From crime scene photographs and circuses and from jazz to athletics, here’s our pick of the best things to do in July.

Check out the crime scene pictures
This is the first exhibition to show how photography has been used as visual evidence. From Alphonse Bertillon’s metrical photographs, used in early 20th century murder cases, right through to the reconstruction of drone attacks in Pakistan in 2012, Crime Scenes presents eleven case studies illustrating the use of photography as legal evidence over the past century. Police photographs, records of mass graves, aerial photographs and satellite images: all have been used to identify the perpetrators or victims of crime. Netherlands Photo Museum, Rotterdam until August 21. www.nederlandsfotomuseum.nl

Go to the theatre at the cinema
Simon Godwin directs the highly expressive Paapa Essiedu (photo) in the title role in this largely black ensemble production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet. The focus here is less on politics than on the predicament of a prince who finds himself an outcast in his own land. Pathé cinemas, Amsterdam, and The Hague, July 14. www.pathe.nl

Set sail
The Kaag Week offers races for one, two and three-man boats in classes ranging from Falcon and Rainbow to Laser and Solo. The main attraction is the team events pitting Holland against Friesland in the Rainbow. The whole fleet of participating boats sails into harbour on the evening of July 14. Harboud, Warmond. July 14 to 17. www.kwvdekaag.nl

Enjoy the thrill of the circus
Canada’s Cirque Éloize returns to Amsterdam to reprise the show iD, a fizzing spectacle which mixes circus and urban dance to electric effect. A Chinese pole act has shades of West Side Story, contortion gets an extra edge when it meets break-dancing and a trampowall sequence is exhilarating. There’s even inline skating and trial bike tricks. Theater Carré, Amsterdam, July 27 to August 7. www.carre.nl

Enjoy sculpture in Leiden
The theme for this year’s outdoor exhibition of sculpture by young artists in Leiden is Life Sciences, as the city endeavours to provide a higher profile for its Bio Science Park. The artists taking part, who include Maaike Knibbe (photo is of her No Problem), Ruben Jager and Lorenzo Quintanilla, all made visits to the Bio Science Park for inspiration before creating the sculpture on display. Hooglandse Kerkgracht, Leiden until August 7. www.beeldeninleiden.com

Visit the World Press Photo show
This year’s winning World Press Photo is the Australian photographer Warren Richardson’s image of a baby being handed through the barbed wire along the border between Hungary and Serbia. It takes pride of place in the exhibition of other winners in various categories such as images of migrants wrapped in foil against the cold as they approach the Italian coast in a tiny boat, a married couple who get chemotherapy together hugging, a wrestling tournament in Sierra Leone and a young IS fighter being treated for burns in a Syrian hospital. Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam until July 10. www.worldpressphoto.org

Experience Notion Motion
An opportunity to experience Notion Motion, the huge installation by the Danish-Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson. Inspired by the laws of nature, particularly the reflection of light on water, the installation is made up of three different light projections that explore the interaction between light and water. The impressive installation contains 20,562 litres of water and is made of 800 duckboard elements. It was Eliasson who had visitors lying on the floor of the Turbine Room at Tate Modern in London when his Weather Project was exhibited in 2003. Boijmans van Beuningen, Rotterdam until September 18. www.boijmans.nl

Admire the Rembrandt couple
Earlier this year, two Rembrandt portraits of a newly wed couple were bought jointly by the Netherlands and France. Portrait of Marten Soolmans was acquired by the Dutch state for the Rijksmuseum; Portrait of Oopjen Coppit by the French republic for the Musée du Louvre. Both paintings are on display in Amsterdam for three months, prior to being restored at the Rijksmuseum. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, July 2 until October 2. www.rijksmuseum.nl

Enjoy the finest jazz, blues and salsa
One of the world’s foremost jazz festivals also features music ranging from blues to salsa with a line-up of international singers and instrumentalists. One of this year’s highlights is saxophonist Kamasi Washington who plays numbers from his triple album The Epic with the strings from the Metropole Orchestra and a choir. Others appearing during the festival are guitarist Pat Metheny (photo) with bass player Ron Carter, Anthony Hamilton, Joe Bonamassa and Cécile McLorin Salvant, the jazz vocalist who won a Grammy in February for best vocal album. Ahoy, Rotterdam, July 8, 9 and 10. www.northseajazz.com

Watch the cream of European athletics
Just one month before the Olympic Games in Rio, 1300 of the best European athletes from 50 countries compete for medals in 44 disciplines. Among those taking part is Dutch golden girl Dafne Schippers, who is hot favourite to win the 100m and Sifan Hassan, who has her sights set on 1,500m gold. Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam, July 6 to 10. www.amsterdam2016.org

Appreciate the rebel in Neil Young
Legendary rocker Neil Young brings his Rebel Content tour to the Netherlands. With him is the band Promise of the Real, which includes Willie Nelson’s sons Lukas and Micah. The programme includes classic hits, lesser known songs and numbers from the recent album, The Monsanto Years. Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam, July 9. www.ziggodome.nl