The 5 best things to do in Amsterdam in winter

Go ice skating

When visiting Amsterdam in winter you might get lucky and participate in one of the Dutch’s most favourite winter activities: ice skating on the frozen canals, the world’s most unique ice rink. But even if the canals don’t freeze enough to be safe to skate on, there are plenty of alternatives in the city.  

If you are in Amsterdam in the weeks before Christmas, you can go ice skating at some of the city's Christmas markets, for example at Museum Square. Outside of the Christmas season, you can always try your hand at skating on one of the permanent ice rinks in the city. The Jaap Eden IJsbaan was one of the first 400-metre ice rinks in the world, and you can even rent skates here.  

Try Dutch Christmas treats

After a long day of sightseeing it is time to fill your belly with classic winter dishes! Warm yourself up with a steaming hot bowl of Snert, a thick and savoury pea soup served with rye bread, or stamppot, the traditional Dutch version of mashed potatoes and veggies like carrots served with meat.

Once you’re finished with the main course, it’s time for dessert! Oliebollen are one of the Dutch’s most beloved winter treats as they are only available during this time of the year. The delicious, deep-fried dough balls are traditionally eaten covered in icing sugar but there are many variations out there nowadays! 

Pick a bouquet of tulips on Museum Square

Tulips are one of the first things that might come to mind when thinking about the Netherlands. And while the colourful tulips are usually associated with the arrival of spring, the famous flowers can be found in Amsterdam much earlier. The third Saturday of January marks Nationale Tulpendag, National Tulip Day, marking the official start of Tulip season.

Every year in January, the Museum Square is filled with a sea of more than 200,000 flowers. Specially arranged, the tulips form a giant temporary garden. And the best part is that it is all open for visitors to pick their own bouquet consisting of 20 tulips for free! Make sure to come by early though, the garden opens at 1 in the afternoon and the festival is popular among locals and tourists alike. 

Do you want to learn more about spending time in Amsterdam in winter? We got you covered! Read more about Dutch Christmas traditions and how to best pack for the cold season in Amsterdam in our other blogs.