Aprilfeesten afterparty with Bonne Reijn & friends.

Since 1988, the Aprilfeesten on the Nieuwmarkt have been celebrated by local residents. They like to keep it a secret, which is why they're perhaps Amsterdam's worst-kept secret. Expect a real neighborhood party with music, food, community and other fun.

NEW (for three years now): a daily afterparty. Around the corner of the Nieuwmarkt, at our mutual friends' place, Bar San Francisco.

• Free entry

• 22h - late

• Aprilfeesten: 21 until 27 April

History

Today's April Festivals are a variation on the traditional spring fair that was held on the square in the 19th century and after the liberation until the mid-1970s.

The original organizers of the April Festivals were young and new to the neighborhood. Historically, late April proved to be the time when annual markets and later fairs were held on the Nieuwmarkt: the ideal time for a party, in other words.

They received immediate cooperation from the municipality, which had some making up to do with the neighborhood. In 1988, they jointly cleared the square of cars, and the April Festivals were born.

The organizers broke in via the roof of the Waag to get water and electricity, which was of course not allowed, but which no one said anything about. The Nieuwmarkt belonged to the neighborhood again for a few days. It created a euphoric feeling that was sealed on Sunday with the legendary neighborhood breakfast, where over 400 residents celebrated their freedom. That was the beginning.

In the years that followed, the Aprilfeesten saw various formations; the first few years with the Danspaleis: a mirror tent from the late 19th century. Later with the Oranjerie, but always with the Bogententje, La Molina, Cantina Mobilé, and of course, the Zweef.

The Warmoes Biënnale aims to strengthen the efforts the Aprilfeesten has made all these years to make the neighborhood livable for inhabitants and other Amsterdammers.