Amsterdam in December: the light festival, the Tuesday ticket rule, and the new fireworks rule

Amsterdam in December. Book one thing on a Tuesday ✨ Skip the cruise and walk it. The lights look better from the bridges, and it's free. 💡 Amsterdam Light Festival: 26 November to 17 January, lights on 16:30 to 23:00 every day, but only to 21:00 on New Year's Eve 🚶 Walking the 4.5 km route is free. Start at Amstel 1 or Waterlooplein 🚤 By boat: about 75 minutes past about 20 artworks, cruises from €29.75, children 4 to 12 half price The Tuesday rule: the Anne Frank House sells tickets online only, released every Tuesday at 10:00 for visits six weeks later. So for Christmas week, book about six weeks ahead, around mid-November, and check annefrank.org. Over the holidays it's open 09:00 to 17:00 on 25 and 31 December and from 12:00 on 1 January. Adults €16.50. What changed: since 1 August 2026, Dutch law bans fireworks for consumers. Licensed professional shows are still allowed, so the street fireworks you may be used to are gone. 👉 Swipe for the dates, the hours and the ticket rule. Save this for your trip and send it to who you'd go with. Walk it or take the boat? 👇 📷 Berend Leupen, Lisa van Vliet, Jeison Higuita / Unsplash