Christmas Market Amsterdam | Museumplein
The Christmas market on Museumplein is the biggest Christmas market in Amsterdam. From 3 to 27 December 2026, Christmas Village Amsterdam fills the square between the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum with more than 50 wooden chalets, mulled wine, winter food and Christmas gifts. Entry is free, and the Museumplein ice rink is right next door.
Christmas market Museumplein at a glance
| Dates | Thursday 3 – Sunday 27 December 2026 |
| Opening hours | 12:00–21:00 (3–24 Dec), 12:00–19:00 (25–26 Dec), 12:00–18:00 (27 Dec) |
| Entry | Free, no ticket needed |
| Stalls | More than 50 chalets with gifts, art, food and drinks |
| Ice rink | Next to the market, 24 Oct 2026 – 16 Jan 2027, €16 incl. skate rental |
| Location | Museumplein, Amsterdam (between the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum) |
| Getting there | Tram 2 or 12 to Museumplein |
Why you shouldn’t miss the Christmas market on Museumplein
Christmas Village Amsterdam, formerly known as Ice*Village, returns for its tenth edition. It is the most complete Christmas outing in the city: shopping, food, skating and world-class museums, all on one square.
- Christmas shopping at more than 50 chalets with gifts, decorations, art and winter accessories.
- Mulled wine and winter food, from hot chocolate to Dutch snacks and sweet treats.
- Ice skating on the rink next to the market, with the Rijksmuseum as your backdrop.
- Lights after dark. From around 16:30 the Christmas tree, the chalets and the Rijksmuseum are lit up, which is the most atmospheric time to visit.
- World-famous museums within a few minutes’ walk.
Allow about an hour to stroll past all the stalls, or 1.5 hours if you stop for food and a mulled wine. With a skating session you need 2.5 to 3 hours, and combined with a museum it easily becomes a half-day outing. Weekday afternoons are the quietest; Friday and Saturday evenings and the weekends before Christmas are the busiest.
What to eat, drink and buy at the market
The food and drink stalls are a big part of the fun. Expect warm drinks such as mulled wine (glühwein) and hot chocolate, savoury winter snacks and sweet treats, served from chalets and food trucks around the square. Grab something warm and find a spot near the ice rink to watch the skaters.
For Christmas shopping, the chalets sell gifts, decorations, art, design and winter accessories, often from small makers. It is a good place to find a present you will not see in every shop, so take your time to walk the whole market before you buy.
Ice skating next to the Christmas market
The Museumplein ice rink is open from 24 October 2026 to 16 January 2027, so you can skate well before and after the Christmas market. A ticket costs €16 per person and includes skate rental. Gloves are mandatory on the ice. After skating you can warm up at ‘t Wak, the café next to the rink.
Ice rink Museumplein from €16 per person, skate rental included. Choose your date and time slot online.
Check availabilityBook ahead in December
The Christmas market itself is free, but the attractions around it work with timed tickets. In December, especially at weekends and during the Christmas holidays, time slots sell out. The Van Gogh Museum only sells tickets online, and slots are often fully booked days in advance. Book the things you really want to do first, then plan your visit to the market around them.
Museums and attractions near the Christmas market
These popular attractions are within walking distance of the market. All of them work with time slots, so book in advance.
Opening hours Christmas market 2026
| 3 – 24 December | 12:00 – 21:00 |
| 25 & 26 December | 12:00 – 19:00 |
| 27 December (last day) | 12:00 – 18:00 |
The market is also open on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Most museums around Museumplein are open over Christmas too; check their hours for 24, 25 and 31 December before you book.
How to get to the Christmas market
- By tram: trams 2 and 12 stop at Museumplein.
- By metro: line 52 to Vijzelgracht, then a 15-minute walk.
- On foot: about 10 minutes from Leidseplein, 25 minutes from Dam Square.
- By car: Q-Park Museumplein, the paid car park underneath the square. Public transport is easier in December.
© OpenStreetMapOn the winter map
Christmas Village Museumplein
Museumplein
See exactly where it is, with the Christmas markets, ice rinks and Light Festival cruises nearby.
Practical tips for your visit
- Go early or on a weekday if you are visiting with a pushchair or small children. Weekday afternoons are the most relaxed; Friday and Saturday evenings get very busy.
- Payment: many stalls accept cards, but not all of them. Bring some cash for the smaller stalls.
- Toilets are available on site during opening hours; a small fee may apply.
- Dogs on a leash are welcome at the market, but not on the ice rink.
- Dress warmly. The market is outdoors on an open square, and it gets cold quickly after sunset. If you want to skate, bring gloves: they are mandatory on the ice.
- Combine it with the lights. From 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027 the Amsterdam Light Festival lights up the canals. A canal cruise in the evening is the perfect end to a day at Museumplein.
Hotels near the Christmas market
Staying near Museumplein puts the market, the ice rink and the museums on your doorstep. The Museum Quarter (Oud-Zuid) has elegant boutique and luxury hotels on quiet streets. De Pijp, a 10 to 15-minute walk away, has more affordable hotels and lots of cafés. Leidseplein, 10 minutes on foot, is the place for evenings out. Hotels fill up fast for December weekends and New Year’s Eve, so book early.
Hotels around Museumplein. Compare prices and free cancellation options for your dates.
Find hotelsOther Christmas markets in Amsterdam
Want to see more? The winter market on Leidseplein is a 10-minute walk away, the Funky Xmas Market at Westergas is the alternative choice with design and street food, and The Maker Market is all about handmade gifts. Just outside the city, the Haarlem Christmas market is one of the largest in the Netherlands. For families, Amsterdam Winter Paradise in the RAI has indoor skating and fairground rides. See all dates in our overview of Christmas markets in Amsterdam, or find tickets for the season on our Winter Festival tickets page.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Entry to Christmas Village Amsterdam is free throughout the whole period. You only need a ticket for the ice rink (€16 including skates) and for the museums around the square.
From Thursday 3 to Sunday 27 December 2026. From 3 to 24 December daily from 12:00 to 21:00, on 25 and 26 December from 12:00 to 19:00, and on 27 December from 12:00 to 18:00.
Yes. On 25 and 26 December the market is open from 12:00 to 19:00. The last day is Sunday 27 December, open until 18:00.
About an hour for the market, 1.5 hours with food and drinks, and 2.5 to 3 hours if you also go skating. Combined with a museum it is easily a half-day outing.
Yes. The Museumplein ice rink is right next to the market and open from 24 October 2026 to 16 January 2027. A ticket costs €16 including skate rental, and gloves are mandatory.
Take tram 2 or 12 to the Museumplein stop. By metro, take line 52 to Vijzelgracht and walk about 15 minutes. If you come by car, Q-Park Museumplein is directly underneath the square.
Many stalls accept card payments, but not all of them. Bring some cash to be sure.
Dogs on a leash are welcome at the market. Keep in mind that it can be very busy, especially in the evening and at weekends.
Popular links
Ice rink next to the market
Museumplein Ice Rink ticket
- Skate rental included
- Skate with the Rijksmuseum as your backdrop
- Free cancellation up to 72 hours before
€16 per personThe Christmas market itself is free
Check dates & timesYou book securely with our ticket partner. Choose your date and time in the calendar.
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