Amsterdam Weekend Guide (Christmas & New Year's Eve Edition)

FESTIVALS & EVENTS

The Amsterdam Winter Paradise

Snow or no snow, visit RAI Amsterdam in December for a little fun served over ice in what is the capital’s ultimate winter experience. Show off your best skating skills among the twinkling light sculptures, try your hand at curling or head up on the Ferris Wheel for a bird’s eye view of Amsterdam, all the while indulging in delectable winter treats. If you’re still seeking Christmas markets and goodies, check out our guide to every market happening in and around Amsterdam.

The Amsterdam Winter Paradise | until Saturday 4 January | RAI

Christmas Concerts + Winter Festivals

There’s no shortage of Christmas concerts and seasonal festivals to keep you feeling suitably cheery. These are our picks:

• Wintry music and seasonal films at Winter Festival 2024 | until Sunday 5 January | H’ART
• Puppets galore and radical softness at The Soft Winter Festival | Thursday 19 - Tuesday 24 December | Plein Theatre
• Chamber music during Winter evenings at the Amstel | Thursday 19 - Sunday 22 December & Sunday 29 December | De Waalse Kerk

ART & EXHIBITIONS

Art Below Zero

A glacially cool celebration of 750 Years of Amsterdam, step into Art Below Zero’s magical ice world, an enchanting exhibition in the Central Market Hall, celebrating the history and heritage of Amsterdam. Marking the city's 750th anniversary, this exhibition features Europe’s largest collection of ice sculptures, taking you on a journey from Amsterdam's founding in 1275 to the cosmopolitan present day.

Art Below Zero | Saturday 21 December - Sunday 2 March 2025 | De Centrale Markthal

NATURE & ACTIVITY

Hortus By Night

Get a glimpse of Amsterdam’s botanical gardens after dark, which light up when the winter sets in. Stroll past greenhouses illuminated by twinkling lights, or stop by the campfire to warm up with the help of a hot chocolate and mulled wine. Both romantic and family-friendly, this is winter's embrace condensed into a night filled with nature. 

Hortus by Night | December 19-23, December 27-30 and January 2-5, 17:00-22:00 | Hortus

CLUBBING & NIGHTLIFE

New Year’s Eve Parties

There’s never any lack of choice on New Year’s Eve, and often, the difficult part is picking what to go to. For families and those wanting to avoid an all-night party, the Electric Fireworks show at Museumplein is an option, as well as the traditional fireworks display near the Sloterplas. But for those looking to go out, we’ve selected a few parties that cater to all tastes:

• Pllek’s NYE for glittery waterside views | doors open: 18:00 | Pllek
• The Good Intention for a living room-style party | doors open 21:00 | Tolhuistuin
• Is Burning for the LGBTQ+ crowd | doors open 01:00, New Year’s Day | Tilla Tec

Discover our full guide to NYE here.

FAMILY & KIDS

Christmas holidays at Rijksmuseum and NEMO

Even though it’s Christmas, the museum world is still ticking along. Both the Rijksmuseum and NEMO are putting on special programmes across the festive period geared towards the youngest among us, with decorating workshops at the former and science experiments at the latter. 

Christmas Holidays in the Rijksmuseum | Saturday 21 December - Sunday 5 January 2025 | Rijksmuseum

Christmas vacation at NEMO | Saturday 21 December - Sunday 5 January 2025 | NEMO

Circus Zanzara & World Christmas Circus

Part of what makes the Christmas season so enduring is the nostalgia it brings with it. Circus Zanzara looks to capture a little piece of a bygone era with its traditional circus performances that are light in heart and heavy on kitsch. Expect jugglers, dynamic acrobatics, live music, and stunning aerial performers in this homespun circus story that takes you across the prairies and beyond – all from the comfort of Westerpark. Elsewhere, World Christmas Circus brings its award-winning program and circus to Royal Theater Carré from December 18 to January 5.

Circus Zanzara | until 7 January | Westerpark

World Christmas Circus | until January 5 | Carré

RESTAURANTS & BARS

Botanical Beertasting at Lowlander

This Christmas vacation, indulge in a beer tasting with Lowlander Brewery in Noord. Between December 20 and January 5 (excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day), stop by for beers and see if you can match the heady scents of your drink with the correct botanical. A Lowlander staff member will be there to explain all the drinks while you play dozens of board games together and the kids sip on lemonade (if you choose to bring them along). The beer tasting includes four of Lowlander’s beers and costs 10 euros per person, while kids get four kinds of lemonade at 7.50 euros per child.

Beertasting | until Sunday 5 January | Lowlander Botanical Bar & Kitchen

Kanis’ New Year’s Dive

While New Year’s Day is technically a Monday and no longer the weekend, it would be wrong not to include this novel experience for the bleary-eyed and the brave. Kanis, found just along the water of Java Island’s southeasterly side, is organising a New Year’s dive (a popular activity in and around Amsterdam) with glühwein and bubbles. Dip in the brisk waters of the Ersthaven before clambering out for a glass of hot mulled wine or prosecco and some oliebollen. And if you’re among the first 50 to brave the cold, you’ll even be rewarded with a special hat (much needed to stave off the cold). 

Kanis’ New Year’s Dive | 1 January, 14:00 onwards | Levantkade 127

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