Christmas Scene Amsterdam

Christmas Greeting from Amsterdam

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Are you thinking about taking a Christmas break in Amsterdam?  Well, here are a couple of good reasons why you should visit the Dutch Capital this festive season.  It’s true to say that the Dutch love the colder months and Christmas is indeed a very special time to visit.

More Relaxed Vibe
Winter is a great time to visit Amsterdam generally because the colder weather means that there are less tourists on the streets so there are shorter queues to enter the most popular attractions like museums, galleries, bars, restaurants and clubs.  The result of this is that you will get a much better chance to explore more of the city as it takes much less time to do anything! Just remember to pack a few more items of clothing to keep warm because when the wind blows off the North Sea it gets pretty blooming cold out there.  We recommend that you throw in a few extra thick jumpers, scarfs and some snug boots, get yourself down to one the fantastic Christmas Markets and fill up on mulled wine.

Visit the Christmas Markets
If food and drink are on the top of your list when it comes to weekends away, then the fantastic Christmas Markets of Amsterdam are certainly worth a visit.  They are now famous for their beautifully illuminated market stalls selling some of the capital’s most delicious food, drinks and high quality hand-made crafts

Christmas Market Lights

What about trying something new and different?
Housed in Tramremise, an old tram depot, you’ll find an interesting new collection of innovative food concepts.  There’s a fantastic range of restaurants and food stalls brought to you by local entrepreneurs, offering original local delicious food and drinks.  There’s no need to book in advance, most restaurants have plenty of seating available and it’s also possible to take your food away with you if you are pressed for time or just want to explore while you eat.

Natural Ice Skating
The great thing about Amsterdam in the winter months is that when you want to go Ice Skating you don’t need to go to a rink! When the temperatures drop below zero degrees and the conditions are right, the canals of Amsterdam freeze over and believe it or not, you are allowed to skate on them!  Imagine telling your friends back home that you saw the sites of Amsterdam, not by boat, bike or on foot but by skate.  There’s over 100 kilometres of canals in the city, that’s a heel of a lot of skating to be done!  You’ll probably have to be pretty lucky for the temperatures to be low enough to skate “Au naturel” but if skating tickles your fancy when visiting the city then there are still plenty of spots that offer outdoor ice skating.  Try ICE Amsterdamand Museumplein.

For the Culture Buffs
Famous around the world for museums, Amsterdam hosts a yearly “Museum Night” which a great way to see Dutch culture, history, design and so much more besides.  You’ll gain entry to almost 50 selected museums in the city until 2 am! Included in the price of the ticket are tours, performances, concerts and workshops, oh and not to forget, lots of food and drink.  More information and how to buy a ticket.

Stena Line offer a day and night time sailing from Harwich to the Hook of Holland.  Find the best prices for your next trip to Holland on www.stenaline.co.uk.  Alternatively, Stena Line offers a Rail & Sail ticket which takes you from Liverpool Street in the heart of London to Amsterdam Central.

Christmas in Amsterdam