Our guide is updated at the start of every month, packed with the best events. Explore the best of Amsterdam with insider tips and recommendations. Whether you’re planning your weekend or looking to fill your calendar, let our monthly roundup help you make the most of everything Amsterdam has to offer!

What’s Happening in Amsterdam in January 2026?
Even in January, after all the festive celebrations, there’s still so much fun to be had in the city! Dine on a fortress island, visit Wereldmuseum for free, go ice skating, enjoy free tulip picking, and so much more.

Check out the best things to do in January in Amsterdam here!

Pampus Winterlicht – Dine on a Fortress Island

A magical winter evening escape just outside Amsterdam on a fortress island. From 13 February to 20 March 2026, on selected Thursdays and every Friday and Saturday, you’ll take an evening boat from Amsterdam-IJburg (or Muiden on select dates) to the beautiful island fortress of Pampus. 

Once there, the fort is softly illuminated and you’re treated to a multi-course dinner made with sustainably sourced, locally produced ingredients from within the Stelling van Amsterdam. The experience lasts from around 18:00 to 23:00 and includes return ferry, island access, and dinner (€99 p.p., drinks excluded).

Tickets are limited and this event sells out quickly, so booking in advance is highly recommended.

Visit Wereldmuseum Amsterdam at night – for free until Jan 18

During the Amsterdam Light Festival, Wereldmuseum Amsterdam opens its doors for free on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings from 19:00 to 22:00! You can experience the interactive light installation Knotted by Raven Kwok in the impressive central hall and explore almost the entire museum after dark, including the exhibition Made in China.

Amsterdam Light Festival – Until Jan 18

You can walk or sail along a special route through the city and see Amsterdam transformed into an open-air light museum, lighting up the canals with amazing artworks and glowing installations by international artists. This year, the artworks follow the theme “Legacy,” exploring what we leave behind for future generations!

Visit ARTIS-Micropia

The world’s first and only museum entirely dedicated to microbes. At this interactive science museum, you’ll discover a world that is normally invisible, from bacteria and fungi to the microbes living on your own skin. With over 40 types of living microbes on display, hands-on installations, microscopes, and a real working lab, Micropia shows just how essential these tiny organisms are to our health, food, and planet. 

Kids up to 12 enter for free, you can collect fun microbe stamps throughout the museum, and three times a day a Micropia lab technician gives a live talk straight from the lab. We found this so interesting!

Book your tickets here!

Go ice skating

The best places to go ice skating in Amsterdam:

• Jaap Eden Ice Rink
• Museum Quarter
• IJburg on Ice
• Ice Rink Rembrandtplein

Fabrique des Lumières – Moon Walkers

A new immersive show! A Journey with Tom Hanks takes you on a breathtaking 360° voyage through humanity’s missions to the moon. Co-created and narrated by Tom Hanks, the experience combines monumental projections, orchestral sound, and rare, newly restored NASA footage to bring the Apollo missions to life, while also looking ahead to the future with the Artemis program. Really cool to visit! 

Book your tickets here.

National Tulip Day – January 17

National Tulip Day marks the official start of tulip season in the Netherlands and takes place each January in the heart of Amsterdam. For one day only, Dam Square transforms into a colourful pop-up tulip garden with thousands of flowers, where visitors can pick a free bunch of tulips to take home!

Ice rink at Museum Square

An age-old tradition: Museum Square is turning into an ice rink again! Besides skating, there will be plenty of fun activities like dinner, bingo, a silent disco and more.

From November 8 until January @ Museum Square, tickets €14

Best places for Dutch ‘’Snert’’ (Pea Soup)

Dutchies enjoy their favourite winter dish, snert (pea soup) & these are our recommendations for where to get it:

• Moeders
• Proeflokaal A. van Wees
• Koffiehuis de Hoek
• Cafe Sonneveld

Newest Restaurants in Amsterdam

Of course, a great restaurant can’t be missing from the list of monthly activities. And what could be more fun than trying one of Amsterdam’s newest spots? As you know, we love keeping lists, and that includes a list of Restaurants that recently opened in Amsterdam—and there are quite a few! Check them out here.

Even more Amsterdam Tips

Art & Culture

Fun Activities 

• Dining in The Dark: Enjoy a three, four, or five-course dining experience that takes place entirely in the dark. Book your spot here →
• 2-Hour Private Karaoke Session: Book a private karaoke booth for up to 10 people for a super fun night out! Book your spot here →
• 80’s Roller Skating Rink: Go back to the ’80s with a stunning decor and the best ’80s music. Spend a fun and active day out skating with friends and family in the rink. Book your spot here →
• Visit House of Bols: Bols Cocktail Experience takes you through the history of Genever and liqueur, unveiling the secrets behind the craft of distillation that has been practiced for over 400 years by Lucas Bols, the world’s oldest distilled spirit brand. Book your experience here →
• Wine Tasting with Experienced Sommelier: The sommelier guides you through a curated selection of 5 wines, all sourced from local winemakers. Book your tasting here →

Weekend Day Trips – Explore the Rest of The Netherlands

You may also like to check out our list of newly opened restaurants! We update it every month. Follow us on Tiktok or Instagram. On our Social Media Channels we always post even more content of find out about the best tips, parties, events and more.