October is when the Netherlands truly shines. This is the month Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) turns the city into the global capital of electronic music, with 1,000+ events across 200 venues, drawing 400,000 music lovers for five unforgettable days. But ADE is just the beginning, Dutch Design Week takes over Eindhoven with cutting-edge creativity, while Camera Japan Festival in Amsterdam celebrates the best of Japanese cinema, animation, and culture.

As the summer patios close, the energy shifts indoors, world-class museums, underground techno clubs, and avant-garde design exhibitions light up the season. The mild autumn weather still lets you wander along canals and waterfronts, while events like Amsterdam Music Festival and Affordable Art Fair make contemporary art accessible to everyone, showcasing both emerging and established artists.

If you're looking for street performances at Circus Around the Block, all-night dancing during ADE, or hidden art gems in Rotterdam, October delivers the perfect blend of outdoor adventure and indoor cultural immersion. Let's go Outhere.

Since 2006, Camera Japan has been the go-to festival for Japanese film and culture. Taking place in Rotterdam (September 24 to 28) and Amsterdam (October 2 to 5), it combines cinema with art, music, dance, workshops, food, and family activities, offers a vibrant gateway into Japan’s rich contemporary and traditional culture.

Is a touching 2024 documentary by Shigeru Yoshida that explores the endangered craft of Japanese indigo-dyeing, blending poetic imagery with themes of tradition and sustainability, presented at Camera Japan 2025 with its Dutch premiere and a special Q&A with the director.