DISCOVER: 8 Reasons to Visit Amsterdam in Winter
Amsterdam in the winter is pure poetry. Cosy, hearty, intimate — from November and December, all the way through to March, the city swaps its postcard personality for something far more intriguing. Yes, it’s cold. Yes, you’ll need layers. But trust us — its darkest months are spellbinding. When canal houses wear frost-like jewellery and fairy lights pierce through early sunsets, that’s when you’ll really feel the magic. So zip up that coat, grab a hot chocolate, and get ready to embrace the city’s most underrated season. Here are our picks for the best things to do and reasons to visit Amsterdam in winter.
Amsterdam Light Festival
Just when you think the early sunsets might get you down – boom! – the whole city turns into a dazzling electric dreamscape. Every year come December, the city’s renowned artists and freshest talents are given free rein to turn the capital’s canals into their personal canvas. Neon masterpieces hover over the water; century-old bridges become portals to other dimensions; and those moody Dutch skies? They’re just the perfect backdrop for this twilight theatre.
Ditch the regular canal tours and book a festival boat touring the glowing installations. There’s nothing quite like clutching a cup of glühwein, watching your breath mist in the winter air, and taking it all in. And here’s the best bit — art’otel Amsterdam is 30 seconds from where the canal tours start. How convenient.
Kattencafé Kopjes
On any of winter’s chillier, more drizzly days, there’s no warmer welcome than at Kattencafé Kopjes – even if the staff might literally turn their backs on you. This snug cat café in De Pijp is ruled by eight rescued felines, all of whom keep watch from their custom-built kingdom of catwalks and cushioned nooks. Sink into a 50’s style armchair with a steaming cup of local coffee and homemade cake while these furry overlords decide if you’re worthy of their attention. One might grace your lap as you read, another might judge your pastry choice from their shearling perch. Just FYI: reservations are essential — these cats have a strict door policy.
Saunaboot
Leave it to the Dutch to look at sub-zero waters and think, “You know what this needs? A floating sauna.” The result is Saunaboot — part sauna, part boat, part genius. One for when the sauna in art’otel Amsterdam just isn’t enough, steam yourself silly while spending the morning (or afternoon) drifting peacefully across Lake Wijde Blik, just south of Amsterdam. It’s a bizarre yet beautiful experience, combining traditional Finnish sauna culture with Amsterdam’s nautical heritage. All you need are swimwear, a bathrobe, possibly some snacks and drinks, and an ‘up for anything’ attitude.
Festive Markets
You’re spoilt for choice here. Christmas Village Amsterdam in Museumplein tends to steal the spotlight — skating on the doorstep of the Rijksmuseum while surrounding vendors dish out everything from raclette to rookworst honestly feels like a scene straight out of a Christmas film. Elsewhere, the Funky Xmas Market at Westergasfabriek is where Amsterdam’s creatives throw a party. Think one-off jewellery pieces, indie fashion labels, and art you won’t find anywhere else.
Need a dose of traditional charm? Head to Haarlem’s Christmas Market, where the medieval Grote Markt transforms into a festive time capsule complete with carol singers and artisanal food stalls. The travelling Pure Markt puts an artisanal twist on things, while Amsterdam Winter Paradise at RAI (December through January) goes all out with cross-country skiing, winter sports, and live entertainment.
Wynand Fockink
Everything about this old-school bar, from the adorably lopsided flooring to the intimate setting and well-priced liqueur, embodies Dutch gezellig: a cosy, fun, relaxing atmosphere where people can feel totally at home. Here you’ll learn the proper way to drink jenever (Dutch gin) — bending over and taking your first sip without using your hands — while sampling liqueurs in every flavour imaginable. Found a few steps from Dam Square, it’s been a go-to respite from biting winds for centuries, dating all the way back to 1679. Complete with wonky walls and low ceilings, Wynand Fockink oodles with wintery charm inside and out.
Gorge yourself on Oliebollen
If you haven’t tried oliebollen, you haven’t really experienced Dutch winter. These deep-fried dough balls, dusted with powdered sugar, are basically Dutch doughnuts on steroids. They only appear during winter months, and locals queue up at street carts and bakeries to get their fix. The best part? They’re traditionally eaten on New Year’s Eve, but you’ll find them throughout the winter season. Head to any oliebollen stand (follow your nose – you can’t miss them) and order them fresh and hot. Local wisdom says the stand at the Albert Cuyp Market serves some of Amsterdam’s finest, but we say the most moreish ones are found at Lanskroon and Hartog’s.
Museums & Galleries
Yes, you can visit Amsterdam’s museums and galleries anytime, but winter is when they’ll be at their quietest. No more playing sardines with large tour groups in the Van Gogh Museum or waiting in endless queues at the Rijksmuseum. Winter visitors can stroll right in like they own the place. Want an intimate moment with The Night Watch? You got it. Fancy a solo date with those swirling Sunflowers? All yours.
Over at MOCO Museum, Banksy and Kusama hold court without the usual crowd of Instagram warriors. And STRAAT Museum? Picture a warehouse the size of a football field where street art reigns supreme — the perfect spot to thaw out while feeding your soul. Better yet, why even leave art’otel Amsterdam in the first place? We’ve our very own art gallery downstairs.
Moeders
There’s just something so homely, so wholesome, about comfort food in winter. Moeders (meaning ‘Mothers’ — and yes, the walls are plastered with photos of them) is all about the familiar familial comfort. This cosy chaos of mismatched plates and family recipes has been a hit ever since it opened in 1990, giving traditional Dutch dishes the respect they deserve. The stamppot (mashed potatoes, veggies, meat and gravy) feels like a warm hug in a bowl, while the gehaktballen (meatballs) and Suddervlees (beef stew) instantly take you back to childhood. And naturally, traditional rules apply – you’re not leaving until you’ve cleaned your plate.
