Through 2013, Amsterdam will be holding many celebrations. Don’t miss the chance to visit this idyllic city and soak in its beauty and culture
Besides marking the 400th anniversary of Amsterdam’s canals, many iconic institutions will also commemorate special jubilees. Don’t miss this chance to celebrate Amsterdam’s rich history, but also connect past, present and future in this festive 2013 for Amsterdam.
1. KLM, official carrier of Amsterdam 2013
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is the main sponsor and official carrier for Amsterdam 2013, and is proud to be connected strongly to its hometown during this celebration year. KLM also recently celebrated its 80th anniversary of scheduled flights from the Netherlands to Singapore, on May 3.
KLM connects Singaporeans to Amsterdam via direct flights from Singapore Changi Airport to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
2. 400 years of Amsterdam Canals
This year marks the 400th year since construction began on Amsterdam’s world-renowned Canal Ring. To celebrate this anniversary, and the acceptance of the Canal Ring as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010, various activities will be organised on and around the canals such as exhibitions, the Canal Parade, the Canals Festival and the Prinsengracht Concert.
3. Rijksmuseum Re-Opening
As the museum is renovated, it is also being reinvented. The revamped museum is completely in step with the 21st Century. In the future, the Rijksmuseum will continue to dazzle art and history lovers, develop educational programmes and play a role in society.
Art and history are not merely things of the past, and the Rijksmuseum is a modern museum – a museum where unique events take place, non-stop.
4. Concertgebouw 125th Anniversary
The world famous Concertgebouw, the concert hall on the Museumplein, is visited by more than 700,000 music lovers each year. Throughout 2013, both online and in and around the building, you can relive its former glories via audio and video segments.
5. Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra 125th Anniversary
The renowned orchestra will celebrate its 125th anniversary with a 48-concert world tour – taking place on six continents. Besides visiting 30 cities around the world in 2013, the orchestra is scheduled to perform at 70 ‘home’ concerts.
What’s more, the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra will perform for the first time at the popular Prinsengracht Concert on Aug 24.
6. Frans Hals Museum 125th Anniversary
To mark its centenary, a jubilee exhibition will present 50 key masterpieces by the Dutch painter Frans Hals, surrounded by paintings by peers such as Rembrandt, Rubens and Titian.
During the centenary year, the museum will also present a new permanent multimedia exhibition.
7. Van Gogh Museum 40th Anniversary & Re-Opening
Due to renovation, the Van Gogh Museum Collection is on display at the Hermitage Museum until Apr 25. After that, on May 2, the Van Gogh Museum will reopen its doors at its customary location on the Museumplein.
This year, in 2013, the Van Gogh Museum will celebrate its 40th anniversary.
8. Netherlands-Russia Year & Hermitage Exhibit ‘Tsar Peter the Great’
Ever since the Golden Age, the Netherlands and Russia have been important partners in trade. Moreover, Tsar Peter the Great was so inspired by Amsterdam’s canals that he began the construction of St Petersburg.
Later, in the 19th Century, one of the daughters of the Russian Tsar married a member of the Dutch royal family. In 2013, this special international relationship will be commemorated with a major exhibition dedicated to Tsar Peter the Great at Hermitage Amsterdam.
9. Felix Meritis 225th Anniversary
Opened in 1788, this icon on the Keizersgracht soon became popular with Amsterdam’s most affluent citizens who shared an interest in art and science. It became a true Temple of Enlightenment and was a home to literature, science and music well into the 19th Century.
Today, it is a meeting place for pan-European art, culture and science. From Apr 18, to mark its special anniversary, the building’s unique Observatory will once again be open to the public.
10. Artis Royal Zoo 175th Anniversary
Artis is not only a famous zoo, but also a playground, a back garden and a park for families. The zoo can be experienced in many ways.
During its special anniversary year, it will be more colourful than ever before as thousands of flowers will bloom throughout the park.
With all these reasons and much more, why not check out this intriguing land of tulips, windmills, canals, clogs, bicycles, art and
a myriad other fascinating aspects? This year, 2013, is truly the year to visit Amsterdam.
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, which celebrated its 80th anniversary of scheduled flights from the Netherlands to Singapore this month, is the official carrier for Amsterdam 2013. Those who are interested in seeing Amsterdam this year can book a direct flight on KLM to Amsterdam at very competitive rates. You could fly to Amsterdam on KLM from about $1097.
Please check the KLM site at www.klm.sg for current scheduled flights and costs. For more on Amsterdam’s events in 2013, go to
www.iamsterdam.com/en-GB/experience/Amsterdam-2013
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