10 Best Things to Do in Winter in Amsterdam

Museumplein is the city's museum quarter, where you'll find a large central square with a perimeter of iconic museums offering fascinating exhibitions. Some of the museums here include the iconic Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum, the latter of which has a huge collection of the titular artist's works.

The museum quarter is incredibly alluring during the winter because you'll find an easy reprieve from the cold with fascinating surroundings and exhibitions to explore. Plus, winter even offers access to several festivals held in the square depending on when exactly you visit. It's all located in northern Amsterdam Oud-Zuid.

Amsterdam Christmas markets are among the best ways to immerse yourself in the holiday during winter visits with Christmas-related items and food for sale. Among the vendors that show up in local Christmas markets, you'll be able to shop for antiques, handicrafts, apparel and even Christmas decor.

The local markets wouldn't be complete without offering holiday treats, and that's exactly what you'll find in between your shopping excursions. Plus, several ice skating rinks tend to open with the markets. You'll find them located all across town, though mostly near the city centre.

National Tulip Day (Nationale Tulpendag) is a celebration that occurs throughout the country, but Amsterdam, in particular, lets you enjoy a picking garden. With about 200,000 tulips in total, the temporary garden used for this celebration is downright bursting with colour, and you can enjoy it for free.

This celebration is held on the third Saturday of January, so plan your trip accordingly if you want to take part. While it's free to enter, you'll want to arrive early to ensure you get a chance to go flower picking. The event is held in Dam Square, which is around the city centre in Burgwallen Oude Zijde.

Amsterdam canal cruises let you explore the city from a different perspective with a ride on the water, showcasing the city's top spots. A lot of the cruises are guided, so it's a great way to start your holiday in Amsterdam to get an idea of where some of the best attractions are.

When you embark on a canal cruise, you'll be in for about an hour-long adventure on the water. Some of the cruises even offer food and drink along with the ride, so it's an excellent way to relax during your winter visit. They're located all around the canals, often departing close to the city centre.

The Canal Ring Amsterdam is one of the most iconic features of the city, and walking along the side of the canal can be as relaxing as it is beautiful. Winter tends to bring out the best in the canal, with the snow complementing the glinting lights and the water.

When you visit the canal, you'll find an alluring aesthetic whether you visit day or night, but you should try to experience both during your stay. If you're lucky enough for the canal to freeze, you may be able to enjoy additional activities on the water itself. The canals surround the city centre, so they're easy to find.

Ice* Amsterdam is a cosy skating rink that's moved to the museum district every winter where you can take to the ice or people-watch along the sidelines. The skating rink is open to all ages, so it's ideal for both family holidays and couples looking for winter delight.

The winter may bring cold, but the community here keeps things warm with a welcoming atmosphere, although the available hot chocolate certainly helps too. Many visitors take photos here since the surrounding museums make for appealing backdrops. The rink is in place from November to January in Museumplein.

The Willet-Holthuysen museum is a stunning fine and applied art museum you can visit with plenty to see inside to escape the cold of winter. The museum houses the collection of Abraham Willet, and the items are primarily from the 18th century, with the house itself being arranged to showcase that period.

While you're free to explore the museum at your own pace, you may want to consider a guided tour, as they offer even more information than you would normally find on your own. Plus, anyone under the age of 18 gets in for free. You'll find it all in eastern Thorbeckeplein, along the canal.

Try Amsterdam’s classic winter dishes to immerse yourself in the season and experience how locals typically celebrate this exciting season with plenty of eats. Some of the dishes available are instant favourites for the whole family. One of these is Dutch fries, which are usually served with toppings like patatje oorlog, a peanut sauce with mayo and onions.

Other dishes you can enjoy during the winter include poffertjes and bitterballen. Poffertjes are tiny pancakes that are sweet and delicious, while bitterballen are essentially Dutch meatballs. You'll find these treats available throughout the town in restaurants and open markets alike.

The Amsterdam Light Festival is a charming festival that illuminates the city with incredible light fixtures that are expressions of talented artists. The lights are typically kept up from early December to late January, so you'll have plenty of time to take in their splendour.

To determine what kind of light decorations will be implemented, a selection committee chooses from submissions by artists and designers from around the world. When you visit the festival, you'll see the top picks showcasing their brilliant designs. Out of hundreds of applicants, typically only 30 or so are actually implemented. It's located throughout town.

Amsterdam brown cafes are local Dutch pubs where you can grab a pint and relax with good company and a satisfying drink to keep you warm. You'll find quite a few options available, yet they all tend to be quite relaxed without the noise you'd typically find in a sports pub.

The best way to describe brown cafes is gezellig, which isn't a word that translates easily to English. Essentially, it's a feeling you experience that's like a combination of contentedness and cosiness, though the kind that can be complemented with a pint. They're located throughout town, though they're especially prominent by the canals.