Netherlands in December

December weather, activities, events & insider tips

December Weather in Netherlands

7°C (44°F) High Temp

2°C (35°F) Low Temp

112 mm (4.4 inches) Rainfall

70% Humidity

Is December Right for You?

Advantages

Christmas markets (kerstmarkten) transform city centers into magical wonderlands with 200+ wooden stalls selling oliebollen, glühwein, and handcrafted gifts - Amsterdam alone has 15 official markets running December 1-January 2
Museum queues disappear - Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum have 60% fewer visitors than summer, meaning 15-minute waits instead of 2-hour lines, plus heated indoor comfort
Sinterklaas celebrations (December 5) offer authentic Dutch culture - children leave shoes for presents, families exchange surprise gifts with poems, and shops sell traditional pepernoten cookies everywhere
Ice skating season opens at 50+ outdoor rinks including iconic Museumplein - natural canals freeze solid when temperatures drop below -5°C (23°F) for 5+ consecutive days, creating the legendary 'Elfstedentocht' skating route

Considerations

Daylight lasts just 7.5 hours (8:30am-4:00pm) with frequent gray overcast skies - vitamin D deficiency affects even locals who call this 'donkere maanden' (dark months)
Cycling becomes treacherous on wet cobblestones and potential black ice - Dutch bike rental shops report 40% fewer rentals and locals switch to public transport during December storms
Many outdoor attractions close or reduce hours - Keukenhof Gardens is shut until March, canal boat tours run limited schedules, and outdoor terraces pack away their furniture until spring

Best Activities in December

Amsterdam Museum District Indoor Tours

December is perfect for Amsterdam's world-class museums with minimal crowds and cozy indoor warmth. The Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, and Stedelijk form the perfect triangle for art lovers. Queue times drop from summer's 2-hour waits to 15-20 minutes. The museums extend evening hours until 9pm on Fridays, ideal when daylight ends at 4pm. Special winter exhibitions often debut in December.

Booking Tip: Book timed entry tickets online 7-10 days ahead for €20-25 per museum. Consider the I Amsterdam City Card (€65-85 for 1-3 days) for multiple museums plus public transport. Reference booking widget below for current museum tour packages with skip-the-line access.

Christmas Market Food Tours

Dutch Christmas markets offer unique winter foods impossible to find other months - fresh oliebollen (sugar-dusted doughnuts), erwtensoep (split pea soup), and bisschopswijn (mulled wine with cinnamon). Markets operate 11am-9pm in 40+ cities. Amsterdam's markets span Rembrandtplein, Leidseplein, and Spui. The cold weather makes hot chocolate and poffertjes (mini pancakes) taste incredible.

Booking Tip: Self-guided food tours cost €15-25 per market, guided food walks run €45-65 per person. Book food tours 5-7 days ahead through licensed culinary guides. See current Christmas market food experiences in booking section below.

Giethoorn Winter Canal Tours

The 'Venice of the North' transforms into a winter wonderland in December. Thatched-roof farmhouses get dusted with snow, canals may partially freeze creating mirror-like surfaces, and tourist boat crowds vanish completely. Electric boat tours run year-round with heated cabins and blankets provided. The 7km (4.3 miles) of canals offer photography opportunities impossible in crowded summer months.

Booking Tip: Private heated boat rentals cost €120-180 for 2-3 hours, group tours run €25-35 per person. Book 10-14 days ahead as only 3 operators run winter services. Weather cancellations possible during storms - operators offer full refunds. Check current winter canal tour availability in booking widget below.

The Hague Royal Winter Palace Tours

December brings special holiday decorations to Noordeinde Palace and exclusive winter exhibitions at Mauritshuis museum housing Vermeer's 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'. The royal quarter feels particularly majestic with Christmas lighting and fewer crowds. Binnenhof parliament buildings offer guided tours showing 800 years of Dutch political history, perfect for cold days.

Booking Tip: Palace tours cost €15-20, Mauritshuis entry is €16-18. Combined tickets save €5-8. Book online 7 days ahead as December has limited tour schedules. Tours run in English at 11am, 1pm, 3pm. See current royal palace tour options in booking section below.

Dutch Brown Cafe Winter Pub Crawls

Traditional brown cafes (bruine kroegen) reach peak coziness in December with wood-burning stoves, candlelit tables, and locals nursing jenever gin. These 300-year-old pubs serve hearty winter dishes like stamppot (mashed potato with vegetables) and uitsmijter (eggs on bread). Amsterdam has 200+ brown cafes, with highest concentrations in Jordaan and De Pijp neighborhoods.

Booking Tip: Guided pub crawls cost €35-50 including 3-4 drinks and traditional snacks. Self-guided crawls using pub maps cost nothing but drinks (€4-7 per beer, €6-8 for jenever). Book guided tours 3-5 days ahead for guaranteed English-speaking guides. Check current pub tour availability below.

Zaanse Schans Windmill Winter Photography

Historic windmills against December's dramatic gray skies create moody photography impossible in bright summer months. The 18th-century village has 6 working windmills, traditional wooden houses, and cheese-making demonstrations. December crowds drop 80% from summer peaks - you'll have windmills almost to yourself. Fresh snow on windmill blades creates postcard-perfect scenes.

Booking Tip: Entry is free, individual windmill tours cost €5-7 each. Guided photography workshops run €65-85 for 3-hour sessions. Public transport from Amsterdam takes 45 minutes each way. Book photography tours 1 week ahead through certified guides. See current windmill tour options in booking widget below.

December Events & Festivals

December 5

Sinterklaas Celebrations

December 5th marks Netherlands' most important gift-giving tradition. Children put shoes by fireplaces for Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) to fill with presents. Families exchange surprise gifts with personalized poems, shops sell traditional pepernoten cookies, and parades happen in major cities November 15-December 5.

Early December through early January

Christmas Markets (Kerstmarkten)

Over 200 Christmas markets operate across Netherlands December 1-January 2. Amsterdam's largest spans Rembrandtplein with 80 wooden chalets. Utrecht's market fills Domplein square. Maastricht's market is considered most atmospheric with 150 stalls around medieval churches. Each offers regional specialties, handcrafted gifts, and mulled wine.

Early December

Ice Skating Season Opening

Outdoor ice rinks open December 1st in major cities. Amsterdam's Museumplein rink (400m/1,312ft perimeter) operates December-February. When canals freeze solid during prolonged cold snaps below -5°C (23°F), locals skate on natural ice - a magical experience that happens 2-3 winters per decade.

Essential Tips

What to Pack

Waterproof winter coat with hood - December rain comes in sideways gusts averaging 15-20 km/h (9-12 mph) winds that defeat umbrellas

Thermal underwear layers - Dutch buildings are well-insulated but you'll spend hours outdoors at Christmas markets in 2-7°C (35-44°F) temperatures

Waterproof boots with good grip - Amsterdam's wet cobblestones become slippery, and you'll walk 8-12 km (5-7 miles) daily on uneven surfaces

Warm waterproof gloves - touching cold metal bike handles and outdoor market stalls for hours requires insulated protection

Wool or fleece hat that fits under coat hood - 40% of body heat escapes through your head in 70% humidity conditions

Quick-dry socks (bring extra pairs) - feet get wet from puddles and slush, changing socks prevents blisters during long walking days

Portable phone charger - cold weather drains batteries 30% faster, and you'll use GPS constantly in shorter daylight hours

Small day backpack with rain cover - protects camera, documents, and purchases during sudden downpours that last 20-45 minutes

Sunglasses despite winter weather - snow glare and low-angle winter sun at 1-2pm can be surprisingly bright

European plug adapter and voltage converter - Dutch outlets use Type C/F plugs with 230V power that differs from US standards

Insider Knowledge

Dutch people embrace 'gezelligheid' (cozy togetherness) in December - join locals in brown cafes after 5pm when work ends and everyone seeks warm, social spaces to combat seasonal darkness

Supermarkets stock special December treats only this month - Albert Heijn and Jumbo sell fresh oliebollen, kerststol bread, and pepernoten cookies that disappear January 6th

Public transport runs reduced Sunday schedules December 25-26 and January 1 - download the NS app and buy day passes (€13.50) instead of individual tickets (€3-5 each) for flexibility

Museum shops offer unique December exhibitions merchandise unavailable other times - Rijksmuseum's winter catalog includes Rembrandt holiday cards and Van Gogh winter scene prints not sold year-round

Avoid These Mistakes

Bringing summer-weight rain jackets that can't handle December's 4°C (39°F) temperatures combined with wind and 70% humidity - you need insulated waterproof layers

Planning too many outdoor walking tours when daylight lasts only 7.5 hours and weather is unpredictable - balance indoor museums with brief outdoor markets instead of full-day walking itineraries

Expecting to cycle everywhere like summer visitors - wet cobblestones and potential ice make cycling dangerous, plus bike rental shops report 40% higher accident rates in December weather