Is Amsterdam a good place to spend Thanksgiving week?
It can be, with two things to know: Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 26, 2026, is an ordinary working day in the Netherlands, and it is also the opening night of the Amsterdam Light Festival, which runs until January 17. For a Thanksgiving with meaning, the Pieterskerk in Leiden, where the Pilgrims lived from 1609 to 1620, holds a service for Americans on the morning of the fourth Thursday of November, about 46 km from Amsterdam.
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Amsterdam → the Pieterskerk in Leiden: estimates per car
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, Amsterdam → Pieterskerk Leiden (about 46 km) | ≈ €157 | estimate · exact fixed price shown at booking · E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, Amsterdam → Pieterskerk Leiden (about 46 km) | ≈ €204 | estimate · exact fixed price shown at booking · V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, Amsterdam → Pieterskerk Leiden (about 46 km) | ≈ €312 | estimate · exact fixed price shown at booking · S-Class, EQS, EQS SUV, BMW i7 · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
Or keep the car for the morning: €65 an hour in Business Class, minimum 2 hours, starting and ending in Amsterdam. Flying in that week: Schiphol to any Amsterdam address is €90. Prices are per car, not per person, with 9% Dutch VAT included, and the same day and night. 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.
Thanksgiving week 2026 in and around Amsterdam
| Date | What | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, November 26 | Thanksgiving Day | Not a Dutch holiday: shops, offices and public transport run as on any Thursday |
| Thursday, November 26 (morning) | Thanksgiving Day service, Pieterskerk Leiden | Held every year for Americans in the Netherlands; non-denominational |
| From November 26 | Amsterdam Light Festival, edition 15 | 20–30 light artworks along the canals, until January 17, 2027 |
Sources: the Pieterskerk, the Amsterdam Light Festival and the Dutch government’s list of public holidays, checked September 29, 2026.
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
Why Leiden matters on Thanksgiving
The Pilgrims chose Leiden because it was known as an open, relatively tolerant city, and dozens of them were buried in the Pieterskerk, including their leader, John Robinson. The church describes the Thanksgiving Day service as non-denominational and held every year on the morning of the fourth Thursday of November for Americans living in the Netherlands, temporarily or permanently.
If you are visiting, contact the church before you travel to check the time and whether there is room. The drive from central Amsterdam is about 47 minutes on a clear road.
Related questions
Is Thanksgiving a holiday in the Netherlands?
No. The Dutch official holidays are New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter, King’s Day, Liberation Day, Ascension Day, Whitsun and two Christmas days. Thanksgiving Thursday is a normal working day, with the usual weekday traffic in the morning and evening.
Can we combine the Leiden service with the Light Festival that evening?
Yes. Leiden is a morning, and the Light Festival starts after dark. Book the ride to Leiden and back in the morning, and a separate evening car or a canal cruise for the lights; see a car tour of the Light Festival.
Is it busy in Amsterdam during Thanksgiving week?
It is not a Dutch holiday week, so there is no Dutch holiday rush. The Light Festival draws visitors in the evenings from its opening night, and cruise tickets are sold per time slot, so book those early.
Can you drive us to a Thanksgiving dinner too?
Yes; see a car to Thanksgiving dinner and back for prices inside Amsterdam and holding the car while you eat.
Sources
- Pieterskerk Leiden — the Pilgrims in Leiden (1609–1620) and the annual Thanksgiving Day service on the fourth Thursday of November (checked September 29, 2026)
- Amsterdam Light Festival — edition 15, November 26, 2026 – January 17, 2027 (checked September 29, 2026)
- Rijksoverheid — official public holidays in the Netherlands, including Christmas on December 25 and 26 (checked September 29, 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.