12 Fun things to do in The Netherlands during Christmastime

The days are getting shorter and it's getting colder outside, which in the Netherlands means that the Christmas period is just around the corner! The Netherlands is transformed into a winter wonderland, with plenty of fun activities on the schedule that you won't want to miss!

1.CHRISTMAS MARKETS VALKENBURG

A unique Christmas market is the Christmas market in Valkenburg, which is called the Christmas City of the Netherlands. These Christmas markets are not only above ground, but also underground. The Christmas markets are a Christmas and winter world underground and run through the ancient corridors under the castle ruins of Valkenburg. There are several caves here with Christmas markets.

The Valkenburg Christmas markets are open this year from Friday 15 November till Thursday 5 January. Tickets are available per cave or location with a time slot ranging from €10.00 to €18.50.

Valkenburg is accessible by both car and public transport. You can travel to Valkenburg by public transport via Heerlen, Kerkrade Centrum or Maastricht. Although they prefer that you do not come by car, it is possible. Within Valkenburg there are signs that refer to 'Kerststad Valkenburg' and point in the direction of parking facilities. A day ticket for parking costs €9.00, and if you reserve it, you are guaranteed a parking space.

2. Het AMSTERDAMse winterparadijs

If you want to enjoy a day out with everything you could want, Het Amsterdam Winterparadijs is definitely worth a visit. It is one of the largest and most pleasant winter events in the Netherlands, located in Amsterdam. Here, you can enjoy various winter attractions, ice skating, winter fun and of course delicious food and drinks. One of the great things about this location is that you can choose whether you want to be inside or outside, as they have set up different things both outside and inside RAI.

This year, Het Amsterdams Winterparadijs is open from Wednesday december 18th till Saturday January 4th. Tickets range from €19.50 to €29.50, depending on the chosen day and time slot.

The winter wonderland is easily accessible by both public transport and car. The winter wonderland is located in Amsterdam RAI, where a train, metro and tram stop within walking distance. The stops are called Amsterdam RAI (train or metro line 50 and 51) or Europaplein (metro line 52). The route is indicated by signs. Parking is available at the RAI parking garage. A day ticket costs €26.00 to park.

3.MAGIsch MAASTRICHT vrijthof

Another fun winter event in the Netherlands is Het Magisch Maastricht Vrijthof. This is a Christmas market where you can shop for food and drinks. In addition, there are various activities such as an ice rink, a Ferris wheel, and a carousel for children.

Magisch Maastricht Vrijthof is open this year from Thursday November 28th to monday December 30th. Admission is free, but you do need to pay for the activities. You can rent ice skates for adults for €6.00, tickets for the Ferris wheel are €8.00, and for the carousel you pay €3.50 (kids only). They also sell packages with access to the ice rink, Ferris wheel and 2 drink vouchers between€19,50 and €26.60.

Magisch Maastricht Vrijthof is outdoors. The ice rink is covered, but still outside. In addition, there are a few restaurants where you can sit inside and stay warm.

The location is accessible by both public transport and car. You can travel to Maastricht Central by public transport. The location is located in the center and is poorly marked from the station. It is therefore a must to search for the route on your phone, especially if you've never been to Maastricht before, otherwise it can be difficult to find.

4. ROYAL CHRISTMAS FAIR THE HAGUE

Another Christmas market in the Netherlands is the Royal Christmas Fair The Hague in The Hague. This is located in Het Lange Voorhout, in the center of The Hague. The Christmas market has various Christmas stalls, but is mainly intended for the atmosphere with the bars present to enjoy the musical performances on stage.

The Royal Christmas Fair The Hague is open from Thursday 5 to Saturday December 23rd. Access to the location is completely free. The location has 3 entrances, on Kneuterdijk, Korte Voorhout and Denneweg.

5. WINTER WONDERLAND ZEIST

Zeist is transformed into a Christmas town in winter with a Winter Wonderland. There are various activities at the Christmas markets, with a real ice rink, catering establishments, and shops.

Winter Wonderland is open from Friday November 22nd to January 5th. Admission to the Christmas markets is free. If you want to use the ice rink, you pay €9.50 for admission, and if you want to rent skates, you pay an extra €5.00. You also pay €1.00 transaction costs. In total, you will be €15.50.

6. AMSTERDAM LIGHT FESTIVAL

If you want to enjoy the lights, the Amsterdam Light Festival is definitely worth a visit. Here you can enjoy an open-air light art museum from the canals in a covered boat. Especially now that it gets dark so early, this is a fun activity to get into the Christmas spirit. All the artworks can also be seen on foot, but the boat tour is recommended for the best view of the artworks, so you don't have to walk outside in the cold. 

A ticket to the Amsterdam Light Festival is open between november 28th and january 19th. Tickets are available from €19.00.  With taxes and service charges, you pay €20.50 online at Amsterdam Boat Experience. If you get tickets through the official website, you pay €26.50. Both include a boat tour with audio guide, where you get more information about Amsterdam and the light artworks. This tour can be booked from 16:45 to 22:00 and lasts just over an hour.

The tour can be booked at various locations in Amsterdam at easily accessible places such as at multiple locations at Central Station, the A'dam Tower in Noord or the Anne Frank House. Central Station is easily accessible from any side of the Netherlands, and from here the A'dam Tower is easily accessible by ferry and the Anne Frank House by metro or tram.

7. ICE SCULPTURE FESTIVAL ZWOLLE

In Zwolle, you can enjoy the best ice sculptors in the world. The most impressive ice sculptures are built here. This year's theme is Myths and Legends, featuring different mythologies coming to life.

The Netherlands Ice Sculpture Festival is open from December 14th till march 2nd. Online tickets for adults cost between €18.95 and €20.95, depending on the chosen day and time slot. This excludes €0.95 transaction costs. They can be purchased at the box office for €20.95.

The Ice Sculpture Festival can be found in the Ijsselhallen in Zwolle. It is about a 15-minute walk from the station. There is also a parking garage where you can park for €8.00 per day.

8. WINTER EFTELING

If you prefer to spend a whole day or more enjoying the cozy Christmas atmosphere, Winter Efteling is definitely recommended. The amusement park is transformed into a winter wonderland from November till february.

I myself stayed at the Efteling Hotel last time I was there, and it was definitely worth it. You can enjoy the park all day, have dinner in the evening at the restaurant, take a dip in the pool, then sleep in a comfortable room and spend the whole next day in the park again. Did you know that as a hotel guest, you can enjoy the park an hour earlier? We went during a quiet period, so we didn't have to wait (long) for attractions. On busy days and during holidays, this can definitely be different, and it's nice to have the option to do everything you didn't do the previous day or wanting to experience something again on the second day.

The Efteling is located in Kaatsheuvel, in the province of Noord-Brabant. It is recommended to visit the Efteling by car, as you can park your car at both the park and the hotels. Last time, we took public transport, which involved multiple transfers and took much longer than if we had gone by car. This can also be a waste of time or require a lot of energy, so the car is recommended. Unfortunately, we didn't have transportation, so this was our only option, and especially since we had an overnight stay, it was worth it in the end. If I had only gone for one day, I wouldn't do it again by public transport. However, it is possible to go by public transport.

9. SNOWWORLD

Would you like to do winter activities in the Netherlands and still feel like you're in the Alps? At Snowworld, you have the largest indoor ski village in Europe. Here you can ski, snowboard, and even ice kart.

Snowworld can be found in every corner of the Netherlands and is open every day from 9:00 to 22:00. The locations are: Landgraaf, Zoetermeer, Rucphen, Terneuzen, Neuss, Amnéville, Antwerp, and Amsterdam.

10. LIGHT NIGHTS FESTIVAL ZOO OUWEHANDS Dierenpark

When it gets dark in the Zoo of Ouwehands Dierenpark and the animals go to sleep, the century-old dinosaur light images wake up. This light spectacle is dedicated to the time of the dinosaurs with animals, plants, and volcanoes from that time.

This light spectacle is open from October 27th till march 1st. Please note that this light spectacle has limited opening hours. From November to December, it is only open on Friday and Saturday from 17:30-21:00, with the exception of the Christmas holidays from December 25 to January 6, when the park is open every day from 17:30-21:00. Of course, the animal park is open during the day as usual. Tickets for adults are €19.50, and if you also want to visit the animal park, you can buy a ticket for €24.00.

Ouwehands Animal Park is a zoo located in Rhenen in the Dutch province of Utrecht. You can get here by both car and public transport. It is about a 7-minute walk from Rhenen train station. Parking for the whole day is €8.00.

11. WALIBI BRIGHT LIGHTS

During the Christmas holidays, Walibi has been transformed into a real winter spectacle. Various attractions have been transformed and highlighted into a real light spectacle, the park is decorated with various activities. From Christmas tree decoration to a Santa workshop, to laser gaming and all kinds of Christmas shows. And of course, not to forget all the attractions you can enjoy as always.

The park is open during the Christmas holidays from 12:00 to 20:00, except on the holidays (25th,26th and 1st). Tickets for adults range from €26.50 to €43,50.

Walibi is located in Harderwijk and easy to reach by both car and public transport. Bus 247 from Harderwijk station goes directly to Walibi, and in some cities, there is also a bus where you transfer to the 247 to Walibi. Parking at Walibi costs €11.00 per day.

12. WINTER WONDER WEEKS LEIDEN

During the winter months, Leiden becomes even more beautiful and enchanting. In Leiden, you can enjoy a variety of activities across different sectors. A few are the House of Sinterklaas, the Floating Ice Rink, the fairground, the Winter Fair, theater performances, music shows, lectures and museums, and many more. 

The Winter Wonder Weeks begin with the arrival of Sinterklaas and continue until early January. Each day offers new activities to enjoy, so if you’re planning to visit, make sure to check the events calendar on their website: https://www.visitleiden.nl/en/agenda.

Whether you prefer indoor or outdoor activities, there's certainly plenty to do this time of year in the Netherlands. From active pursuits to sitting in a covered boat and watching a light show, it's all available throughout the country. Hopefully, with these 12 activity tips, you'll be able to fully enjoy the Christmas season in the Netherlands and never find yourself bored!