Month guide · Amsterdam · Netherlands
Amsterdam in December
What December is really like in Amsterdam: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0
,_Anne-Frank-Huis_--_2015_--_7185.jpg){kind=link}
Quick answer
December is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 7°C (45°F), lows of 2°C (36°F), about 13 rainy days and roughly 7.7 hours of daylight. Dark afternoons brightened by the Light Festival, oliebollen stalls and festive markets; busy around New Year.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 7°C (45°F) / 2°C (36°F)
- Rainy days
- About 13
- Daylight
- About 7.7 hours
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in December
December is the 11th-warmest month in Amsterdam: days average 7°C (45°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 2°C (36°F). Rain falls on roughly 13 of its 31 days. Compared with November (10°C (50°F)), December is cooler; by January highs stay near 6°C (43°F).
- Sunrise (15 December)
- About 08:44
- Sunset (15 December)
- About 16:27
- Daylight
- About 7.7 hours
Winter (December–February). Cold, grey and dark by mid-afternoon, but the Light Festival, festive markets and quiet museums make up for it.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, December rates 3 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in April). Book accommodation early: December is one of the pricier months.
Events in December
- Sinterklaas evening — gifts and poems (5 December)
- New Year's Eve celebrations (31 December)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in December
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Market · De Pijp
Albert Cuyp Market
Running along Albert Cuypstraat most days of the week, the city's biggest street market sells cheese, fish, flowers, clothes and fabric.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
Viewpoint · Amsterdam-Noord
A'DAM Lookout
Take the free ferry from behind Centraal Station to Buiksloterweg, a five-minute crossing, and go up for sunset.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
- After dark
Historic site · Old Centre
Begijnhof
Through a doorway off the busy Spui square, the Begijnhof is a quiet courtyard of almshouses built for the Beguines, a lay Catholic sisterhood, in the Middle Ages.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
Zoo · Plantage
Artis Zoo
Buy tickets online and combine with the Hortus Botanicus a few minutes' walk away.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 7°C, lows near 2°C and 13 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; comfortable walking shoes.
Is December a good time to visit Amsterdam?
A quieter month with trade-offs, with 2 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Amsterdam in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is December a good time to visit Amsterdam?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Dark afternoons brightened by the Light Festival, oliebollen stalls and festive markets; busy around New Year.
+How warm is Amsterdam in December?
Average highs are around 7°C (45°F) and lows around 2°C (36°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Amsterdam in December?
Expect rain on about 13 days of the month, so pack for wet weather.