15 reasons to visit Amsterdam in winter!

There’s certainly no wrong time to visit Amsterdam. However, exploring the city in a wintery, snowy landscape always presents unique opportunities.

In fact, there are many things you can do in Amsterdam from December right through to February.

Check out the list we’ve put together for you, detailing all the exciting events happening in Amsterdam during winter.

Sinterklaas

Children in the Netherlands don't believe in Santa Claus or Father Christmas. Instead, it's a different figure who brings them their Christmas presents.

Sinterklaas – a tall, wealthy, and very generous man from Spain – is the one who delivers gifts to children on 5th December.

Leading up to 5th December, the Dutch organise many events and festivities related to Sinterklaas. The highlight, however, is his spectacular arrival by steamboat on 13th November.

Amsterdam Light Festival

Every year, from the last week of November until the end of January, Amsterdam hosts a very special light festival across the entire city.

Artists from all over the world exhibit their illuminated works at various points in the city, transforming Amsterdam into a massive open-air exhibition.

Ice Skating on the Canals

Although it doesn't happen every year, when temperatures drop significantly in Amsterdam, the city's canals freeze over and turn into impromptu ice rinks, attracting both young and old.

Even though it seems quite dangerous, the government only allows people onto the frozen canals after they have been confirmed to be absolutely safe. Often, certain sections of the canals are temporarily closed off to allow them to freeze, where this is naturally feasible.

Ice Rinks

From late November until February, various areas of Amsterdam are transformed into large and impressive outdoor ice rinks.

The city's largest ice rink is set up alongside the Rijksmuseum in Museumplein. This is one of Europe's most famous and frequently photographed squares, as it's home to the well-known Iamsterdam letters.

Festive Food

Traditional Dutch festive food is incredibly delicious and includes a vast array of sweets, cakes, and candies.

All the sweets are made with traditional winter spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. As you can imagine, even just by their aroma, Dutch sweets are incredibly tempting.

Every bakery and supermarket in the city offers traditional Dutch sweets. These include crunchy speculaas biscuits, pepernoten biscuits with their distinctive peppery flavour, and kerststol loaves – their own Christmas breads filled with fruit and nuts.

Festive Drinks

During the chilly winter months in Amsterdam, pubs, bars, and cafés serve some of the most delicious and unique hot drinks you can imagine.

These traditional concoctions usually include their own dark beer called bokbier. You'll also find warm and aromatic glühwein, served with a cinnamon stick and an orange slice.

Christmas Markets

Amsterdam's outdoor Christmas markets are set up around its beautiful squares. In fact, everything related to Christmas and Sinterklaas can be found at these markets.

Stalls with colourful ornaments and a wide variety of foods and drinks will captivate you. Don't miss the chance to try oliebollen, a type of fried dough traditionally eaten on New Year's Eve.

Christmas in the Netherlands

As the Dutch celebrate Sinterklaasavond on 5th December – which is their main festive day – Christmas is treated a little more casually than in other European countries.

Many city restaurants are open and organise various events for Christmas Day.

New Year's Eve

Amsterdam is one of the best places in Europe to celebrate New Year's Eve. Every year, numerous events are organised on 31st December.

If you find yourself in Amsterdam on New Year's Eve, do be careful with fireworks; many locals, in their excitement, set off makeshift fireworks that can potentially be dangerous.

National Tulip Day

In recent years, an event for National Tulip Day has been organised in Dam Square at the end of January. This marks the beginning of the flower season in the Netherlands.

Thousands of colourful tulips are planted in the square during the event, where people are invited to pick their own bouquet for free.

Fashion Week

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week takes place in Amsterdam twice a year, over two 3-day periods in January and August.

Amsterdam Fashion Week always attracts innovative designers and is one of the country's most significant fashion events.

Valentine's Day

Amsterdam is one of the most romantic cities you will ever visit. This makes it an ideal destination for a trip with your significant other to celebrate Valentine's Day.

Finding something to do in the city on this particular day is incredibly easy. To help you, the city's restaurants, clubs, and cafés organise themed evenings for Valentine's Day, catering to both couples and singles.

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year celebrations in Amsterdam are always spectacular, centring around various outdoor events held in Dam Square and Zeedijk.

Chinese New Year celebrations include lots of fireworks, parades, and street parties!

It's beautiful

Amsterdam is truly a wonderful city, and during the winter months, it becomes even more amazing.

The canals and Vondelpark look as if a postcard has come to life.

 

Flights to Amsterdam

Direct flights from Athens to Amsterdam are operated by Aegean Airlines, Transavia, and KLM.

The Athens-Amsterdam route takes approximately 3 hours and forty minutes. Return flight prices from Athens to Amsterdam start from just 110 euros.

From Thessaloniki to Amsterdam, only Transavia operates direct flights, offering very good prices for this route. Specifically, a return flight ticket will cost you from 85 euros.

The flight duration from Thessaloniki to Amsterdam is 3 hours and 10 minutes.