For people like me who are not very good in keeping track of a travel budget here is how I spent my afternoon while in Amsterdam. I checked out the free lunchtime concerts for some cultural experience at the City Hall/Stopera Muziektheater and as that was pretty much packed I stopped by the Concertgebouw the next day. The guy at the counter told me that these concerts are rehearsals by orchestras performing “officially” that evening. I was lucky and actually saw the Royal Orchestra perform! If they are fully booked for the afternoon you can ask for their 27 and younger discount programs After the concert I walked over to Museum Square to hang out on the grass covered roof deck which overlooks the square. There is a supermarket called Albert Heijn located below the roof deck.

City Hall / Stopera Muziektheater (Amstel 3)
Free lunchtime concerts from 1230pm-1pm at the Boekmanzaal every Tuesday from October to June.

Concertgebouw (Concertgebouwplein 2-6)
Free concert every Wednesday from 1230pm-1pm.
(Photo: Cityrag)