Amsterdam events & things to do in December 2026
Start with Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, plus Royal Palace Amsterdam and Dam Square. December in Amsterdam averages 6°C / 43°F highs, 2°C / 36°F nights, and about 19 rainy days.
Expect 6°C/43°F days and about 19 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- Rijksmuseum★ 4.7 · 112.1k reviewsThe national museum reopened after major renovation with Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals, ship models, Delftware, weapons, and Dutch history in a…
- Van Gogh Museum★ 4.6 · 105.6k reviewsThe Museumplein museum holds the world's largest Van Gogh collection, including self-portraits, letters, still lifes, drawings, and works by peers.
- Beth HartDec 1 – Dec 4Source: Ticketmaster
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By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Amsterdam in December 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
43°F / 36°F
6.2°C / 2.3°C
RainPrecipitation
19d
2.8in · 70.5mm
LightDaylight
8h
December is cold and damp, with light festivals, markets, and indoor museum days carrying the trip.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- Dec 1
- Dec 1
- Dec 2 – Dec 3
Show all 39 events for December
- Dec 2
- Dec 3 – Dec 31
Amsterdam Light Festival 2026
An annual festival featuring spectacular light art installations throughout the city’s canals and public spaces, attracting visitors to experience creative light artworks during the dark winter months.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 3
- Dec 3
- Dec 4
- Dec 4
- Dec 4 – Dec 6
- Dec 5
Museum Night Amsterdam 2026
A special night when many museums in Amsterdam open late with special exhibitions, performances, and events, allowing visitors to explore the city’s cultural institutions in a unique atmosphere.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 5 – Dec 7
- Dec 5
- Dec 6
- Dec 6
- Dec 6
- Dec 7
- Dec 8
- Dec 8
- Dec 9
- Dec 9
- Dec 10 – Dec 24
Christmas Markets Amsterdam 2026
Various Christmas markets across the city offering seasonal food, crafts, gifts, and entertainment in a festive atmosphere.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 10
- Dec 11 – Dec 13
- Dec 11
- Dec 12
Winter Parade Amsterdam 2026
A festive parade featuring music, dance, and colorful floats celebrating the winter season and holiday spirit in the city center.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 12
- Dec 13
- Dec 13
- Dec 14
- Dec 15 – Dec 30
National Opera & Ballet: Holiday Season Performances 2026
Special holiday season performances including classic operas and ballets held at the Dutch National Opera & Ballet venue.
Planning lead · dates set closer in · Source: festival research
- Dec 18
- Dec 18
- Dec 19
- Dec 19
- Dec 20
- Dec 20 – Dec 21
- Dec 21
- Dec 23
Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 26Boxing DayPublic holiday
- Dec 31New Year's EveBank holiday
- Dec 25-Dec 27Long weekend
- Dec 31-Jan 3Long weekend with bridge day
About Amsterdam
City overview
Amsterdam sits where the Amstel meets the IJ, with the Canal Ring, Jordaan, De Pijp, Museum Quarter, Noord, Oost, and Plantage dividing Golden Age canals, museums, markets, ferries, nightlife, and cycling routes into clear visitor zones. The 17th-century canal belt is the city's core structure, while NDSM, Albert Cuyp Market, Vondelpark, and Amsterdam Noord keep the trip from staying inside the postcard center.
Food & drink
Amsterdam food works through markets, brown cafes, and former-colonial kitchens: stroopwafels press caramel syrup between thin waffle rounds, bitterballen are ragout croquettes for beer tables, broodje haring puts herring with onion and pickles in a roll, and kibbeling fries battered white fish. Albert Cuyp Market, Foodhallen, Noordermarkt, Dappermarkt, Haarlemmerbuurt, and De Pijp add Dutch cheese, poffertjes, Indonesian rijsttafel, Surinamese roti, and apple pie.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Royal Palace Amsterdam and Dam Square
- 2Anne Frank House
- 3NEMO Science Museum
- 4Stedelijk Museum
- 5Vondelpark
- 6A'DAM Lookout and EYE Filmmuseum
- 7Canal Ring cruise and Herengracht
- 8Albert Cuyp Market
1Royal Palace Amsterdam and Dam Square
4.6★ · 26,273indoorOpen dailyJacob van Campen designed the former city hall, completed in the 17th century and later converted for royal use. The palace faces Dam Square beside Nieuwe Kerk and the main shopping streets.
2Anne Frank House
4.5★ · 75,117indoorOpen dailyThe museum preserves the Prinsengracht canal house and rear annex where Anne Frank, her family, and others hid from 1942 to 1944. It sits on the edge of Jordaan near Westerkerk.
WikipediaTickets are online-only and often sell out weeks ahead; book as soon as dates open.
3NEMO Science Museum
4.5★ · 36,670indoorClosed MonRenzo Piano designed the copper-green science museum above the IJ tunnel, with hands-on exhibits on physics, chemistry, energy, and engineering. The rooftop terrace looks back toward Centraal Station and the harbor.
Show 3 more sights
- 4Stedelijk Museum
- 5Vondelpark
- 6A'DAM Lookout and EYE Filmmuseum
Neighborhoods
1Canal Ring and Binnenstad
The old center is dense with Dam Square, Nieuwmarkt, Red Light District lanes, canal houses, shops, churches, and late crowds.
2Jordaan
Jordaan is canal-side and residential, with Westerkerk, Anne Frank House, Noordermarkt, Haarlemmerstraat, galleries, brown cafes, and small bridges.
3Museum Quarter and Oud-Zuid
Museum Quarter and Oud-Zuid feel polished, with Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, Stedelijk, Concertgebouw, Vondelpark, and P.C. Hooftstraat.
Day trips
20km / 20min by train from Amsterdam Centraal to Zaandijk Zaanse Schans
Zaanse Schans
Windmills, wooden houses, workshops, cheese shops, and open-air heritage displays make the classic half-day north of the city.
35km / 45-60min by train and bus from Amsterdam Zuid or Schiphol, seasonal mid-March to mid-May
Keukenhof and Lisse
Tulip gardens, bulb fields, pavilions, and spring flower displays work only during the annual opening season.
20km / 15-20min by train from Amsterdam Centraal
Haarlem
Grote Markt, Frans Hals Museum, canals, hofjes, shopping streets, and breweries give a quieter Dutch city day.
Getting around
GVB runs trams, metro, buses, and IJ ferries with OVpay contactless, while NS trains cover Schiphol and day trips. Walk the canal core, use trams for Museumplein and De Pijp, rent bikes only if confident in traffic, and take free ferries for Noord.
Planning a Amsterdam trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about Amsterdam in December
- Best rainy-day things to do in Amsterdam in December
December averages 19 rainy days in Amsterdam, so keep these indoor stops as realistic backups.
- Rijksmuseum — The national museum reopened after major renovation with Rembrandt, Vermeer, Frans Hals, ship models, Delftware, weapons, and Dutch history in a Pierre Cuypers building from 1885. It anchors Museumplein beside the Van Gogh Museum.
- Van Gogh Museum — The Museumplein museum holds the world's largest Van Gogh collection, including self-portraits, letters, still lifes, drawings, and works by peers. It is close to tram stops and the Stedelijk.
- Royal Palace Amsterdam and Dam Square — Jacob van Campen designed the former city hall, completed in the 17th century and later converted for royal use. The palace faces Dam Square beside Nieuwe Kerk and the main shopping streets.
- Anne Frank House — The museum preserves the Prinsengracht canal house and rear annex where Anne Frank, her family, and others hid from 1942 to 1944. It sits on the edge of Jordaan near Westerkerk.
- NEMO Science Museum — Renzo Piano designed the copper-green science museum above the IJ tunnel, with hands-on exhibits on physics, chemistry, energy, and engineering. The rooftop terrace looks back toward Centraal Station and the harbor.
- What to pack for Amsterdam in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Amsterdam checklist.
- A warm coat and insulating layers for average highs around 6°C / 43°F.
- A heavier evening layer because nights average 2°C / 36°F.
- Compact rain gear and shoes that handle wet pavement across about 19 rainy days.
- How many days do you need in Amsterdam
- 4 days covers the main Amsterdam highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
Ready to plan Amsterdam?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day Amsterdam plan for December 2026, every place checked for your exact dates.