a performer then I highly recommend the food in the cantine! :)