Amsterdam is a rather eventful city no matter the time of the year you visit it. Yet visiting Amsterdam in November has quite a unique flair, as the city gets colder and the festive touch of December starts to appear everywhere. Several festivals and winter events take place, while the most expected event is the arrival of Sinterklaas.
Amsterdam in November: to do list
#1 Private Amsterdam Walking tour
If you want to become an expert on all the main attractions of Amsterdam, we encourage you to consider booking a private Amsterdam walking tour. This is a great idea if you want to get close to the festive touch of November on the old city’s streets. Our tip is to go for this tour in the evening, as several festive lights will be colouring the urban landscape.
In around 2 hours you will get the chance to wander the streets of this beautiful city along with a tour guide. Your personal guide will share detailed information about many historical sights, such as the Old Church, Pub the Monkey, the Waag, Chinatown or the infamous Red-Light District.
#2 Private day trip to Delft and Rotterdam
And if you aim to observe the atmosphere in other important cities in Netherlands, you can always opt for a private trip from Amsterdam to Delft and Rotterdam.
The city of Delft is popular worldwide due to the fact that it is the home of the Blue pottery. Also, it is one of the oldest cities in Netherlands. The private tour guide will present you the intriguing history of this city, as it was and still is one of the most influential cities in the Dutch history.
After Delft, the tour will take you to the streets of Rotterdam, where you will learn all about World War II in Netherlands and why Rotterdam became such a modern city.
#3 Visit Rijksmuseum, one of the vastest museums in Amsterdam
A visit to Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is a must do for everyone that wants to get a deeper knowledge about all sides of Dutch history. This museum is considered to be a national treasure on its own. It is rather popular internationally due to the impressive art collections that include Delftware, sculptures, archaeological artefacts and several historic art pieces by Vermeer, Frans Hals and Rembrandt’s The Night Watch.
#4 Attend the International Documentary Film Festival in Amsterdam
The International Documentary Film Festival is held annually in Amsterdam, dating back to 1988. In up to 12 consecutive days you will get the chance to watch several films about a variety of cultural topics.
This is the world`s biggest documentary film festival, so it is a must do for everyone visiting Amsterdam in November. It is an independent film festival, with international attendees and professionals that allows you to access a program of high-quality documentaries carefully selected by IDFA staff.
#5 Watch the arrival of Sinterklaas in Amsterdam
The highlight of November in Amsterdam is represented by traditional festive arrival of Saint Nicholas in the city. He is the patron saint of all children and of the city of Amsterdam, being celebrated each year on December 5th.
Usually, a fleet with St Nicholas` steamboat the Spanje is used and it travels on the Amstel up to the Scheepvaartmuseum or Maritime Museum. Mainly, this resembles quite well a street party festival, as several decorated boats appear on the city`s canals, while lively music is played by brass bands everywhere.
