Written by Menswear Fashion
in
Journey
on the
twenty first January 2025
Throughout the winter, Brits flock to cities throughout Europe in the hunt for snowfall, conventional Christmas markets, and fewer crowds. A number of the finest winter metropolis break locations embrace European hotspots corresponding to Amsterdam, Berlin, Reykjavik, Copenhagen, Paris, and Prague.
With the vary of strolling excursions in Amsterdam and canal cruises taking you previous snowy cobble streets, glowing festive lights, conventional Christmas markets, and entertaining ice rinks, the Netherlands capital is magical when winter comes round.
This text will discover 5 locations to go and issues to see in Amsterdam in the course of the winter.
One of the fantastic winter actions is, unquestionably, ice skating. Fortunately, Amsterdam is house to some outside ice rinks all through the winter in common areas, corresponding to:
– Museumplein. An ice rink is situated on the Museumplein, simply in entrance of the well-known Rijksmuseum, and is absolutely embellished with Christmas timber, lights, and a reproduction of Amsterdam’s Skinny Bridge.
– Rembrandtplein. An ice rink is situated on Rembrandtplein, a well-known sq. within the centre of Amsterdam, and is embellished for a winter theme.
– Leidseplein. An ice rink is situated on Leidseplein, one other well-known sq. within the centre of Amsterdam.
– RAI Conference Centre. Amsterdam RAI hosts Winter Paradise, a winter theme park boasting actions like ice skating, snow slides, and a ferris wheel.
Many Christmas markets pop up across the metropolis in mid-November and run till early January, permitting vacationers to take pleasure in candy treats, mulled wine, rides, craft stalls, and extra.
Amsterdam Winter Paradise takes place every year on the RAI Conference Centre. It’s much like London’s well-known Hyde Park Winter Wonderland with its ticketed entry system and abundance of issues to do, corresponding to ice skating, ice-curling, and karaoke. There may be additionally an Apres Ski village and rides corresponding to a ferris wheel, huge swing, and merry-go-round.
Christmas Village opens as much as the general public every year totally free. The Museumplein turns into stuffed with market stalls, crafts, dwell leisure, roaming choirs, and loads of festive food and drinks choices.
Funky Xmas Market is a month-to-month Sunday market which showcases the work of native artists, style designers, and creatives. Nevertheless, in mid-December, the market boasts festive handmade artwork and equipment to assist guests get into the Christmas spirit.
The annual Amsterdam Mild Competition normally takes place between the tip of November and the tip of January. You will note magical mild installations and shows adorning the streets, canals, and major landmarks of the Netherlands capital.
The dates and theme for 2025/26 are but to be launched, however the 2024/25 theme was the World of Rituals, and it featured 27 artworks created by 22 totally different artists.
One of the simplest ways to benefit from the Amsterdam Mild Competition is to hop on board a canal cruise, a few of which incorporates meals or open bars.
Throughout the winter months, notably in December and early January, you can see oliebollen stalls everywhere in the metropolis and within the Christmas markets.
Oliebollen are a standard New 12 months’s Eve snack for the Dutch, much like doughnuts and served finest with powdered sugar on high.
Simply since you are visiting in winter and Christmas markets are unfold throughout town, it doesn’t suggest you should not benefit from the well-known museums and galleries that Amsterdam has to supply. That is really a good way to spend a while indoors and heat up in the course of the winter.
The Netherlands’ capital metropolis is much less crowded throughout winter, so you possibly can go to the highest points of interest with out worrying about crowds, lengthy queues, or sold-out tickets.
Listed below are a number of the well-known museums and galleries we advocate in Amsterdam:
– Anne Frank Home. This museum is devoted to Jewish wartime diarist Anne Frank. It’s situated within the constructing that housed her father’s enterprise. Tickets vary from €1 to €16.
– Van Gogh Museum. This museum is devoted to the artworks of Vincent van Gogh and his contemporaries. Tickets vary from €11 to €24 however are free for kids.
– Rijksmuseum. That is the nationwide museum of the Netherlands, and it’s devoted to Dutch arts and historical past. Tickets vary from €12.50 to €25 however are free for kids.
– Rembrandt Home Museum. This museum is devoted to the work and lifetime of Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn, and it’s situated in his former home and artwork studio. Tickets vary from €8 to €21 however are free for kids underneath the age of 5.
– Moco Museum. This impartial museum is devoted to trendy and modern artwork and goals to make artwork accessible to the general public. Tickets vary from €13.95 to €21.95 however are free for kids underneath the age of 6.
– Nationwide Maritime Museum. This museum is devoted to maritime historical past, and its collections comprise work, scale fashions, weapons, and world maps. Tickets vary from €8.50 to €18.50 however are free for kids underneath the age of 12.
As well as, Amsterdam’s annual Museum Evening occurs within the winter. Each November, for one night time solely, over 50 museums within the metropolis keep open till 2am to host dwell DJs, particular occasions, food and drinks events, and extra. The following Museum Evening will happen on the first of November 2025.
De Bijenkorf is a luxurious division retailer chain within the Netherlands, with one in all its shops simply across the nook from Amsterdam’s Royal Palace.
Equally to London’s Harrods, De Bijenkorf celebrates the festive season with an array of spectacular Christmas shows and decorations that you would be able to see totally free.
Amsterdam is a good metropolis to discover all yr spherical, with its canals, ‘espresso outlets’, fascinating historical past, and pleasant locals.
Nevertheless, we hope this text satisfied extra vacationers to make the most of the winter months in Amsterdam. Not solely are the streets full of dazzling lights and well-decorated timber, however there are a plethora of seasonal actions to take pleasure in, corresponding to Christmas markets, ice rinks, The Mild Competition, and Museum Evening.
