Netherlands in December

Amsterdam Light Festival and Christmas markets; Sinterklaas on 5 December.

• Coast and Randstad · Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden, The Hague, Rotterdamcool

  Windy and changeable; showers rather than all-day rain. Summers 20–25 °C, occasional heatwaves; tulips late March – mid May.

• Inland and south · Utrecht, Arnhem, Maastricht, Eindhovencool

  Slightly warmer summers and colder winters; Limburg has the only hills.

• North and Wadden · Groningen, Friesland, Texelcool

  Cooler and windier; island ferries and seal trips best June–September.

• Amsterdam7° / 2°, 19 rain days

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Sinterklaas

  5 Dec (eve)

  Family gift evening; not a day off, but shops close early.

• Christmas

  25–26 Dec

  Two days off; shops closed, museums mostly open with short hours.

• Light festival

  Dec–January · Amsterdam

  Boat tours and canal-side crowds in the evenings.

Crowds · Netherlands

Medium

Prices · Netherlands

Medium

• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

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