It's dark by 4:30pm in December, so winter here runs on lights, ice and indoor shows. Dutch kids get their big presents from Sinterklaas on December 5, and the weeks after are for skating, markets and a holiday show or two. Here's what we checked, from light art over the canals to the World Christmas Circus at Carré.
Christmas Village fills Museumplein, the big lawn in front of the Rijksmuseum, with wooden stalls selling winter food, hot drinks, art and Christmas gifts. Now in its tenth year, it is a stroll-and-snack outing more than a full day out.
It suits families who like to browse and graze, and pairs well with a museum morning. The lights look best once it gets dark, which in December is late afternoon.
Every winter, about 20 light artworks go up in, over and beside the canals of Amsterdam's old center. Families see them two ways: on foot along the route, or from a canal boat.
The festival app has a Kids Walk with fun facts, quiz questions and a scavenger hunt that ends in a small prize. It suits kids happy to be out in the cold after dark.
A huge winter fair spread through the RAI halls and out onto the square in front. Kids skate on indoor and outdoor rinks (plus a small rink just for under-6s), ride a Ferris wheel and carousels, go down a 10-meter slide, throw fake snow in the snow garden and walk a light trail. A kids' theater runs puppet shows, story readings and a winter circus. Busy and loud at peak times.
Carré opened in 1887 as a circus building, and at Christmas the ring comes back. The World Christmas Circus books top international acts, many of them prize winners at the Monte Carlo circus festival: flying trapeze, aerial duets, clowns and acrobats. This winter is its 40th edition, with more award-winning acts than any year before.
A classic circus of separate acts suits kids who lose the thread of a play.
An outdoor ice rink on Museumplein, with the Rijksmuseum behind it and the Van Gogh Museum and Concertgebouw close by. Skates come in every size, so first-timers and confident skaters share the same ice. People skated on this square from 1887 to 1937, and the first official world speed skating championship was held here.
Next to the ice, Het Wak serves hot chocolate, lunch and dinner.
A sing-along Christmas concert for the whole family. Dutch jazz singer Wouter Hamel and a small band (piano, trumpet, double bass and drums) play Christmas songs in Dutch and English, from cozy modern ballads to the classics everyone knows, and kids are invited to sing along the whole way.
It suits children who already belt out songs at home. Kids who would rather sit and listen will find it gentle and warm.
Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, staged as a children's edition. A narrator, Madame Rose, introduces the ballet from the stage and explains the story as it goes, so kids who have never seen a ballet can follow along. Prima ballerina Iryna Khandazhevska dances with dancers from the ballet of the National Opera of Ukraine, keeping the classical steps, with full sets and costumes. Suits kids who like music, dressing up and fairy tales.
A Christmas family concert: the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie plays Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker while a narrator tells the story. Ella wakes on Christmas Eve, the toys dance and the nutcracker becomes a prince who leads her into a world of sweets come to life.
The retelling is modern and bold (why not swap a princess dress for a judo suit?). It suits kids happy to sit and listen to a full orchestra.
Santa's son is meant to take over the family business, but he can't stand snow, hot chocolate or skiing, and he's allergic to reindeer and Christmas trees. What he wants is to grow up to be the Easter Bunny. Three actors play and sing the story on a giant pop-up set by Rianne van Duin. It's based on the picture book by Marc-Uwe Kling, the author of De NEE-hoorn.
It's dark by 4:30pm in December, so winter here runs on lights, ice and indoor shows. Dutch kids get their big presents from Sinterklaas on December 5, and the weeks after are for skating, markets and a holiday show or two. Here's what we checked, from light art over the canals to the World Christmas Circus at Carré.
Christmas Village fills Museumplein, the big lawn in front of the Rijksmuseum, with wooden stalls selling winter food, hot drinks, art and Christmas gifts. Now in its tenth year, it is a stroll-and-snack outing more than a full day out.
It suits families who like to browse and graze, and pairs well with a museum morning. The lights look best once it gets dark, which in December is late afternoon.
Every winter, about 20 light artworks go up in, over and beside the canals of Amsterdam's old center. Families see them two ways: on foot along the route, or from a canal boat.
The festival app has a Kids Walk with fun facts, quiz questions and a scavenger hunt that ends in a small prize. It suits kids happy to be out in the cold after dark.
A huge winter fair spread through the RAI halls and out onto the square in front. Kids skate on indoor and outdoor rinks (plus a small rink just for under-6s), ride a Ferris wheel and carousels, go down a 10-meter slide, throw fake snow in the snow garden and walk a light trail. A kids' theater runs puppet shows, story readings and a winter circus. Busy and loud at peak times.
Carré opened in 1887 as a circus building, and at Christmas the ring comes back. The World Christmas Circus books top international acts, many of them prize winners at the Monte Carlo circus festival: flying trapeze, aerial duets, clowns and acrobats. This winter is its 40th edition, with more award-winning acts than any year before.
A classic circus of separate acts suits kids who lose the thread of a play.
An outdoor ice rink on Museumplein, with the Rijksmuseum behind it and the Van Gogh Museum and Concertgebouw close by. Skates come in every size, so first-timers and confident skaters share the same ice. People skated on this square from 1887 to 1937, and the first official world speed skating championship was held here.
Next to the ice, Het Wak serves hot chocolate, lunch and dinner.
A sing-along Christmas concert for the whole family. Dutch jazz singer Wouter Hamel and a small band (piano, trumpet, double bass and drums) play Christmas songs in Dutch and English, from cozy modern ballads to the classics everyone knows, and kids are invited to sing along the whole way.
It suits children who already belt out songs at home. Kids who would rather sit and listen will find it gentle and warm.
Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker, staged as a children's edition. A narrator, Madame Rose, introduces the ballet from the stage and explains the story as it goes, so kids who have never seen a ballet can follow along. Prima ballerina Iryna Khandazhevska dances with dancers from the ballet of the National Opera of Ukraine, keeping the classical steps, with full sets and costumes. Suits kids who like music, dressing up and fairy tales.
A Christmas family concert: the Nordwestdeutsche Philharmonie plays Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker while a narrator tells the story. Ella wakes on Christmas Eve, the toys dance and the nutcracker becomes a prince who leads her into a world of sweets come to life.
The retelling is modern and bold (why not swap a princess dress for a judo suit?). It suits kids happy to sit and listen to a full orchestra.
Santa's son is meant to take over the family business, but he can't stand snow, hot chocolate or skiing, and he's allergic to reindeer and Christmas trees. What he wants is to grow up to be the Easter Bunny. Three actors play and sing the story on a giant pop-up set by Rianne van Duin. It's based on the picture book by Marc-Uwe Kling, the author of De NEE-hoorn.
