Rollende Keukens 2026

Amsterdam Rolling Kitchens (Rollende Keukens) 2026

Amsterdam Rolling Kitchens (Rollende Keukens) 2026 returns to Westerpark from Wednesday, May 13 to Sunday, May 17, 2026, transforming one of the city’s best-loved green spaces into a huge open-air restaurant with 100+ mobile kitchens, live music, and a relaxed springtime festival atmosphere. If you want an Amsterdam trip that tastes like the city’s creative food scene and feels like a local celebration rather than a tourist checklist, Rollende Keukens is the kind of event you plan your whole week around.

Rollende Keukens 2026: Dates, Location, and Opening Hours (Confirmed)

The official Rolling Kitchens site confirms the 18th edition takes place in Amsterdam’s Westerpark from Wednesday 13 May to Sunday 17 May 2026. The same source confirms the event is free to enter and lists opening hours by day:

• Wednesday & Friday: 13:00–23:00
• Thursday, Saturday & Sunday: 12:00–23:00

The official “Information” page repeats those opening hours and confirms the full event window from Wed 13 May to Sun 17 May. For travelers, these hours are perfect because you can treat Rollende Keukens as an afternoon-to-evening experience and still have mornings free for canals, museums, and neighborhood exploring.

What is Amsterdam Rolling Kitchens, and Why Locals Love It

Rollende Keukens is a food truck festival, but it feels more like a community tradition. The organizers describe themselves as “five Amsterdam families,” and say they’ve been building an open-air restaurant in Westerpark since 2008, which explains the event’s warm, neighborhood feel.

The official site also captures the essence of the weekend: wander under the sun or stars, taste and discover from over 100 kitchens, with “fine wines,” “craft beers,” and live music ranging from classical to surf rock. That variety is what makes the festival so easy to recommend, because you don’t need a strict plan or a specific cuisine obsession to have a great time.

What to Eat and Drink at Rollende Keukens 2026

The fun of Rollende Keukens is building your own tasting route. The official festival page suggests a wide mix, including examples like “steaming paella” and “juicy BBQ kebabs,” plus the promise of wine and craft beer throughout the grounds.

A good visitor strategy is to eat in “small chapters.” Share dishes, try one sweet item early before lines get long, then circle back for a second round once you’ve discovered which kitchens look irresistible.

A Simple Food Plan That Works

To keep your palate happy and your energy steady:

• Start with one savory dish you can eat standing up.
• Take a break for live music and a drink.
• Choose your “main plate” after you’ve done one full loop.
• End with something sweet, then take a sunset walk through the park.

Live Music and Atmosphere: More Than a Food Event (Verified)

Rollende Keukens isn’t just about eating. The official festival page confirms that visitors can enjoy “live music” alongside the food and drink offering. The official Information page adds that throughout the entire weekend, all kitchens and larger stages provide live performances, designed to cover every musical taste.

This matters because it changes how you pace your day. You’re not just moving from one stand to another, you’re settling into a space, catching a set, then drifting back toward the next smell that pulls you in.

How to Get to Westerpark (Confirmed Transit Guidance)

The official Information page gives clear accessibility advice:

• Come on foot or by bike, and it notes there are additional bicycle racks on site.
• It warns that the cycle bridge between Van Hallstraat and Westerpark is closed (for that year), a small detail that can save cyclists time.
• By public transport: Bus 22 from Sloterdijk (stop Nassauplein), Bus 21 from Amsterdam Central (stop Van Hallstraat), or Tram 13 (stop Van Limburg Stirum).

The same page also strongly advises: “Leave your car at home!” citing lack of parking spaces, air quality, and nuisance to local residents. For visitors, this is straightforward: plan to walk, bike, or use transit, because driving to Westerpark during a major festival can turn into a frustrating detour.

Entry is Free, But How Payment Works On-Site (Glass Policy, Verified)

The official site confirms entrance is free, but you pay for what you order. The Information page explains an important practical detail: there is a glass policy where you buy a Rollende Keukens glass or pitcher with your first order, and you should keep it, return it at the bar with your next order so you do not pay again, and you can also bring glasses from previous years to exchange.

The organizers explicitly say they use this approach because a deposit system can attract trouble at a free event. For visitors, the takeaway is simple: treat your festival glass like your ticket, keep it safe, and it will make re-ordering smoother.

Travel Tips for Visitors: Making Rollende Keukens Part of an Amsterdam Spring Trip

Mid-May is a beautiful time in Amsterdam, and Westerpark is especially lively in spring. Because Rollende Keukens runs five days, you can pick the vibe that suits you:

• Weekday afternoons often feel calmer and more local.
• Weekend evenings tend to feel more festive, with bigger crowds and stronger “night out” energy.

If you want the best experience, arrive earlier than your hunger peak. That gives you time to walk a full loop, choose strategically, and avoid the longest lines that typically build around dinner hours.

Verified Information at a Glance

• Event name: Het Weekend van de Rollende Keukens (Amsterdam Rolling Kitchens) 2026
• Event category: Food truck festival and live music event
• Confirmed city: Amsterdam, Netherlands
• Confirmed location: Westerpark (Amsterdam)
• Confirmed dates: Wednesday, May 13 to Sunday, May 17, 2026
• Confirmed entry price: Free admission
• Confirmed opening hours: Wed & Fri 13:00–23:00; Thu, Sat & Sun 12:00–23:00
• Confirmed transport options: Bus 22 (stop Nassauplein), Bus 21 (stop Van Hallstraat), Tram 13 (stop Van Limburg Stirum)
• Confirmed cycling note: Additional bicycle racks; cycle bridge between Van Hallstraat and Westerpark is closed “this year”
• Confirmed driving guidance: “Leave your car at home” due to limited parking and local impact
• Verified on-site drink system: Rollende Keukens glass/pitcher purchase and return policy for re-orders; old glasses can be exchanged

If you want Amsterdam in 2026 to feel like one long, golden evening in the park, put May 13 to 17 on your calendar, head to Westerpark with an appetite and an open schedule, and let Rollende Keukens guide you through a week of great food, live music, and that easy Dutch springtime gezelligheid that keeps people coming back year after year.