Netherlands, Europe

Amsterdam in December

Sinterklaas traditions early month, holiday lights, skating rinks, and the Light Festival on the canals.

GoodCold, highs near 43F (6C), festive

Amsterdam canal, Netherlands — AmsterdamPhoto: Basile Morin, CC BY-SA 4.0

The straight answer

December is a good month to visit Amsterdam. Sinterklaas traditions early month, holiday lights, skating rinks, and the Light Festival on the canals.

Weather: Cold, highs near 43F (6C), festive
Crowds: 3 of 5
Prices: 3 of 5

What December is like in Amsterdam

December is cold, with highs near 43F (6C), but the city feels festive. Holiday lights line the canals, skating rinks pop up, and the Light Festival is running. Sinterklaas traditions peak on December 5. Crowds and prices rise around the holidays, and most museums and shops close on December 25.

This month suits families and couples who love holiday atmosphere, and it is a cheerful choice despite the short days. Plan around Christmas Day closures. If you want calm and cheap instead, January is quieter; if you want warmth, wait for late spring.

Make the most of December

What is especially good about Amsterdam this month.

Sinterklaas on December 5

The Dutch celebrate their main gift-giving holiday on December 5, with treats and traditions all around the city early in the month.

Light Festival by boat

The light art along the canals is at full strength in December. An evening boat ride with a warm drink is the classic way to see it.

Winter skating

Seasonal rinks appear in December, a fun break for kids between museum visits.

What to pack for December

A warm winter coat
Gloves, hat, and a scarf for evening boat rides
Waterproof boots
Warm layers you can peel off inside museums

Our timing tip

Book Light Festival cruises and any Christmas week dinners early in December, and have a backup plan for December 25 when most museums and shops close.

Book Amsterdam for December.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Amsterdam
Opens a hotel search for Amsterdam in December, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for December
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Amsterdam
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Amsterdam
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Amsterdam for December. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in December

Amsterdam Light Festival

Roughly late November through mid January

Light-art installations along the canals, seen best by evening boat or a cold-weather walk.

Sinterklaas season

Mid November through December 5

The Dutch gift-giving tradition, opening with the saint's ceremonial boat arrival and peaking on December 5.

Things to do in Amsterdam

Full guide

Rijksmuseum

Book a morning slot and head straight for the Gallery of Honour: Rembrandt's Night Watch with breathing room is worth the early start.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Van Gogh Museum

Timed tickets only and they do sell out; book at least a week ahead in season. Late-afternoon slots run calmer.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Anne Frank House

Tickets are released online six weeks ahead and vanish fast in every season. Set a reminder; there is no meaningful walk-up option.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

A canal cruise or rented boat

The city reads differently from the water. Small open boats and evening cruises beat the big glass-roof barges.

Tickets and tours →

The Jordaan

The prettiest wandering neighborhood: hofjes (hidden courtyards), Saturday's Noordermarkt, and brown cafes made for a rainy hour.

Tickets and tours →

Vondelpark by bike

Rent wheels and do the classic loop, then keep going: the free ferries behind Centraal Station reach the post-industrial cool of Noord in ten minutes.

Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Book the big three ahead in every season: Anne Frank House the moment tickets release six weeks out, Van Gogh at least a week out, Rijksmuseum for the first morning slot.
The crowds concentrate on a few corridors: Damrak, the Red Light District, and the Museumplein approaches. Two streets over in the Jordaan or the Nine Streets, density drops by half.
For tulips, go at Keukenhof's opening hour on a weekday, or skip the gardens for a bike ride through the bulb fields, which have no lines at all.
King's Day week is a decision, not an accident: come for the party and book months ahead, or shift your trip a week either side and enjoy near-peak spring at lower intensity.

Know before you go

Amsterdam works year-round, full stop. No vacation shutdown month, no seasonal closure wave: the museums, restaurants, and canal cruises run at full strength from January through December.
The one hard seasonal gate is Keukenhof: open only from roughly late March to mid May. Miss the window and the famous gardens are simply closed, though the city's flower market runs all year.
King's Day (April 27) closes museums and most shops while the street party takes over; the days around it run normally but at maximum occupancy.
December 25 and January 1 close most museums and shops; the Light Festival and the city's restaurants carry the holiday week.