In depth · Christmas & New Year
Christmas in Amsterdam: the Light Festival, the canals and the music
In winter, Amsterdam turns to its canals and its concert halls. The Amsterdam Light Festival lights the water with artworks, the bridges glow, and the Concertgebouw and the opera fill their December programmes.
Updated October 2026
The Amsterdam Light Festival
Edition 15 of the Amsterdam Light Festival runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027, with light artworks along the canals and the water. The festival offers routes by boat and on foot; dates, hours and tickets are on its official website, amsterdamlightfestival.com.
The canals by night
The bridges of the canal ring are outlined in lights after dark: walk from the Reguliersgracht to the Magere Brug on the Amstel on a cold, clear evening, and stop in a brown café on the way.
Christmas music
The Concertgebouw and the Nationale Opera & Ballet publish their December programmes on their own websites; book early for the Christmas concerts.
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve
The grand hotels and the starred restaurants serve special menus on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve; they are published, and booked, on each restaurant’s own website, often weeks ahead.
Questions and answers
When is the Amsterdam Light Festival 2026?
From 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027, according to the festival’s official website.
Dates change from year to year: check each organiser’s website before you go.