The tulips are gone in spring, the autumn trees are already bare and you ask me: “What to do in Amsterdam in winter?”
The European cold scares a lot of people, but with the right clothes, an adventurous spirit and my tips on what to do in Amsterdam in winter, you’ll see that in reality the fearsome amsterdam’s cold weather is so awful…
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Serious talk: don’t let the cold weather scare you! There is so much to do in Amsterdam in winter!
1. What to do in Amsterdam in winter: Enjoy the Festival of Lights
When does the Amsterdam Festival of Lights take place: from 11/28/2019 to 01/19/2020
But the Christmas decorations aren’t the only lights in Amsterdam’s winter. Every winter, Amsterdam lights up in statues of light in a temporary exhibition dotted around the city. It’s the Amsterdam Light Festival, or the Festival of Lights in Amsterdam.
The Amsterdam Festival of Lights has a different theme every year, which always gives you a reason to see it once more. Various artists, designers and architects from around the world express the theme of the year in works of art made of light. I think it’s really cool, because the festival unites technology and art, one of my favorite things!
To see the festival by boat, click here to buy the tour that will take you around all the sculptures.
2. What to do in Amsterdam in winter: Ice skating
Brazuca and ice don’t have much intimacy, I know. The first time I put a skate on my foot and tried to balance on top of two thin blades resting on slippery ice, a freezing panic took over any rational function of my brain and I just thought “now everything is screwed”.
It took a long time for me to reason that instead of being afraid of slipping, the whole idea it was just slipping — or swipe, come on.
Swing your body from side to side, create a pendulum and let yourself slide. It’s fun!
If you already know how to skate or feel like trying it out, this is a good way to give the Dutch soul a bizu: skating is their national sport!
Where to ice skate in Amsterdam
There are three main places in Amsterdam: the Leidseplein rink, the Jaap Eden IJsbaan (used mostly by locals and serious skaters) and the Museumplein. If you’re on a tour, the best one is Museumplein: they freeze the water mirror in front of the I Amsterdam sign. And you can rent a pair of skates there.
3. What to do in Amsterdam in winter: Enjoy museums and other indoor attractions
What do you mean, you don’t like museums? Assurance? Look, Amsterdam has all kinds of museums, you might find one you like.
Okay, there are the obvious ones, like Van Gogh and Anne Frank (two of the main attractions in Amsterdam), there are the slightly less obvious ones. Like the Amsterdam Museum that tells the story of our favorite city in the world. After that, there’s a world to be explored!
It has the Tropenmuseum (“Museum of the Tropics”, an anthropological museum), it has the FOAM (Amsterdam Museum of Photography, it has the Jewish Historical Museum, dealing with the rich history of Judaism in Holland and the world (the temporary exhibitions are excellent), there is the Museum Van Loon, in one of the elegant houses on the edge of one of the most famous canals in Amsterdam, which belonged to one of the most powerful families in Amsterdam…
When the weather is inclement, explore history, art and culture, past and present!
(And take the opportunity to save money and buy the I Amsterdam card here, which gives you entry to numerous museums, in addition to public transport.)
And if I still didn’t convince you to go to museums, there are always other attractions indoors: discovering some of my favorite pubs to drink beer in Amsterdam, for example.
4. What to do in Amsterdam in winter: Eat winter food!
I know, eating is great all year round. But deny, go, that eating something greasy and comforting while Mr. Winter blows and puffs outside is delicious times two…
And Holland has a long tradition of tasty, greasy things to comfort you in the winter. I have listed some here, in my article regarding typical Dutch seasonal foods. Read on and you’ll see that many seasonal foods are for the cold, and it makes sense.
A fun outing, for example, might be venturing out to the Museumplein skating rink, having your ego crushed by two-year-olds who skate better than you can, and then going to warm your bottom and your heart by eating sugar-coated poffertjes from confectioner accompanied by hot chocomel (warning: you gained 350 grams by reading that sentence).
Or you can escape the cold with the best apple pie in Amsterdam. Hey, eating typical Dutch food is also acquiring culture, right?
5. What to do in Amsterdam in winter: See the Christmas decorations and the city at night
Getting dark early isn’t necessarily a disadvantage as you’ll see in this and the next tip. It’s okay, the decorations end in January, and winter lasts a little longer. But for a good part of it, the city is decorated, with lights on the streets and in some houses, and as it gets dark early, they shine more beautifully for longer.
Do you know the Dutch word “gezellig”? (Pronounced rézéliRRR… oh, never mind.) It’s one of those slightly untranslatable words, like saudades.
Pleasant mix, warm, inviting, social—it’s something that makes you feel good in a specific way. Do you know when you go to the house of dear friends at night and stay talking, laughing and drinking wine until dawn and leave tired, but happy? This is gezellig.
And I think that Amsterdam, during the winter nights, with the yellow lights from the windows reflecting on the street a warm and cozy corner, is very gezellig.
Who is afraid of winter in Amsterdam?
I know, winter lasts forever in northern Europe, and many people are afraid. But if you pay attention, instead of just freezing and cooling, it can heat and brighten as well.
A cool way to give back Ducs and still do well is to buy tickets online with me. This way you avoid being windblown in a row when you should be walking… and it gives me precious strength!
And if you make your reservation through the Booking links here at Ducs, they pass on a commission to us (at the same time that you pay less for the hotel).
So it’s a way to support Ducs in Amsterdam and still find a nice place, have support in Portuguese and pay less! 🙂 Everyone wins!
