‘Going to Amsterdam for Christmas’ might sound like a euphemism for getting high to make it through festive family time. But The Netherland’s capital is surprisingly magical (even pre-shrooms).

There’s Christmas Markets, traditional doughnuts and the distant hope that snow will fall, frosting everything in Christmas dust and scuppering half a million cyclist's plans.

Best of all are Amsterdam’s twinkly canals...

Go for the… Amsterdam Light Festival

‘Think the neighbours will mind if we string up a few Christmas lights?’

Over December and January, Amsterdam is usually transformed into a city-wide museum. troll round the city to see the sparkly artwork. Makes your tinselled tree look basic AF.

Other good stuff

There’s (usually) a sackful of Christmas Markets in Amsterdam. Cruise through them all, seeing how many samples of gluhwein mulled wine and oliebollen (Dutch doughnuts) you can score.