Amsterdam is celebrating its 750th anniversary on Saturday with a massive “circle” party on the A10 ring road.

A 15-kilometre stretch of the highway was closed to traffic on Friday evening and will not reopen until Sunday afternoon, once the clean-up operation has finished.

Some 253,000 people were able to get tickets for the party, which took place on the longest day of the year — and the hottest day of 2025 so far.

It was, said city mayor Femke Halsema at the start of a 3.5-kilometre race, a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to run along the A10. “And you won’t get to do it again,” she said.

As well as the run, 20 couples got married and visitors could walk through a temporary forest of trees. Their shadows provided welcome shade as the temperature soared.

Rij… s107#ring #opdering #Amsterdam pic.twitter.com/aUFVqYTudZ

— Hélène de Bruine (@helenedebruine) June 21, 2025

Ook in de middag wordt er flink gehakt op de A10https://t.co/bYwOPvD3hK pic.twitter.com/odMHWaw6OH

— AT5 (@AT5) June 21, 2025

In total, there were 22 organised activities on the ring road, including music, sport — such as padel — and special events for children.

In some places – particularly in front of the music stages – it was extremely busy at times, but for the most part, visitors could wander along the road at ease taking in the sights and taking photos of themselves in front of traffic signs.

The festival ends at 10 pm on Saturday.