Warm Up to Winter Magic in Amsterdam
Amsterdam offers Christmas cheer to tourists with its parade of boats each year.A bustling city like Amsterdam has plenty to do year round, but December may be one of the best months to experience the city’s true charm. Amsterdam is chock full of winter events, and tourists can take picturesque photos and enjoy wonderful wintery events complete with lights, costumes, décor and plenty of Yuletide action.
The Magic Festival opens up in December, with canal boats and even bridges specially decorated, after being officially lighted and illuminated by the mayor in a special ceremony. During family-friendly festivities, a mini parade of boats takes place every evening during the festival , with Christmas sing-a-longs scheduled on the Amstel River usually a week after the main event. A Christmas canal parade, involving over 40 boats, departs and tourists can watch from one of the main bridges or alongside the canal. Boats are decorated by Dutch art students and designers. The canal parade presents many faiths and origins, as Amsterdam is home to over 170 nationalities. To make the atmosphere even more magical, parade choirs softly serenade the boats as they sail by.
If you’re still in town for New Year’s, join the Best Wishes Tour, a mini-parade dedicated to improving Amsterdam in the New Year. Amsterdam is a favourite destination for tourists, and its close proximity and renowned nightlife and reputation as a liberal city draw tourists year after year. Tourists arrive in Amsterdam from all over, including Newcastle, using a variety of low cost carriers and scheduled carriers year round.
