Accessibility

If you have any questions, requirements, or tips regarding accessibility at Cinekid Festival in Amsterdam, please get in touch via toegankelijkheid@cinekid.nl. The Cinekid team always tries to respond as soon as possible. If you have any questions during the festival, feel free to speak with a Cinekid host at the box office, located outside the entrance to Pathé Amsterdam Noord (the festival grounds).

Parking
There are parking facilities at Pathé Amsterdam Noord, Cinekid Festival’s main location, as well as various accessible parking spaces around Buikslotermeerplein. Find the closest parking facilities here or visit the City of Amsterdam’s website.

There is also a spacious bike shelter next to Pathé Amsterdam Noord and a ‘Kiss & Ride’ drop-off point just around the corner.

By public transport
Metro line 52 takes you to ‘Noord’ metro station, which is a three-minute walk from Pathé Amsterdam Noord. The metro station has a lift and escalator on the ground floor.

Travelling to other locations
You can experience Cinekid Festival at over 40 locations throughout the Netherlands. The locations below offer a film-packed programme as well as the MediaLab, full of games and workshops. Click on the name of the theatre, art house, or cinema for information about travelling to and accessibility at each location.

1. Chassé Breda
2. LUX Nijmegen
3. LantarenVenster Rotterdam
4. Concordia Enschede
5. Forum Groningen
6. Schuur Haarlem
7. Filmhuis Alkmaar
8. MIMIK Deventer

The activities at the main location of Pathé Amsterdam Noord – the cinemas, MediaLab, and most of the free events – are suitable for wheelchair and mobility scooter users.

• The box office and information desk are located in a repurposed shipping container outside the entrance to Pathé Amsterdam Noord. The box office and information desk are elevated (one metre high).
• The entrance has automatic sliding doors.
• The building has a lift.
• There are wheelchair-friendly toilets on the first and third floors, where you’ll also find the cinemas. There are no toilets on the ground floor.
• All cinemas have wheelchair spaces – no reservation required, just a regular film ticket.
• The MediaLab is spread over two floors; the second floor is wheelchair-accessible. Unfortunately, some installations and workshops may not be as enjoyable for visitors taller than 80 cm.
• In front of Pathé Amsterdam Noord is a small-scale, accessible festival site with a range of free events like Cinekid Bingo, story time, meets & greets, and dance workshops. All activities are suitable for wheelchair and mobility scooter users.
• Outside you’ll find a wheelchair-accessible, inflatable cinema showing short films. This cinema is always supervised by a host, who can assist you if necessary. Please use the side entrance to access the cinema.

The lift serves all floors at Pathé Amsterdam Noord. The lift is 1.30 metres wide, 2.54 metres long, and 2.10 metres high. The lift is operated with a key card, which you can collect from the ‘CINEKID’ information desk on the ground floor, to the right of the entrance hall.

Festival chairs are provided across the festival grounds during all parts of the programme. They’re also available at other locations, such as the foyer.

Guide dogs and service dogs are welcome on the festival grounds. However, please make sure your dog is wearing a clearly visible guide or service dog harness.

Warning: Cinekid can get quite wild! There’s a lot going on outside and inside the building: all floors, including the cinemas and foyers, feature activities that involve sound and noise. Cinekid’s young visitors can also create quite a racket.

The festival location itself is decked out in Cinekid style with bright and vivid colours and decorations. Please note that the foyer on the third floor, which is part of the MediaLab, is very dark.

Unfortunately, there are currently no low-sensory spaces at Cinekid Festival in Pathé Amsterdam Noord.

Cinekid wants everyone, including visitors with visual or hearing impairments, to enjoy the magic of film. That’s why its audiovisual screenings integrate the free apps Subcatch and Earcatch.

How it works:

The Earcatch app describes what’s happening on screen without interrupting dialogue. It could describe characters, facial expressions, the setting, or plot developments, enabling viewers who are blind or low vision to fully enjoy the film.

Download the Earcatch app from the Google Play Store or App Store. Install the app on your smartphone or tablet. Select the film or series you want to watch and download the audio description. Put on your headphones and tap ‘play’ when the film or series begins. Earcatch ensures that the audio description is perfectly synchronized with what’s happening on screen. See earcatch.nl for more information about Earcatch.

How it works:

The Subcatch app describes what you can’t hear by subtitling all dialogues and sounds in the film. This enables viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing to fully enjoy the film.

Download the Subcatch app from the Google Play Store or App Store. Install the app on your smartphone or tablet. Select the film you want to watch and download the subtitles. Put on your headphones and tap ‘play’ when the film begins. Subcatch ensures that the subtitles are perfectly synchronized with what’s happening on screen. See subcatch.nl for more information about Subcatch.

Cinekid’s range of subtitled films and films with a live sign language interpreter are designed to include visitors who are hard of hearing.  

There will be sign language interpreters and audio description readers at Pathé Amsterdam Noord on 28 October, so that all parts of the programme are accessible for visitors who are deaf or hard of hearing. Check out the accessible screenings with audio description here.

If you want to be accompanied by a sign language interpreter of your choice on a different day, please let Cinekid know so that it can provide the required equipment, such as a spotlight in the cinema.

If you have any questions or requests, please send an e-mail to toegankelijkheid@cinekid.nl

Cinekid organizes several film screenings with English subtitles or Language No Problem screenings. (‘Use the x filter to see a list of the film or ‘See a list of the films here’)

Children with low vision can enjoy the MediaLab too. Some activities are supported by audio description in Dutch, narrated by a live interpreter.

Pathé Amsterdam Noord does not have a hearing loop system in every cinema. If you would like to use a hearing loop system, please contact Cinekid on toegankelijkheid@cinekid.nl. We’ll find a solution together!

Cinekid Festival is a partner of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower.

Some disabilities, conditions, or chronic illnesses aren’t always visible. That’s why Hidden Disabilities Sunflower has created recognizable tools like a lanyard, wrist band, or button to show that the wearer may need a helping hand, understanding, or more time at the festival.

The Cinekid team recognizes the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. You can order your Sunflower lanyard, wrist band, or button here.

Request a free admission ticket for accompanying adults and support workers by e-mailing service@cinekid.nl. Please state ‘Ticket begeleider’ in the subject line, the parts of the programme you would like to attend, and the date and time.

Please park pushchairs, buggies, and rolling walkers in the cinema foyer – not in front of or next to the screen or in the aisle. Cinekid’s hosts would be happy to assist you if needed.

Emergency medical services are present every day on the festival grounds of Pathé Amsterdam Noord during Cinekid Festival. You can access these services if you have injured yourself, require medical assistance, or need to keep medication in cold storage.

• Before and after the festival: 
  • toegankelijkheid@cinekid.nl
  • +31 (0)20 531 78 90

• During the festival: 
  • Accessibility manager: Lisa Luijten
  • toegankelijkheid@cinekid.nl
  • +31 (0)20 531 78 90