{"id":207,"date":"2022-09-01T13:59:45","date_gmt":"2022-09-01T13:59:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bookatour.amsterdam\/?p=207"},"modified":"2026-04-07T19:30:10","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T19:30:10","slug":"to-do-in-amsterdam-in-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookatour.amsterdam\/nl\/2022\/09\/01\/to-do-in-amsterdam-in-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Wat te doen in winters Amsterdam"},"content":{"rendered":"

There is a good reason people say you shouldn\u2019t visit Amsterdam in winter. That\u2019s because, though people might imagine it\u2019s a wintery wonderland, it\u2019s nothing of the kind. Instead, for most of the time, the temperature stubbornly hovers just above zero while wind, rain and sleet make life miserable. (And no, we very rarely get to skate to work). Add to that short days and grumpy Dutch people and you see why many suggest you avoid it.<\/p>\n

At the same time, it isn\u2019t all bad news! If you have booked your trip, there is still plenty to do. Here we\u2019ll discuss a few of them. Just remember, bring warm clothing. Also, wind and umbrellas don\u2019t mix. So, unless you want to entertain bystanders with your umbrella chasing antics, raincoats are a better bet.<\/p>\n

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The Museums<\/h2>\n

There are 75 museums in Amsterdam<\/a>. From the Van Gogh, to the Handbag museum and even NEMO for kids and those young at heart! If museums are your thing, there are advantages to visiting during winter, as there are a lot less tourists in town.<\/p>\n

Some things to note: Dutch museums charge quite a lot, particularly at the entrance. Therefore, consider buying your ticket online. Particularly, as often these tickets allow you to skip whatever line is still there. Alternatively, if you\u2019re going to visit a few museums, consider getting a city card<\/a>. Though you\u2019ll have to plonk down some money up front, you\u2019ll get to visit as many museums as you like and also get to take public transport for free.<\/p>\n

Boat tours<\/h2>\n

Dutch boating companies are fully aware that winter keeps coming back, every year. For that reason, a lot of them have internal heating, roofs and other knick knacks to keep you warm and protect you from the elements.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s well worth it, as the waterways of Amsterdam are one huge UNESCO heritage site! What\u2019s more, the early sunsets mean it\u2019s easy to see the city at the night time, when it\u2019s all pretty and lit up.<\/p>\n

There are a lot of boating companies out there to choose from, from the large bus-like things to smaller private affairs. We\u2019re on the smaller end of that range and we offer private tours<\/a> for up to 10 people and shared tours<\/a>. So, come on board whether you\u2019re many or few.<\/p>\n

The light festival<\/h2>\n

From November 29th<\/sup> till January 20th<\/sup> there is a big and world renown public art exhibition in the streets of Amsterdam called the Amsterdam light festival<\/a>. Artists from all over the world showcase a wide range of art pieces which all involve having some sort of light theme to them. As of this writing, there are 200(!) pieces on display!<\/p>\n

Many of the artists are famous and you\u2019ll normally have to pay a lot to see their art. So, it\u2019s a great opportunity for the art lovers. You can see the artworks on foot, bike or \u2013 yes \u2013 again boat<\/a>. It\u2019s modern art, by the way, so it\u2019s worth reading what the artist was trying to convey as that knowledge adds to the experience.<\/p>\n

Cafes, bars and restaurants<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s true, in the past Dutch food wasn\u2019t all that exciting. It basically amounted to a collection of cabbage dishes. Fortunately, our international roots have allowed us to sample a wide range of other country\u2019s cuisines and learn from them. Now, there are a huge number of restaurants for you to try out, with foods from all over the world.<\/p>\n

So, are you in the mood for French, Thai or Mexican? You\u2019ll find it! Make sure you do some searching online before you go out, and you\u2019re likely to be well impressed. Trip advisor<\/a> is a good place to take a look.<\/p>\n

Do make sure you do that, though. As otherwise chances are you\u2019re going to end up sitting in a tourist trap. Yes, we\u2019ve got a lot of those as well.<\/p>\n

Then there are our brown bars. These are like the English pubs, but then \u2013 well \u2013 Dutch. They have a wide range of beers to choose from, often have fireplaces and are a great way to spend an evening.<\/p>\n

Another thing you should definitely check out is the coffee culture. Amsterdam has a lot of cafes which serve great coffee as well as cakes, pies and other sugary snacks. These are great places to hang out in when the weather decides to take a nasty turn.<\/p>\n

Coffee shops<\/h2>\n

And yes, no guide to what to do in Amsterdam in Winter would be complete without an entry on coffee shops. They are still something that pique the interest of tourists and can be an interesting stopover in the cold months of winter. After all, they were one of the first places you could buy weed and hash without running the risk of getting arrested in the world! (No, they are not legal, just decriminalized<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Some things to note:<\/p>\n