Many people wonder if visiting Amsterdam in winter is worth it. Would the weather be too cold to go out? Are there activities to do in winter? Well, winter can be cold, yes. But there are plenty of interesting things to do during the season that guarantee an unforgettable experience. Winter is known to have endless events and activities that could last for the whole season. While Amsterdam is charming at any time of the year, when winter arrives, the city transforms into a magical paradise that tourists cannot afford to miss. Celebrate the perfect winter vacation in Amsterdam with these activities.
10/10 Celebrate the Amsterdam Light Festival with the locals
Amsterdam first celebrated the Festival of Lights in 2012, and has since become a local favorite. About a million holidaymakers visit the city during this event, mainly attracted by the impressive light sculptors, many of whom accompany city canals. The creativity is spectacular and includes life-size models of people sitting on a park bench and more. Travelers can choose to see the lights on the canals via boat rides. This event may be suitable for couples looking for the perfect place for a romantic date. The lights create an amazing atmosphere for a romantic evening.
9/10 Explore the Museum Square
Visiting Amsterdam without exploring its museum district wouldn’t sound right. It is a large central square full of the city’s emblematic museums where holidaymakers can discover exciting exhibitions. The Van Gogh Museum, offering an incredible collection of works of art, is one of the best to visit. In winter, the place becomes more fascinating, with beautiful surroundings and beautiful exhibits waiting to be explored. Moreover, the central square hosts many winter festivals that travelers would like to participate in.
8/10 Celebrate National Tulip Day
Tulips are an important part of Dutch culture, and although the flowers are associated with the onset of spring, people in Amsterdam like to enjoy them earlier than everyone else. National Tulip Day takes place every third Saturday of January, usually in Dam Square, where there is always a massive display of these cheerful flowers. During the celebration, locals arrange over 200,000 tulips in a temporary garden, which is open to the public from 1:00 p.m. At that time, everyone has an incredible chance to choose a bouquet to take home.
Arrive early and observe the arrangement of flowers in the temporary garden. The activity is just as fun as picking flowers to take home.
7/10 Spend time at Amsterdam’s Christmas markets
Amsterdam’s Christmas markets are some of the best in the world and a fantastic way to create a holiday mood. There are many Christmas themed items and must-try food on sale. Other products to buy include Christmas crafts, clothing and decoration. The city has many markets, including the Funky Xmas Market, located in Westeregas. The market is held every Sunday and focuses on fashion and design. Another worth checking out is the Museumplein Ice Village, offering incredible shopping opportunities, Christmas games and live entertainment.
6/10 To ice skate
One cannot list winter activities without mentioning ice skating, one of the best activities to celebrate the season. Amsterdam is home to several ice rinks, including ICE Amsterdam, offering outdoor skating in a beautiful location, one of which is Museumplein. Travelers will also find an outdoor ice rink at Leidseplein from mid-November to early January. Skating is one of the most awesome winter family activities, and Amsterdam is the destination.
5/10 Taste Amsterdam’s Winter Dish
Seasonal flavors are the best, and vacationers will have the chance to eat plenty of winter dishes, some of which are suitable for a whole family. Dutch fries, which arrive with toppings like a source of peanuts with onions and mayonnaise, are one of the winter dishes to try this coming season. Bitterballen, Dutch meatballs and poffertjes, tiny delicious pancakes, are some of the other winter dishes to try. Vacationers can always visit one of the open markets or restaurants in town to eat these dishes.
4/10 Amsterdam Winter Festival
Winter is the Dutch’s favorite season and travelers will find their streets beautifully lined with festive markets and restaurants offering some of the most delicious warm dishes. At the winter festival, cross-country skiing, ice skating, canal cruises and snowball throwing are just some of the interesting activities visitors can enjoy. The festival was created to appreciate the season and attracts thousands of visitors from late December to early January.
3/10 Visit the ARTIS Royal Zoo Amsterdam
ARTIS Royal Zoo Amsterdam is home to incredibly diverse wildlife, including giraffes, lions, flamingos and penguins. Inaugurated in 1838, this zoo is one of the best places to visit with children in Amsterdam in winter. Interacting with the animals will entertain a whole family. The zoo is home to over 750 species of wildlife, and vacationers can have a great time at the planetarium, insectarium, or aquarium located on-site. The zoo has over 25 historic buildings and enough animals to keep travelers busy for at least half a day.
2/10 Attend the International Documentary Film Festival
This festival takes place every November and is perfect for documentary visitors. Amsterdam started celebrating the festival in 1988 and is now the largest documentary festival in the world. Travelers will learn a lot from the festival, including several tales about different aspects of life. During the celebration, several outdoor and indoor films are shown, giving vacationers the option of staying indoors or having fun watching them outside.
1/10 Attend a show at the Théâtre Royal Carré
The shows at the Théâtre Royal Carré can never disappoint! Travelers will see contortionists, white horses and acrobats perform on stage. The worldwide Christmas circus is one of the locals’ favorite traditions. It has been in place since 1887 and features Oscar Carré, a circus performer. Every holiday, hundreds of people flock to the theater to see the incredible performance. Travelers will see artists from different corners of the world from late December to early January, offering their unique numbers. Catching the shows is one of the best things to do in Amsterdam with the family.
