Blog 52 – A quiet holiday time in the Netherlands

Out and about on our sunny Christmas Day walk

If you Google: “Markets open on Christmas in Amsterdam”, you will find that this is a beautiful place to be this time of year: https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/see-and-do/whats-on/major-events-and-celebrations/christmas/markets  I was actually trying to figure out if the grocery stores would be open Christmas day, but found this may be more interesting; if not as useful in 2020. And it turns out that, no, the grocery stores are not open.

Currently, only shops or stands that normally sell food can be open. That means that: The Winter Paradise has gone online, https://www.hetamsterdamsewinterparadijs.nl/ Tickets on sale now for December 2021. The beautiful Ice Village and Kerstmarket at the Museumplein says it is open – but it is not. https://icevillage.nl/  At the end of their webpage is a link to all things Christmas in Amsterdam: https://www.iamsterdam.com/en/see-and-do/whats-on/major-events-and-celebrations/christmas  All have been cancelled or, as in the case of the annual Light Festival; severely downsized. The 2020 Light Festival https://amsterdamlightfestival.com/en/edition-9 had no festival, no walking route, and no boat parade; it does have a limited number, seven, of illuminated installations set up in four different sections of the city. But to keep crowds down, the locations are not published – I can’t find them.

But all is not dreary. Christmas day arrived with sunshine predicted for an entire day; this is a true gift as it rains, or is cloudy, almost every day in winter here – such a treat. To celebrate the beautiful day, we each did our outdoor exercise and then after lunch went to several known locations throughout the city to create our own: “Day in pictures; Amsterdam”. Our day has been lovely, and we hope yours was too.

  • Singlegracht canal at Leidesplein
  • Vondlepark path
  • Vondlepark pond
  • American Hotel at Leidesplein in the sun
  • The most photographed canal – Princengracht
  • The Herengracht canal
  • Centraal Station glows in the sun
  • Red Light District: OudeKerk and Waag
Just like tourists, taking our pictures outside Centraal Station
Only a small part of the bike parking at Centraal Station
Andy waiting outside the Waag for our Gluwijn (mulled wine) and beignets
  • The Waag from our seat on park bench
The Red Light District is beautiful, maybe more so without tourists and sex workers
  • Rokin looking toward Dam Sq
  • Good Chinese on Rokin
  • Rokin looking away Dam Sq
We end our day out by ordering Chinese food to eat later for dinner
We turn right from Rokin to see the sun setting close to the Floating Flower Market

The sunny day in Amsterdam is over; time now to watch movies and eat our Chinese food. Our “Day in pictures; Amsterdam” completed for December 25, 2020.

3 thoughts on “Blog 52 – A quiet holiday time in the Netherlands”

  2. Looks like a great way to spend the day. We will be enjoying Sonny Lee’s for our Christmas dinner this year. Happy New Year and Cheers to 2021!

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