1. ENJOY THE AMAZING LIGHT SCULPTURES
Fairy lights illuminate the streets, shopping windows with items to drool over, and the Amsterdam Light Sculptures as a cherry on top! In January and December, the 6th edition of this Amsterdam winter festival will shine its light on the canals, and what better way to visit the route than by boat? No worries about getting cold on our boats because we’ll ensure we keep you warm with the pop-up roof, heating, and blankets on board! Check out our website’s prices for an all-inclusive private or shared cruise.
2. EAT LIKE A LOCAL
Snert, oliebollen and warm appeltaart with hot chocolate on the side – they all taste a bit better when winter is on! Don’t know what we’re talking about? Then it’s definitely time to find out.
Snert, or erwtensoep, is a Dutch delicacy made from boiled and mashed peas, pieces of carrot, celeriac, and stewed beef. It’s best homemade, but restaurants like Proeflokaal van Wees have it on the menu!
Oliebollen is best described as deep-fried donut dough with raisins or currants. You can find ‘oliebollen kramen’ all over Amsterdam, so just keep an eye out, and don’t forget to ask for powdered sugar!
And are you sitting down in a cafe to warm yourself up from exploring Amsterdam? Make sure to order some homemade warm apple pie with whipped cream and hot chocolate (also with whipped cream). This mouth-watering dish makes up for the calories, we promise you! Our preferred pie place: Winkel 43 on the Noordermarkt.
3. VISIT THE CHRISTMAS MARKETS
For a long time, Sinterklaas (the much discussed Dutch Santa) had the winter season to itself, but people are getting more in to the Amsterdam Christmas spirit! That means Christmas trees on Dam square, mulled wine on the streets and holiday markets all over the city. This year, the biggest Christmas market yet will open it’s (indoor) doors in the RAI. From the 21st of December until the 1st of Januari lovers of all things seasonal can spend their time ice skating, eating Christmas delicacies and quenching their thirst with beer at the beer garden. We know it’s going to be spectacular, and we cannot wait. Check out the website for a preview: https://winterparade.amsterdam
Looking for something a bit ‘higher up’ ? We’re happy to say we found just the thing for your Amsterdam Winter! On the weekend of 16 and 17 December you can visit the Rooftop X-mas Market at Floor17. Next to a spectacular view, you can found over 30 stalls with local brand and shops with cute and original gifts for under the tree!
4. INDULGE IN THE WEATHER
It’s only as cold as you think it is! So we suggest the following: go for a walk in one of the many parks, such as the Vondelpark and Westerpark, and find your way to a cafe or restaurant to warm up in. Also, the canals are not as busy in the wintertimes, so make the best of it with your mittens and camera, and snap some gorgeous shots! A little snow puts the extra touch in your fairytale pictures, so fingers crossed for some freezing this year!
5. WRAP UP WARM
And when it does get cold, do as the Dutch do. Wrap up warm, which means layer, layer, layer. A good coat is a definite advantage and our preferred partner Hoodlamb makes the most fluffy, cosy winter wear around! Their super warm clothing is not only gorgeous, but it’s also 100% cruelty free. Made from high quality organic and recycled fabrics, there is no way you’ll ever want to wear another winter coat again!
