The Amsterdam Christmas market scene is different from what you’ll find in Germany or Belgium. There’s no single big square full of chalets. Instead you get a festive village by the ice rink on Museumplein, a large indoor winter fair at the RAI, a one-day design market at Westergas, and the Amsterdam Light Festival along the canals. Here’s what’s on in 2026, with the dates that have been confirmed so far.
Amsterdam Christmas Market 2026: Key Facts
| Museumplein ice rink | 24 October 2026 – 16 January 2027 |
| Museumplein Christmas stalls | Expected through most of December (2026 dates not yet confirmed) |
| Winter Paradise (RAI) | 17 December 2026 – 2 January 2027, 09:00–23:00, ticketed |
| Funky Xmas Market (Westergas) | Usually one Sunday in December, 12:00–18:00 |
| Amsterdam Light Festival | 26 November 2026 – 17 January 2027 |
| Entry | Museumplein stalls and Westergas are free; skating and Winter Paradise are paid |
Event pages and tickets are listed on I amsterdam, the city’s official guide, and are updated as organisers confirm details.
Where to Find the Amsterdam Christmas Market
Museumplein
The square in front of the Rijksmuseum is the closest thing Amsterdam has to a classic Christmas market. The ice rink opens on 24 October 2026 and runs until 16 January 2027, and in December wooden stalls, food stands and bars set up around it. It’s free to walk around, and you pay to skate.
Winter Paradise at the RAI
Het Amsterdamse Winterparadijs fills the halls of the RAI exhibition centre from 17 December 2026 to 2 January 2027, open from 09:00 to 23:00. It’s indoors and aimed at families, so it’s a good backup on a wet day. You need a ticket, and the RAI has its own metro and train station.
Funky Xmas Market at Westergas
This one-day market at the Westergasfabriek is run by local makers and designers, with jewellery, prints, clothing and small gifts. It’s usually held on a Sunday in December from 12:00 to 18:00. The 2026 date hadn’t been confirmed by the organisers at the time of writing.
Amsterdam Light Festival
Light artworks are installed along the canals from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027. You can see them on foot or from a canal cruise. It isn’t a market, but it’s one of the best things to do in Amsterdam in December.
Food and Drink at the Amsterdam Christmas Market
Look for oliebollen, the Dutch deep-fried doughnuts dusted with sugar that are sold all over the city in winter. Stroopwafels, poffertjes (mini pancakes), hot chocolate, mulled wine and jenever are easy to find too, both at the markets and at street stands.
Getting Around
Trams run from Centraal Station to Museumplein, and the metro goes to the RAI. Westergas is a walk or short tram ride west of the centre. If you want to add another country to the trip, Valkenburg’s cave markets in the south of the Netherlands and the markets in Brussels and Bruges are all reachable by train.
Luggage Storage Near the Amsterdam Christmas Market
Arriving before check-in or leaving on an evening flight? Radical Storage has partner shops and hotels across Amsterdam, so you can drop your suitcase and spend the day at the markets. Search for storage near Museumplein or near Amsterdam Centraal.
Each bag is protected up to €10,000, cancellation is free, and prices start from €0.90 a day. Radical Storage has 16.5K+ locations in 2.3K+ cities, rated 4.8/5 by travellers.
Amsterdam Christmas Market FAQ
Yes, though it’s smaller than in Germany or Belgium. The main one is around the ice rink on Museumplein, plus Winter Paradise at the RAI and the one-day Funky Xmas Market at Westergas.
The Museumplein rink runs from 24 October 2026 to 16 January 2027, with Christmas stalls expected through most of December. Winter Paradise at the RAI runs from 17 December 2026 to 2 January 2027.
Walking around the stalls is free. Ice skating is paid.
Yes. It’s held in the halls of the RAI exhibition centre, and you need a ticket.
The 2026 edition runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027, with artworks along the canals.
Radical Storage has partner locations across Amsterdam, including near Museumplein and Centraal Station. Book online and drop your bags on the way.