English Language Media in Amsterdam

A world of information, both local and global - in English. The local and international English-language print and broadcast media that is available to you if you live in Amsterdam.

Radio

The BBC World Service can be received on short wave or cable FM. Click here for West and South West Europe's frequency chart, or here for the listing of frequencies - note that all times given are GMT, so add an hour during winter and two hours during summer for local time (CET).

Voice of America is also available on short wave, with NewsNow.

Many FM stations are available on the national cable network.

Radio in Amsterdam

Local radio in the Netherlands is mostly in Dutch.

For comprehensive listing of the available FM stations: Click here (while the broadcast may be in Dutch, much of the music played will be familiar)

Radio Netherlands can be listened to nationwide and broadcasts many items including news programmes in English. The website (in English) has news items and details of English language broadcasts.

Radio International presents a weekly radio show for expatriates and English-speaking internationals. The three-hour show is broadcast on 106.8FM or 106.4FM on Wednesdays 20:00-22:00. It is available to listen to on the internet from 22:00-23:00 (CET).

English Breakfast: Salto radio’s breakfast show for Amsterdam’s international community. It broadcasts Dutch and international news, sport and weather as well as music, interviews and cultural information. Broadcast live 07:00-09:00 Monday, Wednesday and Friday on 99.4FM and 104.6FM and via the internet.

Radio on the Internet: English-language stations online

Many international radio stations are available streamed live on the Internet, typically needing Real Player or Windows Media player.

To reach links to any of the BBC radio stations: Click here
Directory of over 13,000 radio stations: Streema Online Radio Stations

Television

Throughout the Netherlands English-language television is available via satellite/cable providers.

There are also a number of commercial channels broadcasting nationally. Again most programmes are in Dutch, although some youth and music programmes have English subtitles or are broadcast in English with Dutch subtitles.

English Programmes

In most areas, on the standard cable system, the following English-language stations are available: BBC1, BBC2, BBC World, Discovery Channel, CNN, CNBC and National Geographic.

Among the well-known international channels such as Discovery and Nickelodeon it is common to find programmes in English with Dutch subtitles.

Print Publications

Newspapers:

Amsterdam Weekly: Free weekly newspaper with stories about city life and guide to arts and culture. It is available from 650 locations around Amsterdam and online
The Amsterdam Times: A weekly newspaper covering Dutch news and culture. It is available by subscriptions or from newsstands, shops and cafes

Magazines:

Access Magazine: The quarterly magazine of Access, a not for profit organisation which assists the international community in the Netherlands. It contains articles about courses and events as well as a community calendar for various English-speaking organisations
Rush on Amsterdam: Seasonal magazine with Amsterdam news and cultural information. Subscriptions taken via the website
The Xpat Journal: A quarterly, glossy magazine for expatriates with information on forthcoming events as well as feature articles about living and working in Holland. The website also gives access to previous issues
XM Magazines: A monthly magazine including business, politics, family, health, sports, entertainment, society and technology sections. It is sold in bookshops and Dutch city centres
Z Magazine: The bi-weekly Amsterdam street paper is part of a scheme to help homeless people to earn money. It is sold by approximately 200 independent vendors around the city
Foam Magazine: The quarterly international photography magazine published by Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam and Vandejong Communications.

Online Media in English in the Netherlands

ANP is the national news agency for the Netherlands and supplies much of the material for daily newspapers, radio, television and the Internet. It has its headquarters just outside The Hague and offices throughout the country. The ANP website provides a link to its English language services in the form of a daily bulletin produced Monday to Friday. This NIS News Bulletin contains a summary of the main national and international stories aimed principally at foreign business people and diplomats
- For more details or to subscribe and receive the bulletin by e-mail, fax or in print: Click here
Dutch News: a digital news publication available to download daily from 16:00
Dutch News Digest: Another English language publication available online. It provides general and business news updates plus information on leisure events
Radio Netherlands: publishes a review of the Dutch newspapers in English which can be downloaded
Government.nl: Up-to-date news reports in English from the Dutch government about issues affecting the Netherlands
NIS News Bulletin: Dutch news service distributed by mail, fax or e-mail to subscribers