What's a good 4-day plan for Amsterdam over Christmas 2026?
Start early in the week, because the markets in Cologne and Aachen close on Wednesday, December 23. Arrive on Tuesday, December 22, with a Light Festival cruise that evening; go to Cologne or Aachen on the 23rd; keep Christmas Eve in the city; build Christmas Day around the Concertgebouw's matinee and the lights; and spend Saturday, December 26, at Winter Efteling, open until 20:00 in the Christmas holidays, or at Maastricht's market.
Last updated:
With a driver by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, for a Christmas day out | €65 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, for a Christmas day out | €80 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, for a Christmas day out | €100 / hour | per hour · minimum 2 hours · 40 km included per hour · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
By the hour: minimum 2 hours, 40 km included per hour, and the day starts and ends in the same city. The driver waits between stops. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. During ADE week (pickups October 20 to 26, 2026) fixed ADE-week prices apply, shown before you book; promo codes cannot be used that week. Booked less than 12 hours before pickup: +10%. At an airport or an intercity station the first 60 minutes of waiting are free, elsewhere 15 minutes; after that waiting is charged per minute at the class's hourly rate (Business €65 an hour). Free cancellation up to 1 hour before pickup.
What is included in the price
- A fixed price confirmed at booking, with VAT included: no meter and no surge
- The chauffeur’s name, car and phone number before pickup, plus e-mail reminders 24 hours and 2 hours ahead
- Water and phone chargers (iOS and Android) in the car
- Status updates to the person who booked, if that is not the passenger: confirmed, chauffeur en route, guest in the car, arrived
Day by day
| Day | Plan | With a driver |
|---|---|---|
| Tue Dec 22 | Arrive; rest; Light Festival cruise | Schiphol to your hotel: €90 |
| Wed Dec 23 | Cologne (cathedral market 11:00 to 21:00) or Aachen (11:00 to 20:00 that day) | Cologne: 14 hours, €910 |
| Thu Dec 24 | Zaanse Schans in the morning; an evening service | 5 hours: €325 |
| Fri Dec 25 | Christmas Matinee at 14:15, the lights, dinner | City rides: €50 each |
| Sat Dec 26 | Winter Efteling, or Maastricht from 11:00 | Efteling: 9 hours, €585 |
Prices are for Business Class; a Van Class seats up to 7.
Related questions
What if we only arrive on December 23?
Swap Cologne for Maastricht, whose market runs until December 27.
Is Zaanse Schans open on Christmas Eve?
The village is; its museums and workshops set their own holiday hours, so check before you go.
Do we need a driver every day?
No; two day trips and a few city rides cover it.
Sources
- Festivals in Deutschland: Cologne Cathedral (checked October 20, 2026)
- Festivals in Deutschland: Aachen (checked October 20, 2026)
- ANWB: Maastricht (Dutch) (checked October 20, 2026)
- Freizeitpark-Welt: Winter Efteling 2026 to 2027 (German) (checked October 20, 2026)
- Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra: Christmas Matinee 2026 (checked October 21, 2026)
- Amsterdam Light Festival: dates and hours (checked October 20, 2026)
- De Zaanse Schans, the heritage village: windmills, museums and traditional crafts (checked October 8, 2026)
Book it, or ask dispatch first
Book online in a few minutes (no account, no app), or send your flight number and address on WhatsApp and dispatch replies in English, 24 hours a day.