The Weekend of the Rolling Kitchens 2027 – Food Festival Netherlands

What to expect in 2027

The Weekend of the Rolling Kitchens 2027 will transform Amsterdam’s Westerpark into a huge open-air restaurant, bringing together more than 80 mobile kitchens from the Netherlands and abroad. The nineteenth edition will continue the festival’s long-running tradition of combining food, drinks, live music and a relaxed outdoor atmosphere in one of Amsterdam’s best-known parks.

The festival was created by five Amsterdam families who have turned Westerpark into an open-air restaurant during the Ascension weekend since 2008. What began as a local neighbourhood celebration has developed into a large, free-access food and music festival while maintaining its informal character.

Visitors can wander between mobile kitchens serving dishes from different culinary traditions, stop for a special beer or glass of wine, listen to live bands and discover something new around every part of the park. The organisers deliberately avoid making the event feel like a conventional food exhibition: visitors are encouraged to walk around, taste different dishes and discover the next kitchen or performance naturally.

The 2027 programme is expected to feature more than 80 Rolling Kitchens, a broad drinks selection and a large live-music programme. The exact individual kitchens, chefs, dishes and artists for 2027 will be announced closer to the festival.

Event dates

13–17 May 2027

The nineteenth edition of The Weekend of the Rolling Kitchens will take place in Westerpark, Amsterdam, during the extended Ascension weekend. The official festival website confirms the 2027 dates and free entrance.

The published 2027 opening schedule is:

• Thursday and Friday: 13:00–23:00
• Saturday, Sunday and Monday: 12:00–23:00

This gives visitors five days to experience the food and drink programme, although individual kitchens, bars and entertainment areas may operate according to their own schedules.

Visiting this event? Don’t miss out on these amazing activities and local experiences while you’re here.

Venue & festival site

The Weekend of the Rolling Kitchens takes place at Westerpark in Amsterdam. The historic park is transformed into a temporary open-air restaurant with mobile kitchens, bars, seating areas, stages and other festival facilities.

Rather than having one central food hall, the festival spreads its culinary offering across the park. This encourages visitors to walk around and explore different areas instead of following a fixed route.

The festival environment can include:

• More than 80 mobile kitchens
• Food and drink bars
• Outdoor seating areas
• Multiple music stages
• Mobile performance areas
• Bicycle parking
• Accessible pathways
• Information points
• Wheelchair-accessible toilets
• Family-friendly areas

The atmosphere changes throughout the day. Afternoon visitors can enjoy the food and park environment, while the evening brings more live music and a lively outdoor atmosphere under the lights.

Full food & drink programme

Food is the central attraction of The Weekend of the Rolling Kitchens. The organisers carefully select mobile kitchens from different parts of the Netherlands and from other culinary backgrounds, creating a programme that changes from one edition to another.

The official 2027 website describes more than 80 Rolling Kitchens taking part. The selection ranges from international street food to familiar comfort food and more traditional dishes.

Visitors can expect a programme that may include:

• Italian dishes
• Mediterranean food
• Asian street food
• Mexican-inspired dishes
• Burgers
• Grilled specialities
• Seafood
• Vegetarian dishes
• Vegan food
• Desserts and sweet treats
• Classic European dishes
• International snacks
• Gourmet street food
• Regional specialities

The festival is designed around small-scale discovery. Instead of ordering one large meal and leaving, visitors can purchase different dishes from different kitchens and create their own tasting experience.

The official festival describes the culinary range through examples including steaming paella and pomburger, illustrating the variety between international classics and creative mobile-kitchen dishes.

Featured foods & specialties

The exact 2027 menus will be released closer to the festival, but the established Rolling Kitchens format offers a broad selection of food styles.

Paella is one of the examples highlighted by the organisers, representing the festival’s international character. Other editions and participating kitchens have offered dishes ranging from burgers and grilled food to Asian specialities, Mediterranean recipes, pasta dishes and international street food.

Visitors can expect food designed for outdoor festival dining, including dishes that are relatively easy to eat while walking or sitting at communal tables.

Typical categories include:

• Paella and rice dishes
• Burgers and pomburgers
• Pizza and Italian food
• Grilled meat
• Fish and seafood
• Dumplings and Asian street food
• Tacos and Mexican-inspired dishes
• Vegetarian and plant-based meals
• Pasta
• Salads
• Sandwiches
• Cakes and pastries
• Ice cream and other desserts

Because the festival’s philosophy is based on discovery, visitors should not expect a single fixed cuisine theme. The attraction is the combination of many different culinary directions in one park.

Restaurants, vendors & producers

The Rolling Kitchens are the main food vendors at the festival. These are mobile kitchens selected from across the Netherlands and other culinary backgrounds, allowing the festival to combine established favourites with newer food concepts.

The 2027 vendor list has not yet been fully published. The organisers’ registration platform indicates that Rolling Kitchens and participating staff register for the 2027 edition, so the final selection is expected to develop as the event approaches.

Previous festival information has included a wide range of mobile food businesses. Recent examples of participating kitchens include Zoet Zoet Habibi, Bahaya, Smash, Burmese Beast, Molina, Sufret Salma, Bangkok Street Food, Mr. Gyoza, Lui Varken, Quirimi’s Kitchen, Worst Truck, The Original Ducktruck, Smash it Burger and Mi Mamita. These examples illustrate the variety of the festival rather than a confirmed 2027 vendor list.

The festival also has a strong connection with Amsterdam West and its surrounding creative and culinary community. The organisers describe the kitchens as carefully selected from across the Netherlands and beyond.

Wine, beer & beverage selection

Drinks are an important part of the Rolling Kitchens experience. The official festival describes fine wines, special beers, homemade sangria and alcohol-free slush among the beverage options.

Visitors can expect a selection that may include:

• Special beers
• Craft-style beers
• Wine
• Sparkling wine
• Homemade sangria
• Alcohol-free drinks
• Slush drinks
• Soft drinks
• Water
• Other festival beverages

The festival’s drinks programme is designed to complement the food rather than operate as a separate drinks event. Visitors can move between kitchens and bars, matching different drinks with different dishes.

A distinctive feature is the Rolling Kitchens glass system. Visitors purchase a festival glass or pitcher with their first relevant order, and glasses from previous years can be brought back and exchanged for a new one. When making another order, the glass or pitcher can be returned at the bar so visitors do not have to pay for another one.

Tastings, cooking demos & workshops

The Weekend of the Rolling Kitchens is primarily an informal food and music festival rather than a conventional cooking-school event. Its tasting experience comes from moving between more than 80 kitchens and trying different dishes.

Visitors can create their own informal tasting route by ordering smaller or shareable dishes from several kitchens.

The festival also places considerable emphasis on live entertainment. Multiple stages host musicians ranging from young Amsterdam talent to experienced performers. The programme covers genres from classical music and reggae to hip-hop, surf, soul and psychedelic rock.

The latest published music programme included more than 100 live performances across the five-day festival. Performance areas included Club de Ville, Pilseria, Big Whale, Muziek Mobiel, Cantina and AmsterDjam.

Some performances can also become interactive experiences. Previous programming has included activities such as a dance workshop and Wine & Yoga, showing that the festival programme extends beyond simply watching bands.

The exact 2027 music, workshops and special activities will be published separately by the organisers.

Ticket types & entry options

General admission to The Weekend of the Rolling Kitchens is free. The organisers have maintained free entrance since the festival began in 2008, and the official 2027 announcement confirms free access.

There is therefore no standard admission ticket to purchase.

Visitors pay individual kitchens and bars directly for food and drinks. This makes the festival flexible because guests can decide how much they want to eat and drink during their visit.

The latest official information also provides a City Pass voucher option. Eligible City Pass users can purchase a voucher at the information desk for approximately $2.93 based on the published price and receive a dish at one of the participating kitchens plus a drink at the bar. This programme is intended for City Pass holders and is separate from normal festival admission.

The 2027 City Pass arrangements should be checked closer to the event because participating kitchens and voucher conditions can change.

VIP & premium experiences

The Weekend of the Rolling Kitchens does not operate as a conventional VIP food festival. There is no published 2027 VIP admission package, premium ticket tier or reserved hospitality programme.

The festival’s philosophy is based on free public access and informal outdoor dining. Visitors generally experience the same food, bars and music programme without purchasing a premium entrance ticket.

Instead of VIP hospitality, visitors can create a more personalised experience by selecting their preferred kitchens, drinks and music performances.

Those who want a quieter experience can visit during earlier opening hours, while visitors looking for a more energetic atmosphere can stay into the evening when the music programme is active.

Event rules

The organisers publish specific house rules covering admission, alcohol, security, behaviour and animals.

Important rules include:

• Festival entrance is free.
• Alcohol is not served to visitors under 18.
• Identification can be required for visitors who appear under 25.
• Visitors under 18 may not consume alcohol on the festival grounds.
• Visitors may not bring strong alcoholic drinks onto the festival site.
• Selling food or drinks without organiser permission is prohibited.
• Possession, use or trading of narcotics, including nitrous oxide, is prohibited.
• Visitors may be subject to security checks or searches.
• Visitors under the influence of alcohol or drugs can be refused entry or removed.
• Misconduct can result in removal from the festival.
• Visitors attend at their own risk.
• Dogs are permitted when kept on a leash.

The glass policy is also an important part of the festival’s operation. Visitors are encouraged to keep their Rolling Kitchens glass and bring it back for future editions.

How to get there

Westerpark is located in Amsterdam West and is well connected to central Amsterdam.

The organisers recommend walking, cycling or using public transport rather than travelling by car. The festival attracts large numbers of visitors, and the organisers specifically discourage driving because of limited parking, air quality and the impact on local residents.

Cycling is particularly convenient in Amsterdam. Bicycle racks are available around the festival grounds, allowing visitors to leave their bikes close to the event.

Visitors should follow the latest access information because temporary changes to cycling routes or bridges can occur during the festival.

Public transport & parking

Public transport is one of the easiest ways to reach Westerpark.

The official festival information highlights several public transport options:

• Bus 22 from Amsterdam Sloterdijk, with a stop at Nassauplein
• Bus 21 from Amsterdam Centraal, with a stop at Van Hallstraat
• Tram 13, with a stop at Van Limburg Stirum

These services provide connections between Westerpark and major parts of Amsterdam.

The organisers specifically advise visitors not to come by car because there are insufficient parking spaces around the festival area. The recommendation is to use public transport, walk or cycle instead.

A limited number of disabled parking spaces are available at the Westergasfabriek. Visitors who require accessible parking are advised to contact the organisers for current information about availability and nearby options.

Accommodation areas

Visitors travelling from outside Amsterdam have many accommodation choices in and around Amsterdam West.

The most convenient areas include:

• Westerpark for proximity to the festival
• Amsterdam West for easy access to the event
• Jordaan for a central location close to Westerpark
• Oud-West for restaurants, cafés and transport links
• Amsterdam City Centre for sightseeing and nightlife
• De Pijp for dining and Amsterdam attractions
• Sloterdijk for convenient railway connections

Staying near Westerpark is particularly convenient for visitors planning to attend on several days because the festival can be reached without relying on a car.

Visitors staying farther from the park can use Amsterdam’s extensive tram, bus and cycling network.

Official tickets

The Weekend of the Rolling Kitchens is free admission, so visitors do not need to purchase an entry ticket for the 2027 festival. The official website confirms free entrance for the nineteenth edition.

There are no standard admission tickets to convert into USD because entry is free. Food and drinks are purchased separately from the individual kitchens and bars.

Visitors should use the official festival website for the latest information about the 2027 kitchen lineup, programme, opening hours, music schedule, accessibility and practical arrangements.

Official Weekend of the Rolling Kitchens website (https://rollendekeukens.amsterdam/)

The official contact address for questions and suggestions is info@rollendekeukens.nl.