Christmas Markets in Amsterdam 2026
From the Christmas Village on Museumplein to one-day design markets: every Christmas market in and around Amsterdam this winter, with dates, opening hours and what each one is best for. Most are free to enter.
See all datesWhat’s open when I visit?There is no single Amsterdam Christmas market
Unlike Cologne or Vienna, Amsterdam does not have one big Christmas market in the old town. Instead the festive season is spread over several squares and halls: a Christmas village with an ice rink on Museumplein, a winter market with chalets on Leidseplein, the indoor Winter Paradise at the RAI and a handful of one-day markets for gifts by local makers. On Winter Festival Amsterdam we keep all of them in one overview, checked against the organisers’ own information.
All Christmas markets in Amsterdam 2026 at a glance
Dates as announced by the organisers. Tap a market for opening hours, directions and tips.
| Market | Where | Dates 2026 | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Village Museumplein | Museumplein | 3 – 27 Dec | Free |
| Amsterdam Winter Paradise | RAI Amsterdam (indoor) | 17 Dec – 2 Jan | Ticket |
| Winter Market Leidseplein | Leidseplein | 13 Nov – 3 Jan | Free |
| The Maker Market XL | Centrale Markthal (indoor) | 19 – 23 Dec | From €3.50, kids free |
| Funky Xmas Market | Westergas | Sun 20 Dec | Free |
| Haarlem Christmas Market | Haarlem, 15 min by train | 11 – 13 Dec | Free |
© OpenStreetMapOn the winter map
All winter events on one map
Christmas markets, ice rinks, Light Festival cruises, attractions and hotels, with dates and tickets.
Which Christmas markets are open when you visit?
Pick your dates and we show only the markets that are open.
Christmas Village Museumplein
Amsterdam’s biggest Christmas market: wooden chalets with gifts, mulled wine, hot chocolate and poffertjes around the open-air ice rink, with the Rijksmuseum as backdrop.
Amsterdam Winter Paradise (RAI)
Less a market than a winter theme park: indoor and outdoor ice rinks, cross-country skiing, a Ferris wheel, après-ski with live music and Christmas stalls. The best choice on a rainy day.
Winter Market Leidseplein
Lit wooden chalets on Leidseplein and the Kleine-Gartmanplantsoen, a large mulled wine pyramid, a carousel from 4 December and oliebollen and poffertjes. Open until late, so easy to combine with dinner or a canal cruise.
The Maker Market XL
Up to 150 makers a day in the listed Centrale Markthal in Amsterdam-West, selling only handmade and locally designed gifts. With workshops, live music and a daily children’s programme.
Funky Xmas Market at Westergas
The Christmas edition of the Sunday Market at the Westergas terrain: original gifts by young designers, food trucks, live music and mulled wine, next to the Westerpark.
Haarlem Christmas Market
For one weekend the historic centre of Haarlem turns into one of the largest Christmas markets in the Netherlands, with hundreds of stalls around the Grote Markt. Only 15 minutes by train from Amsterdam Central.
No market matches these dates. Try another period.
Plan your Christmas market day
The markets are spread over the city, so pick one area per day. These routes work well on foot or by tram.
Museum Quarter and Leidseplein
- Afternoon: Christmas Village and skating on Museumplein
- Early evening: walk 10 minutes to the Winter Market on Leidseplein
- After dark: Light Festival cruise from Stadhouderskade
Weekend of 19 – 20 December
- Saturday or Sunday: The Maker Market XL in Amsterdam-West
- Sunday: Funky Xmas Market at Westergas, 15 minutes by bike
- Evening: Winter Paradise at the RAI or the Light Festival
Rainy day
- Winter Paradise in the RAI is fully indoor
- The Maker Market XL is indoor too (19 – 23 Dec)
- Warm up in the museums around Museumplein
Combine the markets with
Popular with visitors who come for the Christmas markets.
Light Festival cruise
20 light artworks along the canals, every evening from 26 November. Heated, open or with drinks.
From €22.30 per adult
Compare cruises
Ice rink Museumplein
Skate in front of the Rijksmuseum, right next to the Christmas Village. Skate hire available.
From €16 per person
TicketsWinter Paradise
Skating, skiing and a Ferris wheel under one roof, 17 December to 2 January.
Time-slot tickets
Tickets
Christmas dinner show
Five-course Christmas dinner with live entertainment in a winter-wonderland setting at SUPPER.
From €79 per person
Check datesWhere to stay for the Christmas markets
The two big outdoor markets are in the Museum Quarter and on Leidseplein, 10 minutes’ walk apart. Hotels in these areas put both on your doorstep, plus the Light Festival departures at Stadhouderskade.
- Museum Quarter: quiet, close to Museumplein and the ice rink.
- Leidseplein and the canal ring: lively in the evening, walk to the Light Festival route.
- Near the RAI: handy for Winter Paradise, with a direct metro to Central Station.
Frequently asked questions
When do the Christmas markets in Amsterdam open in 2026?
The season starts on 13 November with the Winter Market on Leidseplein. The biggest market, the Christmas Village on Museumplein, runs from 3 to 27 December. Amsterdam Winter Paradise in the RAI opens on 17 December and the one-day markets take place in the weekends before Christmas.
Are the Christmas markets in Amsterdam free?
Yes, entry is free at the Christmas Village on Museumplein, the Winter Market on Leidseplein, the Funky Xmas Market and the Haarlem Christmas Market. Amsterdam Winter Paradise and The Maker Market XL charge an entry ticket. Skating on the Museumplein ice rink is paid separately.
What is the biggest Christmas market in Amsterdam?
The Christmas Village on Museumplein, with chalets around an open-air ice rink in front of the Rijksmuseum. For a really large traditional market, take the train to Haarlem: its Christmas market on 11 – 13 December is one of the biggest in the Netherlands.
Are the Christmas markets open on Christmas Day?
The Christmas Village on Museumplein and the Winter Market on Leidseplein are open on 25 and 26 December, usually with shorter hours. Check the market guide before you go. On 24 and 31 December the Winter Market on Leidseplein closes at 20:00.
Is there an indoor Christmas market in Amsterdam?
Yes. The Maker Market XL (19 – 23 December) is held in the Centrale Markthal, and Amsterdam Winter Paradise in the RAI is fully indoor, including the ice rink and the Ferris wheel.
Which weekend is best for the Christmas markets?
The weekend of 19 – 20 December has the most choice: Museumplein, Leidseplein, Winter Paradise, The Maker Market XL and, on Sunday, the Funky Xmas Market. The weekend of 12 – 13 December combines the Amsterdam markets with the Haarlem Christmas Market.
Last updated: 4 November 2026. Dates and prices are taken from the organisers and can change. Prices are from-prices.
