Guides · Amsterdam
Amsterdam Christmas Market 2026: Dates, Lights & Skating
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The main Amsterdam Christmas market, the Christmas Village on Museumplein, runs from 3 to 27 December 2026, set in front of the Rijksmuseum beside the city's biggest open-air ice rink. Amsterdam does Christmas differently from Germany or Austria: the markets are smaller, and the real stars of the season are the Amsterdam Light Festival on the canals and the skating on Museumplein. Entry to the Christmas Village is free.
This guide covers the 6 best things to do at Christmas in Amsterdam, from the Museumplein market and ice rink to the canal light installations, a weekend design market at Westergas, the indoor Winter Paradise at RAI and the Christmas Circus at Carré. Each entry has the location, the nearest tram or metro stop and a Pro Tip. Where 2026 details had not been announced, we give last year's dates and hours as a guide.
The order starts at Museumplein, then follows the Light Festival through the canal ring, heads west to Westergas, south to RAI, and finishes on the Amstel at Carré.
1Christmas Village on Museumplein - The Main Amsterdam Christmas Market
The Christmas Village on Museumplein is the most traditional Amsterdam Christmas market, with wooden chalets selling gifts, decorations and winter food in front of the Rijksmuseum. The 2026 market runs from 3 to 27 December, according to the organisers. Opening hours for 2026 had not been announced at the time of writing; in 2025 the market opened daily from noon to 9pm.
Stalls serve Dutch winter treats such as oliebollen (deep-fried dough balls dusted with sugar), poffertjes (mini pancakes), stroopwafels and warm glühwein, alongside hot chocolate and snert, a thick pea soup.
The setting is the main draw: the market sits between the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Concertgebouw, with skaters gliding past on the ice rink next door.
Pro Tip: Visit in the late afternoon, when you can see the Rijksmuseum lit up as darkness falls around 4.30pm. Combine the market with a museum visit earlier in the day.
2Ice Skating on Museumplein - The Open-Air Rink
Every winter, Museumplein becomes one of the largest open-air skating areas in the Netherlands, with a rink and skating trail set against the backdrop of the Rijksmuseum. For the 2026 season, the rink is expected to open from 14 November 2026 to 7 February 2027, running much longer than the Christmas Village.
Skates can be hired on site, and the rink regularly hosts themed evenings, silent discos and children's sessions. Restaurants and bars around the ice offer warm drinks for those who prefer to watch.
Skating is ticketed, with prices in recent seasons from around €8 per session, and weekend slots can sell out.
Pro Tip: Book skating tickets online and choose a weekday evening for the best atmosphere with fewer people. Skating under the lights with the Rijksmuseum behind you is one of Amsterdam's best winter experiences.
3Amsterdam Light Festival - Art on the Canals
The Amsterdam Light Festival turns the city's canals into an open-air gallery, with large light installations created by international artists placed along the waterways. The 15th edition is scheduled to run from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027, though organisers describe the dates as provisional.
You can follow the route on foot, which is free, or see the installations from the water on a canal boat tour, which is ticketed. The walking route usually covers the historic centre and takes around two hours at a relaxed pace.
The festival is often called the highlight of an Amsterdam Christmas market trip, as the reflections on the canals are spectacular.
Pro Tip: Book an evening canal cruise for the best views of the installations reflected in the water. If you walk, download the route map before you go and start from Amsterdam Centraal.
4Funky Xmas Market at Westergas - Design and Street Food
The Funky Xmas Market takes place at Westergas, a former gasworks turned cultural park, and is the city's favourite alternative Christmas market. Instead of traditional chalets, it focuses on local designers, makers, vintage stalls and creative street food, with DJs and live music.
The market runs on selected weekends only. One listing gives 20 December 2026, but the full 2026 schedule had not been confirmed at the time of writing; in 2025 it ran on 14 and 15 December and on 21 and 22 December, from 1pm to 8pm.
The industrial setting and the surrounding Westerpark make it a relaxed alternative to the busier city-centre attractions.
Pro Tip: Arrive early in the afternoon on the first day, before the most popular stalls sell out. Combine the market with a walk through Westerpark and dinner in one of the park's restaurants.
5Winter Paradise at RAI - Indoor Winter Fun
Het Amsterdamse Winterparadijs (Winter Paradise) fills the halls of the RAI Amsterdam exhibition centre with an indoor winter wonderland, including a Christmas market, ice skating, snow slopes, fairground rides and food stalls. It is especially popular with families, as it works in any weather.
The 2026 dates had not been confirmed at the time of writing, with listings differing on the opening day; in 2025 it ran from mid-December until 3 January. Entry is ticketed, and some activities cost extra.
Reviews are mixed compared with the outdoor markets, but it is a good option on a rainy day with children.
Pro Tip: Buy tickets online in advance for the days between Christmas and New Year, which are the busiest. Take the train or metro to Amsterdam RAI station, right next to the venue.
6World Christmas Circus at Carré - A Festive Family Show
The World Christmas Circus (Wereldkerstcircus) at the Royal Theatre Carré is a long-running Amsterdam family tradition, bringing award-winning circus artists from around the world to the city each holiday season. The grand 19th-century theatre on the Amstel was originally built for the circus, so the setting is perfect.
The show usually runs from mid-December into early January; in 2025 it continued until 4 January. Check Carré's website for 2026 dates and performance times.
Tickets sell quickly for the days around Christmas, so it is worth booking well ahead. It makes a warm, indoor counterpart to an evening at the Amsterdam Christmas market on Museumplein, especially on a cold or rainy night.
Pro Tip: Book a matinee if you are visiting with children, then walk along the Amstel to see the Magere Brug (Skinny Bridge), which is lit up after dark, about five minutes away.
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Amsterdam Christmas Market 2026: Dates, Lights & Skating - FAQ
The main Amsterdam Christmas market, the Christmas Village on Museumplein, runs from 3 to 27 December 2026. Opening hours for 2026 had not been announced at the time of writing; in 2025 it opened daily from noon to 9pm. The Amsterdam Light Festival is scheduled for 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027.
Yes, entry to the Christmas Village on Museumplein is free. You pay for food, drinks and gifts. Ice skating on Museumplein, Winter Paradise at RAI and canal boat tours of the Light Festival are ticketed, while the Light Festival walking route is free.
Trams are the easiest way to reach Museumplein, Westergas and Carré, while trains and the metro serve RAI. The city centre is compact and walkable, which is ideal for following the Light Festival route. Buy a GVB day ticket for unlimited public transport.
Yes. The Christmas Village on Museumplein is usually open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day with shorter hours. In 2025, it opened from 11am to 7pm on 25 and 26 December. The ice rink, the Light Festival and most major museums are also open on Christmas Day.
The Christmas Village on Museumplein closes on 27 December 2026, but plenty stays open after Christmas. The Museumplein ice rink runs until early February 2027, the Amsterdam Light Festival until 17 January 2027 and Winter Paradise at RAI into early January, so the week between Christmas and New Year is still a good time to visit.
The ice rink on Museumplein opens on 14 November 2026 and runs until early February 2027. Skating is ticketed, with skate hire on site. During the Christmas school holidays, the rink opens daily from 10am, and it is busiest on weekend afternoons.
The 13th Amsterdam Light Festival runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027, with light artworks installed along the canals in the city centre. You can follow the route on foot for free, or see it from the water on a ticketed canal boat tour. The artworks are lit every evening.
The main Amsterdam Christmas market, the Christmas Village, is on Museumplein, in front of the Rijksmuseum and close to the Van Gogh Museum. The nearest stop is Museumplein, served by tram lines 2 and 12. The ice rink is right next to the market.
Weekday afternoons are the quietest time to visit the Christmas Village. A good plan is to visit a museum in the morning, browse the market and skate on Museumplein in the afternoon, then follow the Light Festival route after dark.
