Looking for events and things to do in Amsterdam in December 2025?
Our hand-picked, curated guide for both visitors and locals lists dozens of ideas – from the Amsterdam Light Festival which illuminates the dark winter nights to funky Christmas markets, ice-skating rinks and atmospheric concerts/shows.
Our Top Amsterdam December Picks
Amsterdam Light Festival – 14th edition of the popular light installation event in Amsterdam runs 27 Nov 2025 to 18 Jan 2026. Lights on daily 16:30-22:00 (Sun-Tue), 16:30-23:00 (Wed-Sat). Get up close to all 20 light works by taking a relaxing evening canal cruise. Book your Light Festival cruise here
Amsterdam Winter Paradise – Get into the festive spirit with this winter-themed event featuring lots of cool activities, an immersive skating experience, a fairground and ferris wheel, live music and winter snacks/drinks. Great fun for groups, families and kids! At RAI Amsterdam every day from 13 Dec 2025 to 3 Jan 2026. Book your Amsterdam Winter Paradise tickets (and timeslot) here
VEGAS Dinner Show – It’s holiday season so why not treat yourself to a spectacular dinner show featuring illusionists, dance acts and live musicians. Includes a tasty 3-course shared dining menu with 12 dishes. A fantastic evening out! Runs on 11/13/16/17/19/20/23-27 Dec 2025 at the Harbour Club (eastern Docklands) in Amsterdam. Book Amsterdam VEGAS dinner show tickets here
Museums, Exhibitions & Attractions in Amsterdam (Dec 2025)
Fabrique des Lumières – Highly recommended immersive exhibitions of classical, modern and contemporary artists using cutting-edge technology with light projections and music. You can move around the hall during the show.
- Main exhibition Monet Master of Impressionism Book Monet show here
- Dutch art exhibition From Vermeer to Van Gogh runs each morning Book tickets here
STRAAT – A unique experience. The world’s biggest street art and graffiti museum in a 8,000m² warehouse at NDSM wharf and showcasing some 180 artworks, all made on-site. FAILE, Between The Sheets, exhibition by the Brooklyn-based duo whose work has long challenged the boundaries between the street and the studio, the iconic and the ephemeral. Runs 27 Sep 2025 to 18 Jan 2026. Book STRAAT tickets here
Banksy Museum Amsterdam – New museum in Amsterdam dedicated to the anonymous British street artist. Featuring 160 artworks including paintings and mural recreations set-in-scene. Worth a trip out to the Westerpark area. Book Banksy Museum tickets here
Amaze Amsterdam – An immersive 1 hour audio-visual experience spanning 3,000m² with 8 separate stages. Guaranteed to stimulates the senses – from intense, interactive to relaxing and chilled. Located in an old industrial nightclub in Amsterdam’s West Port district. Book Amaze Amsterdam tickets here
Nxt Museum – Dive into digital at the first “new media art” museum in the Netherlands. Still Processing, exhibition examining the evolution of image processing – both through machine algorithms and human perception. Runs 7 Feb 2025 to 7 Feb 2026. Book Nxt Museum tickets here
Rijksmuseum – The Rijksmuseum’s rich collection (including Rembrandt’s Night Watch) is a must-see in Amsterdam. At Home in the 17th Century, exhibition offering an intimate glimpse into the domestic lives of Dutch people three centuries ago. Runs 17 Oct 2025 to 11 Jan 2026. Book Rijksmuseum tickets here
Van Gogh Museum – Iconic museum with the world’s largest collection of Vincent van Gogh paintings. Van Gogh and the Roulins. Together Again at Last, exhibition of portraits of the Roulins family made by Van Gogh in Arles in 1888. Runs 3 Oct 2025 to 11 Jan 2026. Book Van Gogh Museum tickets here or take an expert guided tour
Stedelijk – Amsterdam’s main modern and contemporary art museum. Yayoi Kusama, landmark retrospective exibition by the influential Japanese contemporary artist. Runs 11 Sep 2025 to 17 Jan 2026. Book your Stedelijk tickets here
Anne Frank House – The canal house on Amsterdam’s Prinsengracht canal where Anne Frank wrote her famous teenage wartime diary whilst hiding from German occupation.
Can’t find a ticket timeslot for the Anne Frank house? Why not instead book the Anne Frank & Jewish Quarter walking tour (2 hours) here
H’ART Museum – The renamed former Hermitage Museum presents Brancusi, The Birth of Modern Sculpture, a grand exhibition featuring over 30 sculptural masterpieces from Constantin Brancusi (1876–1957). Runs 20 Sep 2025 to 18 Jan 2026. Book H’ART Museum tickets here
MOCO Museum – The acclaimed modern and contemporary art museum on Museumplein. Robbie Williams: Pride and Self Prejudice, debut solo art exhibition from the UK music artist. Extended run until 31 Dec 2025. Discount: Book MOCO Museum tickets here (cheaper than official site/box-office)
Rembrandt House – Visit the house where Rembrandt lived and worked. Home (THUIS), exhibition about the role of the house in Rembrandt’s life with the views of some contemporary artists. Runs 26 Sep 2025 to 4 Jan 2026. Book Rembrandt House tickets here
Rembrandt’s Amsterdam Experience – A video art experience about the life of the famous painter and reconstruction of Rembrandt’s studio on Rozengracht. Book Rembrandt’s Amsterdam Experience tickets here
Royal Palace – Visit the grand Royal Palace on Dam Square including the impressive Citizen’s Hall. Book Royal Palace tickets here
Allard Pierson – Made in Antiquity, exhibition presenting more than 200 glass objects from the museum’s archaeology collection. Runs 16 May 2025 to 1 Mar 2026. Book Allard Pierson tickets here
De Nieuwe Kerk – Mokum, the biography of Jewish Amsterdam, major winter exhibition at the New Church on Dam Square highlights the turbulent history of Jewish life in the city. Runs 25 Oct 2025 to 6 Apr 2026. Book Nieuwe Kerk tickets here
Amsterdam in Motion – A new audio-visual mapping exhibition on Amsterdam marking the city’s 750th birthday. The 200m² model is the world’s largest multimedia ‘maquette’ of a city. Book Amsterdam in Motion tickets here
Stadsarchief – De Wallen by photographer Dana Lixenberg, exhibition at the city archives with photos from Amsterdam’s red-light district 2021-2025. Runs 12 Sep 2025 to 15 Feb 2026.
FOAM Photography Museum – Blommers & Schumm Mid-Air, exhibition on 25 years of the Dutch artist duo and fashion photographers Anuschka Blommers and Niels Schumm. Runs 20 Sep 2025 to 23 Feb 2026. Hajar Benjida, Atlanta Made Us Famous, solo exhibition on Magic City, an influential strip club in Atlanta that serves as a cultural epicenter where hip-hop culture and entertainment converge. Runs 14 Nov 2025 to 25 Mar 2026. Book FOAM tickets here
Huis Marseille – Michella Bredahl, Rooms We Made Safe, the first museum exhibition by the rising Danish artist, known for her distinctively intimate and unguarded portraits of friends and acquaintances. Kusukazu Uraguchi, Shima no Ama, exhibition of eighty captivating black and white photographs of Japanese fisherwomen and divers. Both run 18 Oct 2025 to 8 Feb 2026.
National Maritime Museum – Oceanista, a multifaceted fashion exhibition that connects the maritime past, contemporary fashion and the ‘sustainable’ future of clothing. Runs 10 Oct 2025 to 12 Apr 2026. Book National Maritime Museum tickets here
Wereldmuseum Amsterdam – Made in China, exhibition about China’s rich and diverse manufacturing culture, from thousands of years of craftsmanship to contemporary art and design. Runs from 17 Oct 2025 to 31 Aug 2026. Discount: Book Wereldmuseum tickets here
Art Zoo Museum – A new museum combining breathtaking taxidermy (animal) art from Dutch duo Darwin, Sinke & van Tongeren with a 17th century Amsterdam canal house. Book Art Zoo Museum tickets here
Jewish Museum – Photo League: New York 1936–1951, photo exhibition from a group of cutting-edge photographers who documented everyday life in New York City. Runs 27 Jun 2025 to 11 Jan 2026. Book Jewish Cultural Quarter Amsterdam tickets here
Grachtenmuseum (Museum of The Canals) – Mirror floor, the beautiful Andriessen Room at the Grachtenmuseum has been covered entirely by mirrors giving an immersive and reflective experience. Runs 1 Nov 2025 to 1 Mar 2026. Book Museum of the Canals tickets here
EYE Filmmuseum – Tilda Swinton – Ongoing, exclusive exhibition dedicated to the celebrated Scottish performer, artist and fashion icon. Runs 28 Sep 2025 to 8 Feb 2026. Book EYE Film exhibition tickets here
Frida Amsterdam – Photographic and immersive VR exhibition about life and work of the pioneering Mexican artist Frida Kahlo which includes over 100 digital artworks. Running at Vincent Hall in Amsterdam from 18 Apr 2025 to 4 Jan 2026. Book Frida exhibition tickets here
Tot Zover – Aat Veldhoen, A realist to the grave, exhibition at the Dutch funeral museum from the local artist and how he relates to death in his works. Runs 26 Sep 2025 to 28 Jun 2026.
House of Bols – Stimulate your senses at the Cocktail & Genever Experience – featuring the Lucas Bols brand, which has been making liqueurs in Amsterdam since 1575. Book House of Bols tickets here
Heineken Experience – Take a guided tour around the historic Heineken brewery, one of Amsterdam’s most popular attractions. Book Heineken Experience tickets here
Body Worlds – Display of human body plastinate specimens at the permanent venue on Damrak. The exhibition focuses on happiness. Book Body Worlds tickets here
Madame Tussauds Amsterdam – Get your celebrity fill by visiting the ever-popular wax work museum on Dam Square – includes the new Taylor Swift figure. Book Madame Tussauds Amsterdam tickets here
Amsterdam Dungeon – Interactive show featuring excellent actors and audience participation. Takes you through dark dungeon-themed rooms from Amsterdam’s murky past – scary but with a comic element. Book Amsterdam Dungeon tickets here
ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo – One of the city’s premier visitor attractions – a magnificent zoo set in a large park in the picturesque Plantage area of the city. Book Artis Zoo tickets here
Framer Framed – Shapeshifters: On Wounds, Wonders and Transformation, exhibition on colonialism and museum collections by various artists. Runs 15 Oct 2025 to 11 Jan 2026. Free entry
Gallery WM – Urban Refractions by Rajat Singh / Silver Lion, abstract urban photography exhibition. Runs 21 Nov to 24 Dec 2025 (Wed-Sat afternoons).
Cobra (Amstelveen) – The Cyclops, a playful and energetic installation that invites visitors to literally and figuratively get moving. Runs 20 Sep 2025 to 18 Jan 2026.
Rijksmuseum Schiphol – Amsterdam airport hosts a small selection of works from the Rijksmuseum collection. The museum is located on Holland Boulevard (between Lounges 2 and 3 in non-Schengen departures) and is open 24 hours a day to passengers. Free entry
Social Media Attractions in Amsterdam
Amsterdam City Passes
These all inclusive passes may save you money on a well planned Amsterdam itinerary.
| Most museums + city transport | Includes attractions + tours |
| I amsterdam City Card | GO City Amsterdam All-Inclusive Pass |
 |  |
| 1/2/3/4/5 days | 1/2/3/5 days |
| 24 hours basis | calendar day basis |
| €65/€90/€108/€123/€135 | €79/€129/€159/€209 |
| 70 museums + transport + canal cruise + bike rental | Over 30 attractions/tours + canal cruise + bike rental |
| excludes Anne Frank House / Van Gogh Museum / tours | excludes Anne Frank House / Van Gogh Museum / transport |
| Book here | Book here |
| I amsterdam City Card info | GO City Amsterdam Pass info |
Sport in Amsterdam / Netherlands (Dec 2025)
Football:
Ajax home fixtures at Johan Cruyff Arena Amsterdam:
Ajax vs Feyenoord 14 Dec 2025 (14:30) – check tickets here
It is possible to take a classic stadium tour of the Johan Cruijff Arena in Amsterdam. Book Johan Cruijff Arena Tour tickets here or book a VIP 2 hour guided tour here
Handball:
IHF Women’s Handball World Championship 2025 – World championship handball (27th edition) will be played in 5 cities in Germany and The Netherlands over 27 Nov to 14 Dec 2025. Dutch venues are Ahoy Rotterdan and Maaspoort Arean (’s-Hertogenbosch). The final will be played in Rotterdam on 14 Dec 2025.
Inline Skating:
Friday Night Skate – 20km organised skate around the streets of Amsterdam held every Friday night (20:30, weather permitting) from Vondelpark Pavilion.
See the full annual sport calendar for Amsterdam
Comedy & Shows in Amsterdam (Dec 2025)
Boom Chicago – Comedy and improv shows in English playing at Rozentheater on Rozengracht. Book a Boom Chicago show here
Amsterdam Magic Show – Monthly magic and comedy show with international performers. At Boom Chicago’s Rozentheater, Rozengracht in Amsterdam. Runs 2 Dec 2025 (19:30).
Classical Concerts & Theatre in Amsterdam (Dec 2025)
Classical Music at the Begijnhof – The English reformed church is hosting regular evening classical concerts. With excellent acoustics and timeless, accessible pieces from the likes of Vivaldi, Bach and Mozart, it makes for a memorable experience. Runs 10/17/23/27/30 Dec 2025 at 18:00. Book Classical Concert Tickets (discounted) at the Begijnhof here (with children 0-10 booked for free)
Internationaal Theater Amsterdam (ITA) – Amsterdam’s renowned theatre company performs shows in Dutch which have live English surtitles above the stage – for Thursday night shows at the Stadsschouwburg theatre.
Candlelight Concert – The Portuguese Synagogue presents a musical concert on 18 Dec 2025 (19:30). Book Candlelight Concert Tickets here
Holiday Season 2025 in Amsterdam / Netherlands
Sinterklaas (St Nicholas, patron saint of Amsterdam) is celebrated in the Netherlands on December 5th. In mid-November, Dutch TV shows him “arriving” by steamboat from Spain dressed in a red bishop’s robe and carrying a pastoral staff. Sinterklaas then parades through town on a horse accompanied by his helpers, the Pieten (Petes).
In the last few years there has been a growing controversy and debate about the depiction of the black Petes (zwarte Pieten) due to perceived racial/colonial overtones. Although many Dutch support the character, subtle changes in appearance have since been made by creating the ‘chimney-soot’ Petes (Schoorsteenpieten).
Dutch children put out a shoe next to the fireplace and receive small presents such as pepernoten spiced biscuits or chocolate letters (with the initial of their first name). If you are invited to a Dutch Sinterklaas party you will probably have to buy a present for at least one of the guests and perhaps write a personal poem to accompany the gift!
Museumplein Ice Rink – The iconic ice-skating rink on Amsterdam’s Museumplein is open daily from 15 Nov 2025 to 6 Feb 2026. Skate with the spectacular backdrop of the Rijksmuseum. Book Museumplein ice rink here
World Christmas Circus – Popular circus event held every Christmas holiday at Carré Theater in Amsterdam. Runs 17 Dec 2025 to 4 Jan 2026.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town – Large Christmas-themed musical show performed with various Dutch artists. Runs at Ziggo Dome on 21 Dec 2025.
Disney in Concert – Greatest hits from Disney played by soloists with The New Symphonics orchestra. At Ziggo Dome on 27-28 Dec 2025. Check for Disney in Concert tickets here
Holiday On Ice: Horizons – Popular family show on ice at RAI Amsterdam with spectacular acts, dazzling costumes and the best skaters. Runs 25-28 Dec 2025.
Winter Station – The Dutch National Railway Museum in Utrecht is transformed to a winter theme with ice skating, lights and fun activities. Runs 13 Dec 2025 to 4 Jan 2026.
New Year’s Eve 2025/26 – Amsterdam will host a light and electric firework show at Museumplein on 31 Dec 2025 at 18:45-19:00 for children and then at midnight. There will also be a large midnight firework display at Sloterplas.
Other Events in Amsterdam / Netherlands
De Balie – The multimedia venue near Leidseplein in Amsterdam hosts regular events about current affairs, politics and culture.
Market Events in Amsterdam
Pure Markt – Regular market event with high quality produce, music, food stalls and other activities. At Park Frankendael on 21 Dec 2025 (11:00-17:00). Free entry
Sunday Market – Market events with a mix of fashion, design, arts, food and kids stuff at Westergas. 7 Dec 2025 (12:00-18:00) and Funky Xmas Market on 21 Dec 2025 (12:00-18:00). Free entry
Museum Market – Museumplein hosts this Sunday market with arts and crafts, food and music. 14 Dec 2025 (10:00-18:00). Free entry
IJ-Hallen – Large weekend flea market event held at NDSM-wharf in north Amsterdam with 500 indoor stands. 6-7 Dec 2025 (09:00-16:30).
The Maker Market – Weekend market features creative handmade products including jewelry, art and live music. Runs in the covered passage of De Hallen Amsterdam. Christmas edition runs 20-21 Dec 2025 (11:00-17:00). Free entry
Ice*Village Christmas Market – Amsterdam’s Christmas market runs at Museumplein next to the ice skating rink. Open between 4-28 Dec 2025, daily 12:00-21:00 (weekdays), 11:00-21:00 (weekends) and 11:00-19:00 (25/26 Dec 2025). Free entry
Rock & Pop Concerts in Amsterdam (Dec 2025)
Sabaton – 1 Dec, Ziggo Dome
Boyz II Men – 2 Dec, Ziggo Dome
Kraftwerk – 2 Dec, AFAS Live
Big Time Rush – 8/9 Dec, Ziggo Dome – Check for Big Time Rush tickets here
Clutch – 11 Dec, Paradiso
Jesse Welles – 11 Dec, Melkweg – Check for Jesse Welles tickets here
The AmsterdamTips.com What’s On in Amsterdam has been running monthly since 2008. Disclaimer: While we make every effort to keep this listing up-to-date, events can always be cancelled or re-scheduled at short notice. Please double-check with the event organisers.
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