What's On Amsterdam - December 2014

ICE*Amsterdam– Museumplein
22 November – 1 February

Everybody loves ice-skating around Christmas, and so ICE*Amsterdam brings its eco-friendly Icefloo rink to town. The rink can be found on Amsterdam’s famous Museumplein, with the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum forming the backdrop to swarms of tourists and locals taking to the ice with varying degrees of competence. If you want to take a break from skating, Brasserie Ice*Amsterdam has food and drinks right by the ice. Entrance costs EUR 3, but renting skates will set you back another EUR 5 for two hours.
http://www.iceamsterdam.nl/

Cinderella
Dutch National Opera and Ballet, 12 December – 1 January

British choreographer Christopher Wheeldon brings his own unique take on the classic fairy tale of Cinderella to the Dutch National Opera and Ballet this month. It is a homecoming for the show, which had its premiere in the city in 2012. Wheeldon has made a name for himself producing balletic interpretations of well-known stories. His Cinderella does away with the glass slipper and the pumpkin, instead reimagining the heroine as a tough survivor grieving the loss of her mother. The ballet was awarded the prestigious Benois de la Danse Prize for best new choreography in 2012. Tickets are available through the venue’s website from EUR 33.
http://www.operaballet.nl

Winter Circus Amsterdam
ArenA Boulevard, 20 December – 4 January

For the second year, the Winter Circus Amsterdam pitches its big top on ArenA Boulevard, close to the Heineken Music Hall. The circus puts on an excellent show of acrobatics and death-defying stunts. Highlights of this year include the South American Torres Brothers and their double Wheel of Death. It’s not all daring feats though, with pickpocket artist Pierre Ginette and Mingo the Mexican clown joining others to offer less dramatic entertainment. Tickets start at EUR 15 for children and can be bought via the circus website.
http://www.wintercircusamsterdam.nl/

Christmas Special Local Goods Market
De Hallen, 20-21 December

De Hallen is a shiny new shopping and cultural centre in a converted tram depot just off Amsterdam’s Kinkerstraat. Every two weeks they host a local goods market, where Amsterdammers and expats come to buy artisanal food products and local crafts. Since this is their first Christmas, De Hallen is hosting a special Christmas edition of the market this month. If you’re looking for the perfect place to find a present made in Amsterdam, this is the right place. To get to De Hallen, take tram 17 from Central Station and get off at Ten Katestraat.
http://dehallen-amsterdam.nl/

Era New Year’s Even
NDSM Warehouse, 31 December – 1 January

A must for techno fans everywhere, this year for the first time NDSM Warehouse plays host to the Era New Year’s party. The event stretches over two days and showcases international acts like Mike Parker, Psyk and Norman Nodge. There are many New Year’s Eve parties in Amsterdam, but no others with the raw energy of Era. The NDSM Warehouse can be reached via free ferry from the terminal at the back of Central Station. Tickets start at EUR 35 can be purchased via this link.
http://www.ndsm.nl/

For details of more regular festivals and events in Amsterdam, including more on what to do New Year’s Eve, check out our Events page.