Events for December 2010

Events columnist Eva Dam brings you a very festive December events column full of Sinterklaas, late night shopping, the World Christmas Circus, ice skating and more!

While other countries have to wait until Christmas for the season to get jolly Amsterdam is in the festive mood right from the beginning of December. On the 5th of December Sinterklaas, the Dutch Santa Claus visits Amsterdam to bring presents to the children who haven’t been naughty in the past year. All through December there will be ice rinks through the city, many streets and canals are illuminated with light for that magical touch. Shops will be open longer and Stalls selling traditional fried doughnuts (oliebollen) and small pancakes (poffertjes) are everywhere.

Story Highlights

Sinterklaas
Extra shopping nights in December
World Christmas Circus
Ice skating
Christmas in Amsterdam

Sinterklaas

If you see a man wearing a long red cape, a traditional white bishop's robe and red mitre, accompanied by a bunch of black guys in colourfull shorts and tights, don’t worry it is only Sinterklaas, the Dutch version of Santa Claus. Sinterklaas comes from spain evey year carrying a big book that tells whether each individual child has been good or naughty in the past year. On the night of the 5th of December most people stay home to celebrate this holiday with their loved ones. In the weeks leading up to the 5th of December you will run into Sinterklaas and his helpers regularly, they might even give you some candy !

Extra shopping nights in December

Many shops have longer opening hours in December. The regular shopping evening in Amsterdam is Thursday night when shops are open till 21.00. But though December there will be extra shopping night for all you last minute Christmas shopping (just because you are not spending Christmas at home does not mean you don’t have to buy your little brother a present…). The extra shopping nights are on the 3rd, 18th, 21st and 22nd of December when the shops will be open till 21.00 and on the 27th, 28th, and 29th of December when the shops will be open to 20.00

World Christmas Circus

Every December the Royal Theatre Carré is the venue for the World Christmas Circus. This year 25th anniversary circus is jam packed with famous acts. The world famous illusionist Hans Klok will perform along with a flying trapeze act from Korea, the clown of all clowns Fumagalli and bicycle acrobats from China. The World Christmas Circus proves that circus is still very much alive.

Ice skating

It is still unsure if this winter will be cold enough for the canals to freeze over so until that might happen you can always go skating on one of the ice skating rinks around town. Every year in December the refelecting pool on Amsterdam's Museumplein becomes an ice-skating rink, surrounded by stalls selling hot chocolate and poffertjes (small delicious pancakes). A smaller rink will be at the Leidse square at the end of the shopping street bang in the middle of area filled with bars, clubs and restaurants. Remember don’t drink and skate !

Christmas in Amsterdam

Since Christmas is a family oriented holiday and spent at home with friends and family it will be quit around town. If you want to dine out it is best to book a table in advance. Boxing Day, 26 December, is another quiet day although some shopping centers will open. On Christmas Eve, enjoy a free concert of Christmas classics at Concertgebouw or head to Westergasfabriek Complex for The Winterparade, packed with theatre, music, dance, films and merry making. After the family Christmas diner people will head out to meet friends so especially on boxing day the bars and clubs will be full.

‐ Eva Dam