10 Things to Do in Amsterdam in December

In my opinion, December is the best month to explore Amsterdam. Despite the cooler temperatures and shorter daylight hours, the Venice of the North shines brightest. Christmas adds a splash of colour to the squares and streets, while the Festival of Lights brings a little magic to the canals. Here are some tips to help you plan your holiday.

In the first half of the month, a 20-metre tree arrives on Dam Square, the heart of Amsterdam. Some four kilometres of LED lights adorn it, and if you're lucky enough to be in town, you can witness the lighting ceremony. On the first day (but also on the following days) children and families gather around it to sing carols and eat traditional desserts. If you get cold, you can take shelter in the Amsterdam Wax Museum, which is just a few metres away.

And after being dazzled by this impressive tree, you can take shelter in one of Amsterdam's most important museums, such as the Wax Museum, which is just a minute's walk away.

Every year, the Dutch capital greets the arrival of winter with the Amsterdam Light Festival, an explosion of colours that illuminates streets and canals. Artists, designers and architects from all over the world submit their proposals and the selection committee chooses the best works. Among the most appreciated works are Van Gogh's "Starry Night" by Serbians Ivana Jelić and Pavle Petrović and "Butterfly Effect", seven blue butterflies resting on the waters of the Plantage Muidergracht.

To appreciate the Festival of Lights from the best perspective, I recommend choosing a night cruise along Amsterdam's canals. As you cruise, you'll pass by the attractions without getting cold and listening to an audio guide available in many languages, including English. These tours usually depart from central locations such as the Damrak (a stone's throw from Central Station) or the Euweplein (a short walk from the Casino).

From December onwards, Zwolle hosts an event that your little ones will love. If you are travelling with children, I recommend spending a day in this medieval city that is known for its gothic church (Grote Kerk), the Fundatie Museum and its peaceful parks. The Beelden Festival has become the most important winter event in the Netherlands with more than 100 figures carved in ice.

The Beelden Festival is very popular and if you want to avoid the queues, I recommend visiting during the week. The Netherlands is a small country and it's easy to get from one corner to another. From the capital, you can simply take an intercity from Amsterdam Zuid station. For more ideas, I recommend you read the post about the best excursions from Amsterdam.

And if you're not afraid of the cold and want to spend the afternoon in an ice bar, wrap up warm and check out the Xtracold Icebar, a unique place where you can have drinks at minus 10 degrees Celsius.

Christmas goes well with vintage atmospheres and to discover this you can visit the Willet-Holthuysen, a 17th century manor house converted into a museum. Its walls house an important collection of porcelain, glassware, furniture and works of art from the Dutch Golden Age.

Between December and early January, this cultural institution shows us how the Willet-Holthuysen couple celebrated Christmas in the 19th century. When you enter, you will be captivated by its decoration, which includes gilded candelabras, wooden toys, antique armchairs and a fireplace embellished with delightful bas-reliefs (Herengracht 605).

Also, if you want to see one of the most popular palaces in the Netherlands, don't hesitate to take a trip to The Hague and visit the Huis ten Bosch Palace, one of the four official residences of the Dutch Royal Family.

December is a special month and the capital of the Netherlands experiences the festive season with great anticipation. Like other cities in Northern Europe, Amsterdam also has Christmas markets with souvenirs, local crafts and sweet and savoury food. Here is our round-up of the most interesting ones:

• Ice Village, the recurring event on Museumplein. Every December, the Museumplein is filled with Christmas stalls. You can buy decorations, souvenirs, clothes, food and much more. It is open from Monday to Sunday from 11:00 to 20:00, while on 24 and 25 December it closes its doors at 17:00. At the foot of the Rijksmuseum there is also an ice rink.
• Funky Xmas Market, an art, fashion and design market. Artists and creatives sell their products directly to the public. Their stalls are located in the Westergas, an old gasometer converted into a cultural complex. It is located in the western quadrant of the city and is well connected to the city centre. From the central station, just take the bus (line 21) and get off at the Van Hallstraat stop.
• Pure Markt, an old greenhouse complex, is now the largest and most important ecological park in the Dutch capital. It specialises in fresh home-made produce. If you want a slice of cheesecake or some local cheesecake, this is the place for you. For more info, I recommend you check out their official website.
• Winter Village, the Christmas village a few kilometres from Dam Square. Amstelveen is a municipality south of the Dutch capital, very close to Schiphol airport. It's hardly mentioned in the guidebooks, but in December it's well worth a visit for a bit of shopping. During the four weeks, Winter Park is a favourite destination for children, who can get their hopes up with Christmas lights, skate on the ice and recharge their batteries with a cup of hot chocolate.

You'll find their stalls in Stadshart Amstelveen, a shopping centre in the centre of Amstelveen. To get there, take the metro (line 51) and get off at the Amstelveenseweg stop. From there, take a bus (line 356 or 357) and get off at Busstation. If you have some time left, you can take the opportunity to visit the Stedelijk Museum, the most important museum of modern and contemporary art.

December in Amsterdam is cold and cloudy. Often, fog hints at the canals creating a fairytale atmosphere. Streets and bridges shrouded in a blanket of white are perfect for some evocative photos, and after a stroll, you can take refuge in the bruin cafés, Amsterdam's most typical bars. These traditional establishments owe their name to the wooden walls that form dark atmospheres illuminated by warm yellow lights. In the list below we have compiled the best of them:

• Arendsnest, the temple of Dutch beer. The best national vintages come out of its taps. Sit down and try a Rook In De Kachel (smoky and dark in colour) or a Voór, a blend of barrel-aged and barrel-fermented beers with plums (Herengracht 90).
• Café Chris, the oldest bar in the Jordaan. If you have a pint outside the busiest times, you can enjoy their billiards (Bloemstraat 42).
• In 't Aepjen, a place with a unique history. In the past, sailors returning from their voyages would come here to drink and spend the night. When they ran out of money, some would pay off their debts by leaving the owners some monkeys. You got it right, the animals were captured and used as pets. The primates were taken care of by Gerard Westerman, a regular customer of the tavern who took them into his private garden. After a few years, Westerman's park became the Amsterdam Zoo (Zeedijk 1).
• Café Hoppe, where everything is taken care of down to the smallest detail. In 2013 it was voted the best café in the Netherlands and the quality has not diminished over the years. Famous guests include Princess Beatrix and beer magnate Freddy Heineken (Spui 18-20).
• T'Papeneiland, the café that has been visited by Bill Clinton. The former US president visited this establishment in 2011 to try its famous apple pie. In reality, its history is much older. At the beginning of the 17th century, a secret Catholic church was hidden behind this bar and to access it you had to go through a tunnel under the floor of the T'Papeneiland (Prinsengracht 2).
• De Twee Zwaantjes, where you can test your singing skills. Possibly one of the liveliest bruin cafés in the Dutch capital (Prinsengracht 114).

And once you've worked up an appetite, you can treat yourself to another menu at the Hard Rock Cafe.

If in Spain children write letters to the Three Wise Men, in the Netherlands they await the arrival of Sinterklaas, the Dutch version of Father Christmas who delivers presents and sweets in mid-November in Amsterdam. However, this is not the only difference, which is why I want to talk about Christmas desserts. When you are in Amsterdam, you will know which one to choose...

• Kerststol, a traditional bread with sugar, dried and candied fruits, sultanas, cardamom, nutmeg and lemon zest. When you taste it, you will also perceive notes of brandy and vanilla. Kerststol is usually served sliced and served with butter.
• Oliebollen, fried doughnuts that you will see on every street corner in the city, in shops and at street stalls. Some say the best are found at Hartog's Volkoren (Wibautstraat 77), Bakkerij Ad Straathof (Ten Katestraat 21) and De Bakkerszonen (Roetersstraat 21).
• Pepernoten, round in shape and with an unmistakable spicy aroma. They are flavoured with honey and cane or maple sugar syrup. They are eaten on 5 December, St Nicholas' Day, but can be found in bakeries as early as October.
• Kerstkransjes, "Christmas wreaths". These are butter and vanilla biscuits covered with almond slices or candied cherries. They are so beautiful that in the Netherlands they are used to decorate Christmas trees.
• Speculaas, biscuits with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cardamom and white pepper. As with other recipes of this kind, the secret is in the dough. To soak up the aromas, it is left to rest overnight in a cool place. According to the locals, the Simon Meijssen mini-chain of bakeries produces delicious speculaas from the oven.

And if you want to continue tasting typical products, don't hesitate to go cheese tasting, one of the most popular gastronomic plans in the capital of the Netherlands.

A three-day city break in Amsterdam is the perfect opportunity to buy the last of your Christmas presents. The capital of the Netherlands is a popular shopping destination and each neighbourhood has its own shopping areas worth exploring. Here is a short list of our favourites:

• Negen Straatjes, the famous nine streets. This name is used to refer to the area between the Singel, Herengracht, Keizersgracht and Prinsengracht, which is home to all kinds of shops. The most curious destinations are De Witte Tandenwinkel(selling all kinds of toothbrushes, Nieuwe Binnenweg 62) and the button shop De Knopenwinkel(Herengracht 389). Fashionistas will find their paradise here, as the Nine Streets are dotted with boutiques, clothes shops, shoe shops and much more.

If you're looking for a cheeselover's treat, I recommend you pop into De Kaaskamer, an institution in the Dutch capital. Their experts will help you choose the ideal cheese (Runstraat 7). For the more refined palates, you can turn to the Antiekcentrum, an area of more than 1700 m2 that houses a collection of 17th and 18th century antiques, art deco objects and other merchandise from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s (Elandsgracht 109).

• PC Hooftstraat, the fashion district of the Dutch capital. This is where the crème de la crème of fashion brands (Cartier, Gucci, Chanel, Michael Kors, etc.) are concentrated.
• Haarlemmerstraat and Haarlemmerdijk, two shopping streets with a wide range of independent and specialised shops. Head to Rumos Vintage & Design for handbags, sunglasses and second-hand clothes. Their collection focuses on fashion from the sixties and seventies, but there's no shortage of pieces from the fifties or nineties (Haarlemmerstraat 29).
• Magna Plaza, a post office converted into a mall. On its four floors you will find the main international clothing and beauty brands (Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 182).
• Albert Cuypmarkt, one of Europe's largest open-air markets. Stop at the stalls, you're likely to find a bargain. Take the opportunity to eat something typical, for example a stroopwafel (caramel waffles) or some fresh herring (Albert Cuypstraat).
• Waterloopleinmarkt, Amsterdam's flea market. There's a bit of everything from antique books to second-hand furniture (Waterlooplein).

Every December, the Carré Theatre (Koninklijk Theater Carré) hosts one of the most anticipated events of the Christmas season. The World Christmas Circus is an internationally renowned event that brings together artists from China, Vietnam, Russia, Korea, the United States and other countries. Book your ticket in advance: in the past, some 58,000 visitors have been registered in just over two weeks! It's easy to get here - the theatre is located on the banks of the Amstel River just a stone's throw from the Magere Brug, Amsterdam's most famous bridge.

Amsterdam is the ideal destination for chocolate lovers. Although not as famous as its neighbour Brussels, the Dutch capital has a number of establishments where you can indulge in the cocoa drink. Read on to discover the top-rated bars.

• Pompadour, famous as much for its chocolates as for its cakes. They use Valrhona, the chocolate used by top chefs, to make their chocolates. Another attraction is the elegant Louis XVI-style tea room (Huidenstraat 12).
• Cacaomuseum, much more than just a chocolate shop. In addition to a hot cup, you can have a few experiences. For example, you can make pralines or draw with chocolate. For a complete list, take a look at the official website (Czaar Peterstraat 175).
• Scandinavian Embassy, a corner of Stockholm in the heart of Amsterdam. In addition to chocolate, customers come here for their coffee (all beans come from small roasters in Scandinavia) and cinnamon buns (Sarphatipark 34).
• Moods Coffee Corner, the perfect place to start the day. It is famous for its healthy breakfasts (fresh and seasonal). For its cups, it uses Belgian and Italian chocolates, while for coffee, it offers a selection of locally roasted beans (Lindengracht 249).

If you visit the Venice of the North in December, you know for sure that you won't find good weather. This is the darkest month of the year and the humidity rate can reach 86%. However, it's a special time of year, with Christmas markets and traditional dessert stalls adding a splash of colour. If you're afraid of snow, don't worry. Generally, snowfall is of interest in January and February.

If you don't have much of a budget, you'll have to be very careful with the dates. In conjunction with the Festival of Lights and close to Christmas or the last day of the year, prices go up. On the other hand, if you choose other days , you may find some bargains. To save money and have two whole months at your disposal, I recommend booking a flight in January or February.