Visit Amsterdam in Winter: 8 Festive Activities and Events

There are countless reasons to visit during the winter months in Amsterdam (November to February). Towards the beginning and end of the season, the city and its attractions are noticeably less crowded and accommodation is less expensive. And during the peak weeks around Christmas and New Year, increased prices are more than made up for by the festive wonder of multi-coloured lights, street stalls selling sugar-dusted speculaas and oliebollen, and (if you’re lucky) the glitter of snow over Amsterdam’s famous Canal District. Best of all, the Winter Festival Amsterdam program welcomes winter visitors with a host of seasonal activities and events from ice skating to traditional markets.

Home to some of the city’s most iconic landmarks – including the 17th-century Royal Palace and the Gothic New Church – Dam Square is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Amsterdam during winter. At its centre stands a vast Christmas tree, traditionally grown in the German Ardennes and decorated with more than 40,000 glittering fairy lights. Every year, the lights are switched on at a special ceremony accompanied by festive food stalls and carol singing. For a truly magical Christmas getaway, consider staying at nearby Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam.

Essential Info

• Location: Dam Square
• Hours: 24 hours
• Price: Free
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible, with cobblestones
• Getting There: Rokin (metro), Dam (tram, bus)

If you’re wondering whether Amsterdam is pretty in winter, the Amsterdam Light Festival ensures the answer is unequivocally “yes”. Every year from the end of November to mid-January, more than 20 breathtaking light installations sparkle throughout the historic Canal District, making for some of the most beautiful Amsterdam winter photos imaginable. There are several ways to experience the festival, including official canal cruises and guided walking tours, or with the help of a downloadable map that lets you explore the 6.5-kilometre route independently.

Essential Info

• Location: Eastern part of the city centre
• Hours: Daily, 5-11pm 
• Price: TBC
• Accessibility: Accessible cruises available
• Getting There: Amsterdam Central Station (train, tram, metro), Nieuwmarkt (metro) and Waterlooplein (tram, metro)

Ice skating is one of the most popular winter activities in Amsterdam, and while there are several open-air rinks installed each year, ICE*Amsterdam is one of the most atmospheric. Running from mid-November to February, it’s located in Museumplein against the iconic backdrop of the Rijksmuseum – a city landmark famed for its gorgeous Gothic-Renaissance architecture. Skate under a replica of the Magere Brug, or Skinny Bridge, stop for something to eat at the rink’s bistro, or head to the adjacent Christmas market for unique crafts and street fare enjoyed beside the glowing fire pits.

Essential Info

• Location: Museumplein
• Hours: Daily, TBC
• Price: TBC
• Accessibility: Not accessible
• Getting There: Museumplein (tram, bus)

Sometimes, one of the best things to do in winter is to embrace the cold – and there’s nowhere better to do that than Amsterdam’s XtraCold Ice Bar. Themed around Dutch explorer Willem Barentz’ ill-fated effort to discover the Northeast Passage in 1596, everything inside the bar is made of ice, from the walls to the glasses. Your ticket includes three free drinks, and you'll be given a warm coat and gloves to help you cope with the -10°C temperature. When the cold gets too much, there’s a second, warm bar to hang out in. 

Essential Info

• Location: Amstel 194-196
• Hours: Daily, 11:45am-1am
• Price: €26.50 per person
• Accessibility: Here. There's a 5 cm step into the Icebar, manageable for manually lifted wheelchairs but not for electric ones.
• Getting There: Waterlooplein (metro), Rembrandtplein (tram)

Every winter from mid-December to the beginning of January, the largest convention centre in the Netherlands (RAI Amsterdam) is transformed into the Amsterdam Winter Paradise. Making the most of the centre’s cavernous indoor and outdoor space, the event includes a huge ice rink, fairground rides, cross-country skiing on real snow and a Christmas village complete with festive food and craft stalls. The stage is another highlight, hosting top Dutch music acts throughout the festival. Looking for a nearby hotel? Family-friendly Novotel Amsterdam City is a 10-minute walk away.

Essential Info

• Location: RAI Amsterdam, Europaboulevard 22
  
• Hours: TBC
• Price: TBC
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
• Getting There: Amsterdam RAI (train), Europaplein or RAI (metro)

One of the most important Christmas events in Amsterdam is the arrival of Sinterklaas, or Saint Nicholas, on a Sunday in mid-November. The legendary figure enters Amsterdam by ship, before processing through the streets on a white horse to meet the mayor and be given the keys to the city. He then takes up residence in the capital until the Feast of Sinterklaas on December 5th, when children are traditionally given a gift and poem from the great man. The parade is a must for families and typically draws crowds of more than 300,000 people. 

Essential Info

• Location: Route info here.
• Hours: TBC
• Price: Free 
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
• Getting There: Multiple stops (see route above)

If you visit after Christmas, don’t worry – there are plenty of great things to do in Amsterdam in January. One of the most visually impressive is National Tulip Day, an event that takes place on the third Saturday in January and marks the beginning of the annual tulip season. To celebrate, growers from all over the country bring buckets of their finest blooms to one of the city’s major squares, setting up an impromptu tulip field and inviting visitors to pick a bunch for free. Although historically located on Dam Square, the event moved to Museumplein in 2023. 

Essential Info

• Location: Museumplein 
• Hours: TBC
• Price: Free
• Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
• Getting There: Museumplein (tram, bus)

Similarly, if you head to Amsterdam in November you may be too early for some of the attractions listed above – but if you’re lucky, you might catch Museumnacht. Typically hosted on the first Saturday of November, this event offers culture vultures the opportunity to purchase a single pass that gives access to more than 40 participating museums (including Amsterdam’s most famous: Anne Frank House, Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum). Each one puts on special exhibitions and events for the evening, from live music to themed cuisine. 

Essential Info

• Location: Various 
• Hours: First Saturday in November, 7pm-2am
• Price: TBC
• Accessibility: Venue dependent
• Getting There: Venue dependent

The Dutch capital sees an average of 11 snow days in December and January, while winter temperatures in Amsterdam typically hover between 0°C and 6°C. So, although you’ll want to pack plenty of layers when considering what to wear, it’s rarely cold enough to stop you from enjoying outdoor attractions like the ARTIS Amsterdam Zoo. And while it is possible for the canals to freeze over and become skateable, it takes a serious cold snap for this to happen (we’re talking -5°C temperatures for a week or more). Daylight hours are limited: in December, the streets are dark by 4:30pm.

The festive season in Amsterdam is a dream come true for anyone with a sweet tooth. Christmas market stalls, street vendors and bakeries throughout the city specialise in speculaas (spiced shortcrust biscuits, often in the shape of windmills), oliebollen (sugar-dusted Dutch beignets), pepernoten (tiny biscuits flavoured with aniseed, cinnamon and clove) and kerststol (fruit bread filled with almond paste). Wash yours down with a mug of hot chocolate, or the Dutch version of mulled wine known as bisschopswijn.

Top tip: If you’re heading to Amsterdam from mid-December to the beginning of January, we recommend investing in an Amsterdam Winter Card for free entry to Winter Paradise Amsterdam, a free Light Festival Cruise and discounts on other attractions and seasonal activities.

Now that you have an idea of what to do on your Amsterdam winter holiday, you need to choose somewhere to stay. There are hotels for every taste and budget, whether you prefer something practical like ibis Styles Amsterdam Central Station, which is ideally located for spontaneous day trips from Amsterdam in winter; or something a little more unique, like INK Hotel Amsterdam - MGallery. This boutique choice puts you within five minutes’ walk of Dam Square and is housed in the former headquarters of Dutch newspaper De Tijd. Wherever you stay, book early if you plan on being in town for Christmas or New Year.