Amsterdam night mayor Freek Wallagh has announced that some 20 nightclubs and bars are organising an afterparty on the Ring A10 as part of the city’s 750th birthday celebrations on Saturday, June 21.
“It’s a bit of a cliché, but Amsterdam 750 is not complete without the night,” Wallagh said in Het Parool.“With an afterparty program in which many bars and nightclubs participate, we can show that the night is really part of the city, and also put the people who work then in the spotlight.”
Wallagh believes that people will not be ready to go home following the day’s festivities on the Ring, which include music, sports, theatre, dance and even a temporary forest on the normally traffic-laden Ring.
“Knowing Amsterdammers, many people will want to continue,” he says. “That is possible in one of the participating nightclubs or bars.”
Wallagh will also be organising a dance parade during the day on the highway, 15 kilometres of which will be car-free for the party.
Big night names
Among the bars and clubs participating will be the Melkweg, city beach club Kaap, The Pool Bar and Café Pollux, although more are expected to join.
The Melkweg is organising a special edition with only Amsterdam artists from the hip-hop and R&B party Encore. Community centre and kitchen de Sering will provide not only a meal, but a night exhibition, Humans of Amsterdam.
“Each participant gives substance to how they want to give something to the city,” says Wallagh. That, he says, will ensure the program’s diversity. “There is bound to be something fun for everyone.”
Also expect music trucks, including a punk rock one hosted by Wap Shoo Wap and the Pyxls collective.
Broad programme
“We are happy we were able to get that done,” says Wallagh. “It is a lot of arranging, but we think that in this way we can keep the music programme on the Ring as broad as possible.”
Some places will be accessed for free while others will offer reduced entrance fees, but Wallagh wants to give them all time to sell tickets for a night party fittingly held on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.
