Amsterdam Weekend Guide for December 19, 20 & 21!
YEAH!! It’s almost Christmas. Some of you might even have a two week holiday coming! When writing this Amsterdam Weekend Guide I’m in Zürich. Creating a city guide before going snow skiing with the family. It’s always so good to be back in Switzerland! Too bad I miss out on all the Christmas-ish events in Amsterdam though. Start the weekend with the new Happy Weekend Playlist made by Yourlbb’s editor Ellis. And check all the events and new opening in town. Enjoy your weekend!
Tip: we host our very first pop-up brunch! Join us for the healthy new year’s brunch on January 4 at Beter & Leuk. Only a few seats left for the seating of 11 am. Healthy food and a very nice goodie bag for all of you! Click here for more information >>
In case you didn’t subscribe to the newsletter yet… We’re giving away a € 250,- gift card of Omoda (the online shoe store) if you subscribe before Christmas!
OMG, so much to tell and share… we’re also hiring an intern! Fluent Dutch and English is a must. More info here >>
Curious about my adventures in Swiss? You can follow my daily adventures on Instagram and Twitter. Search for Your Little Black Book via @yourlbb!
PS: Every Friday around 11.45 am I share some of my favourite things to do on Amsterdam FM.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR >>
//Christmas in Amsterdam//
* 21 cool events in December you don’t want to miss!
* Don’t feel like cooking? Reserve a table at one of these hotspots >>
* Party time after Christmas dinner. The best parties on December 25 & 26 >>
* Fun things to do (for the whole family!) in Amsterdam during Christmas day on December 24, 25 & 26 >>
//New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam//
* New Year’s Eve parties in Amsterdam: check out the best parties in Yourlbb’s updated shortlist >>
* Looking for a nice eat with NYE? These restaurants that are open on December 31 >>
* Tip: did you see this blog about THE 11:59 moment yet? You can win a trip for 2 for NYE 2015 / 2016. From Alaska to Hawaii and Costa Rica to Singapore!
Do you have tickets for the Tacky Christmas Sweater dinner at Bluespoon yet on Friday December 19? In case you need some list minute shopping inspiration check out the blog with 10 cool sweaters here >>
Also on Friday December 19: the last edition of Edelwise after work drinks in 2014!
Pssst… pop-up restaurants Foyer (until end of January!) and Henk (until end of December 2014) are only open for a few more weeks! Go there while you can.
– The best weekend markets for gist shopping and food and drinks this weekend:
* Scotch Collectibles market (Fri – Sun)
* Local Goods Market (Saturday & Sunday)
* Moderne Hippies Markt at Roest (Saturday)
* Bosboom Toussaint Foodie Fair (Saturday)
* Neighbourfood Market at Westergasfabriek (Saturday & Sunday)
* Museummarkt (Sunday)
* Pure Markt at Park Frankendael (Sunday)
* Pekmarkt in Amsterdam North
>> Click here to check out all the Christmas-ish markets in Amsterdam >>
– Hotspots that just opened the doors:
– 63 graden foodbar
– Mercato Campari
– Koffie Academie
– Crazy Kreeft
– Streekmagazijn
– Le Coq
– Holy Ravioli
– The Breakfast Club
– George Bistro
– CT Coffee & Coconuts
– Brasserie Bar Breitner
– Roots
– The Cold Pressed Juicery
– Jacketz
– Some foodie proof lists to make your life easier! Did you check them yet?
* 15 great bars and cafes in Amsterdam
* 5 spots in Amsterdam for Italian coffee
* 5 favourite hotspots for hot coco
* 36 great coffee bars in Amsterdam
* 18 best cocktail bars in Amsterdam!
* 8 spots for free wifi, good coffee & lunch
* 20 of the newest restaurants in Amsterdam
* 9 best places to drink G&T’s in Amsterdam
* 10 restaurants where parking your car is no problem
* 20 new places for coffee and lunch
* 20 new restaurant hotspots
* 10 favourite healthy spots
* 5 Saturday food markets
– Brunch is hot in Amsterdam!
* Here’s a link to all the brunch spots in Amsterdam Yourlbb loves.
– Did you spot the pop-up store of beautiful bag brand Rabeanco in the Nine Streets yet? Hartenstraat 8!
– Sustainable and trendy! That’s GeitenWollenWinkel at the Utrechtsestraat.
– 11 cool concept stores in Amsterdam to shop for Christmas!
– Need to shop a Christmas gift for your boyfriend? check out these 6 concept store guys >>
– Last weekend! Did you see the pop-up store of Etsy sellers yet? Until December 24 at the Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal.
– Pop-up store Gekaapt is a cool hotspot at the Bilderijkstraat. With indie brands: Nikki Namasté, Doing Goods, Cup of Jo & others. More info & photos here >>.
– To the Concert Hall for only € 10,- a ticket. Read all about it in this blog >>
– The Winterparade is in town! Did you hear about this foodie proof art event yet?
– There’s a classic coming to town. Opera La Bohème. Until December 28.
Get in the Christmas mood with:
– The Christmas Canal Parade on Saturday December 20 from 7-8 pm
– The beautiful 7 meter high hologram Christmas tree at the Rijksmuseum by Studio Droog.
– Ice skating in Amsterdam: Zell Am Rembrandt at Floor 17 is the petite ice skating rink at 85 meters high. Also check out: Jaap Eden Schaatsbaan & ICE Amsterdam.
– The Amsterdam Light Festival is on! Beautiful light sculptures all over town. Discover them here >>
– Do you like street art? Discover the best street art in Amsterdam and book a tour. Check out our blogs about Street Art Amsterdam tours. Also very cool if you live in Amsterdam!
– More street art! Check the new expo at the Go Gallery on the Prinsengracht for “Spread Your Wings”. Two artists, two styles! Until December 31.
– Dinner and a movie at De Filmhallen at De Hallen in West. Tip for the pre-movie dinner: De Foodhallen, Remise47, Halte 3 or Meat West before the film starts!
– Check out this new expositions at photo museum FOAM:
* NEW in Foam! Araka, Photography of the after life | Until March 11
* Vivian Maier, Street Photographer | until January 28
– Marlene Dumas x Stedelijk Museum until January 4.
– NEW expo in the beautiful Hermitage in Amsterdam: “Portrait Gallery of the Golden Age”. Tip: go for lunch or drinks to Neva afterwards!
– Modern Times photography expo x Rijksmuseum until January 11.
– This weekend it’s Valhalla festival at the RAI. A night circus on December 20!
– We Eat DJ’s for Breakfast! Saturday afternoon at Paper Planes.
– My favourite clubs in Amsterdam for techno: Studio 80, Canvas & Club Trouw.
>> TRY to get some last minute tickets for the last weekends at Club Trouw!! >>
– A bit older crowd, great tunes and good vibe: Disco Dolly.
– Always fun: cocktails and dancing at Chapter21!
Amsterdam Bucketlist
THINGS TO DO:
⋙ Canal Cruise by day or in the evening
⋙ A bike tour through Amsterdam OR Rent a bike by yourself
⋙ The best view over Amsterdam from the A’DAM Lookout
⋙ Visit Artis Royal Zoo
FAVOURITE MUSEUMS:
⋙ Rijksmuseum with the Dutch masters
⋙ Van Gogh Museum, a staple in Amsterdam
⋙ Stedelijk Museum for modern art lovers
⋙ MOCO Museum for street art
⋙ Photography museum FOAM
SEASONAL:
⋙ Amsterdam Light Festival (during winter months)
⋙ Cruise like a local with your own boat (great with good weather!)
ONE OF A KIND:
⋙ Discover the Instagrammable experience WONDR
⋙ Red Light District tour
⋙ Get out of town and into the Dutch country side of Giethoorn
| TIP: Buy an I amsterdam City Card. Save money on entrance fees to museums and attractions, public transport and profit from discounts on everything from restaurants to concerts. You can also skip some lines to make the most of your time in Amsterdam! You can buy a card for 24 hours up to 120 hours. Check the prices here >>
Our favourite hotels:
AFFORDABLE // €
☾ Generator Hostel: the best poshtel of the city located in a park.
☾ The Student Hotel: budget proof in trendy East.
☾ Het Volkshotel: affordable and with a cool rooftop bar.
☾ CitizenM: all you need is that XL bed (location near Amstel is great).
☾ Motel One: budget design hotel with locations at
VERY VERY NICE // €€
☾ Hotel V: with two locations and a great restaurant, in the city center and East.
☾ Sir Adam: with the coolest view over Amsterdam.
☾ Sweets: a unique stay in former bridge houses.
☾ Park Plaza Vondelpark: located next to Vondelpark and beautifully renovated.
☾ Hotel Dwars: small scale around the corner of the trendy Utrechtsestraat.
☾ Pillows Anna van den Vondel: great hotel close to Vondelpark.
☾ Hotel Mercier: new hotel in the cosy and historic Jordaan district.
☾ INK Hotel: lifestyle hotel in the heart of the city.
☾ The Hoxton: favourite lifestyle hotel right on the canals.
☾ Morgan & Mees: boutique hotel in Amsterdam West.
☾ Conscious Hotel Westerpark: in a beautiful building at the industrial Westergas area.
☾ QO Amsterdam: eco design hotel with a great skybar.
TOP LUXURY // €€€
☾ Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam: if you have something to celebrate this is the one.
☾ Pulitzer Amsterdam: on the canals at the border of the Nine Streets and the Jordaan.
☾ L’Europe: this hotel has the best spa with a view in Amsterdam.
☾ Conservatorium Hotel: located in one of the most beautiful buildings in town.
☾ W Amsterdam: with great restaurants and a rooftop bar with swimming pool.
Let’s get social
I really hope you enjoy your time in Amsterdam! On my Instagram account @yourlbb you can find more recommendations and new hotspots in town.
Follow @yourlbb on Instagram
| PS: Traveling to Amsterdam with kids? My other website Travelkids.co & @travelkids.co is dedicated to family friendly travel. Check it out here >>
