The 10 Things To Do During the Christmas Season in Amsterdam blog post was first published on Culture Tourist in December 2019 and updated on 13 December 2024.<\/em><\/p>\n With its fairytale gabled houses, canals and lovely Christmas traditions, Amsterdam is one of my favourite places during the holiday season. There are so many places to see and events to go to during that time of the year. To make the most out of it, here is my Amsterdam holidays guide with 10 things to do during the Christmas season in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n This post contains some affiliate links. Read my Privacy Policy<\/a>\u00a0for more info.<\/em><\/p>\n Although beautiful in any time of the year, Amsterdam<\/a> becomes especially magical during the Christmas time. It looks even older, almost as you\u2019ve stepped into some past time. Snow and frozen canals might not be that common anymore, but the Christmas lights create a perfect setting for that festive time in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n \u2937 <\/span> Read more<\/strong>: Christmas Traditions in Europe<\/a><\/p>\n Light Festival is an annual event in Amsterdam held from mid-November to mid-January. Artists from all around the world create light installations that are scattered alongside Amsterdam canals during the two months. The best way to see them is on one of the special Amsterdam Light Festival canal cruise boats or by taking a walk alongside the canals.<\/p>\n \u2937 <\/span>2024 Update<\/strong>: This year Amsterdam Light Festival is taking place between 28 November 2024 and 19 January 2025. Check out this link for the various options of the ALF canal cruises<\/a>.<\/p>\n The holiday season in Amsterdam starts with the arrival of Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) on the third Sunday in November. Each year a huge celebration is organised in Amsterdam and other Dutch towns<\/a>. And you can be sure you\u2019ll leave it with your pockets filled with small traditional Dutch cookies, pepernoten<\/em>. It\u2019s one of the favourite Dutch holidays and Amsterdam festive celebrations.<\/p>\n \u2937 <\/span>Read more<\/strong>: Christmas Presents From or Inspired by Amsterdam<\/a><\/p>\n If snowdrops are the first signs of spring, then trucks selling oliebollen<\/em> are the early signs of the Christmas season in Amsterdam. Oliebollen<\/em> are similar to doughnuts, only they are made in the shape of a boll. They\u2019re often flavoured with apple filling or served with a bunch of powdered sugar.<\/p>\n They taste like heaven, but be careful because they\u2019re pretty high on calories. However, be sure to try them at least once during the Christmas season in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n In December, Amsterdam becomes home to several ice skating rinks. The most beautiful one is a part of ICE* Amsterdam, located on Museumplein<\/a> close to some of the most famous Amsterdam museums<\/a>, like the Rijksmuseum<\/a>, Van Gogh Museum<\/a> and Stedelijk Museum<\/a>. It opens to visitors already at the end of November. After ice skating, you can enjoy a cup of mulled wine or hot chocolate at an open-air cafe next to it.<\/p>\n One of the largest ice skating rinks in Amsterdam is Jaap Eden, with an outdoor 400-metre rink. It\u2019s a bit outside the city centre but worth visiting to enjoy ice skating and putting yourself in a Christmas mood in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n Each year Amsterdam becomes more and more illuminated during the holiday season. You can find some of the most beautiful Christmas lights at Damrak, Dam Square and Museumplein.<\/p>\n \u2018Turn on the lights\u2019 event on De Bijenkorf department store on a Dam Square symbolically marks the beginning of a holiday season in Amsterdam. Although it still cannot compete with the decoration of department stores inParis or London<\/a>, it\u2019s definitely getting there. So be sure to walk next to De Bijenkorf one evening and enjoy the Christmas decorations there, too.<\/p>\n \u2937 <\/span>2024 Update<\/strong>: This year, the De Bijenkorf windows are especially beautiful!<\/p>\n RAI in Amsterdam is transformed into a magical winter fairytale during the last two weeks of the year. With a real snow and a winter landscape, it becomes one of the best places for Christmas activities in Amsterdam. It also becomes the home to the Netherlands\u2019 largest ice skating rink.<\/p>\n Besides music events and winter activities, it also hosts a Ferris wheel from which you can enjoy a fantastic view of Amsterdam.<\/p>\n \u2937 <\/span>2024 Update<\/strong>: Het Amsterdamse Winterparadijs is open between 18 December 2024 and 4 January 2025 this year. If you\u2019re planning to visit it, buy your online ticket in advance<\/a>.<\/p>\n A warm chocolate with whipped cream served in a festive cup is an Amsterdam Christmas classic. Find a cosy cafe, get some warm chocolate, listen to the Christmas music and enjoy the view of a decorated city. It can\u2019t get better than that when it comes to spending the Christmas holidays in Amsterdam.<\/p>\n \u2937 <\/span>Read more<\/strong>: Christmas in Art \u2013 The Most Beautiful Christmas Themed Artworks<\/a><\/p>\n During December Amsterdam becomes home to several Christmas markets.<\/p>\n On Sunday, 8 December 2024, a special edition of Museum Market<\/strong> is organised at Museumplein. Designers and artists from all over the Netherlands sell their artworks there. It\u2019s a great place to buy Christmas decorations or presents made by the local producers. You\u2019ll find more info about it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Christmas edition of the Pure Markt<\/strong> will be held on Sunday, 22 December 2024, at Park Frankendael. You\u2019ll find excellent food from around the world there, homemade jams and other yummy dishes. Stands selling beautiful clothes, jewellery and toys will be there, as well. For more info about Winter Pure Markt, take a look here<\/span><\/a>!<\/p>\n A special edition of Sunday Market called Funky Xmas Market<\/strong> is held at Westergasfabriek on Sunday, 15 December 2024. For more info about it, take a look here<\/span><\/a>!<\/p>\n Located next to the Stadshart shopping mall, the Christmas market in Amstelveen is held between 30 November 2024 and 5 January 2025. It\u2019s home to a 400 m2 ice skating rink, delicious hot chocolate with whipped cream, and visits by Pieten and Disney princesses. For more info about Winter Village in Amstelveen<\/strong>, take a look here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2937 Read more<\/strong><\/span>: Christmas Markets in the Netherlands with 2024 Agenda<\/a><\/p>\n Museums are especially festive during the holiday season. With a beautiful digital Christmas tree and decorations, Rijksmuseum is one of my favourite places to go. If you\u2019re in Amsterdam during Christmas time, be sure to dress up and pay a visit to the Rijksmuseum on 24 or 26 December.<\/p>\n The visit will put you in a lovely holiday spirit. Watch my Rijksmuseum video<\/a> before your visit to learn more about some of the fantastic Rijksmuseum highlights<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2937 <\/span>Read more<\/strong>: 10 things you didn\u2019t know about the Rijksmuseum<\/a><\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to share the Christmas spirit of Amsterdam with your loved ones, send some Christmas cards inspired by Amsterdam to your friends and family. These Christmas cards are special because you can colour them and adjust them to your taste. I made them and printed them in the Netherlands, so you\u2019re also getting a unique local product.<\/p>\n You can read more about the Culture Tourist\u2019s Christmas cards<\/a> here and visit my Web Shop on this link<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2937\u00a0TIP<\/strong>: Would you like to visit some other Dutch cities that are especially beautiful during the Christmas time? Visit Haarlem<\/a>,\u00a0Maastricht<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0Rotterdam<\/a>.<\/p>\n With this list of things to do during the Christmas season in Amsterdam you\u2019re all set up for spending a lovely festive holidays in Dutch capital. The only thing we should still hope for is some snow to have a perfect white Christmas.<\/p>\n Have you ever been to Amsterdam during the Christmas season? What are some of your favourite things to see and do there during the most wonderful time of the year?<\/p>\nChristmas in Amsterdam<\/h2>\n
![\"Snow](\"https:\/\/culturetourist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/snow-in-amsterdam-canal-old-house-and-bicycles.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n1 \u2013 Visit the Amsterdam Light Festival<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n2 \u2013 Join the Sinterklaas celebration<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n3 \u2013 Try some oliebollen<\/em><\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n4 \u2013 Go ice skating during the Christmas time in Amsterdam<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n5 \u2013 Enjoy beautiful Christmas lights in Amsterdam<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n6 \u2013 Visit Het Amsterdamse Winterparadijs 2024<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/div>7 \u2013 Have a warm chocolate with whipped cream<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n8 \u2013 Visit Amsterdam Christmas Markets<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n9 \u2013 Visit Rijksmuseum during the Christmas holidays<\/h2>\n
10 \u2013 Buy Christmas cards inspired by Amsterdam<\/h2>\n
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