What can we do with kids in Amsterdam in December 2026?
Plenty, and early darkness helps: the Light Festival is lit from 16:30, so a 17:00 cruise gets small children back before bedtime. See the World Christmas Circus at Carré (December 16 to January 3), skate at Jaap Eden's beginners' rink, and spend a day at Winter Efteling, about 1 h 31 away by car. Dutch schools are off from December 19, so book time slots and shows early.
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Fixed rides and a driver by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, ride inside Amsterdam up to 10 km | €50 | fixed at booking, detours included · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, ride inside Amsterdam up to 10 km | €70 | fixed at booking, detours included · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, ride inside Amsterdam up to 10 km | €90 | fixed at booking, detours included · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Business Class, for a family 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 family 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 family 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 |
Rides inside Amsterdam up to 10 km have a fixed price per car (€50 in Business Class); a detour around closures does not change it. Longer rides are priced per kilometer and shown before you book. 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.
Ideas by age
| Age | Best picks |
|---|---|
| Toddlers | A circus matinee; a short heated cruise at 17:00 |
| 5 to 10 | Jaap Eden's beginners' rink; Winter Efteling |
| Teens | Skating on the 400-meter track; the Light Festival on foot; a Christmas market day trip |
Getting around with children
Child seats are fitted on request (see car seats), strollers go in the trunk, and the car is a warm base between activities. A city ride up to 10 km is fixed at €50 in Business Class; a Winter Efteling day of 9 hours costs €720 in Van Class.
Related questions
Is Efteling open in December?
Yes; Winter Efteling runs from November 16, 2026, to January 31, 2027.
What can we do with kids on a rainy December day?
The circus at Carré, Jaap Eden's indoor hall, or a covered cruise boat.
Is the Winter Paradise at the RAI on this year?
NS lists it for December 12 to January 3, but the dates were still provisional on October 21; see Winter Paradise.
Sources
- Kidsproof Amsterdam: 40th Wereldkerstcircus (Dutch) (checked October 21, 2026)
- I amsterdam: Jaap Eden ice rink (Dutch) (checked October 21, 2026)
- Freizeitpark-Welt: Winter Efteling 2026 to 2027 (German) (checked October 20, 2026)
- Amsterdam Light Festival: dates and hours (checked October 20, 2026)
- Rijksoverheid: school holidays 2026 to 2027 (Dutch) (checked October 20, 2026)
- NOAA Solar Calculator, sunset times in Amsterdam (local time) (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.