What's a good plan for Thanksgiving week 2026 in Amsterdam?
Thanksgiving week lines up well this year. The Leiden Thanksgiving service and the Amsterdam Light Festival opening fall on Thursday, November 26; Black Friday follows; the Christmas markets in Cologne (from November 16), Aachen (from November 20) and Maastricht (from November 27) are open; and the Affordable Art Fair runs until Sunday, November 29. Book cruises and Thanksgiving dinner early.
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Fixed rides and a driver by the hour: prices per vehicle
| Option | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Business Class, for a Thanksgiving week day trip | €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 Thanksgiving week day trip | €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 Thanksgiving week day trip | €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 |
| Business Class, Schiphol → any Amsterdam address | €90 | E-Class, EQE, EQE SUV, BMW i5, BMW 5 Series · up to 3 passengers, 3 bags |
| Van Class, Schiphol → any Amsterdam address | €125 | V-Class, EQV · up to 7 passengers, 7 bags |
| First Class, Schiphol → any Amsterdam address | €140 | 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. Schiphol to any Amsterdam address is a fixed price per car, with meet and greet inside the arrivals hall. 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
Five days
| Day | Plan | Driver time and cost |
|---|---|---|
| Wed Nov 25 | Land and rest; the Affordable Art Fair's vernissage runs 17:00 to 22:00 | Schiphol to any Amsterdam address: €90 in Business Class |
| Thu Nov 26 | Leiden service (11:00 in 2025), Pilgrim Museum, Light Festival from 16:30 | About 6 hours: €480 in Van Class |
| Fri Nov 27 | Black Friday at Designer Outlet Roermond, then Maastricht's Christmas market on its opening day | About 12 hours: €960 in Van Class |
| Sat Nov 28 | Aachen's Christmas market | About 12 hours: €960 in Van Class |
| Sun Nov 29 | Museums; the art fair's last day; Muse at Ziggo Dome for fans | City rides, fixed from €50 |
| Mon Nov 30 | Fly home; VAT refund at Schiphol | Amsterdam to Schiphol: €80 in Business Class |
The long days are long because of the driving: the hours cover the round trip at 40 km included per hour. Cologne's cathedral market is further, a day of about 14 hours, so ask us before you book it.
Lighter version
Skip Friday's long day and stay closer: Haarlem is about 29 minutes from Amsterdam, and a 5-hour day there costs €325 in Business Class.
Related questions
Will it be cold?
November averages 10.0 °C (50 °F) by day and 4.5 °C (40 °F) at night at Schiphol, often with rain.
Are German markets open on Saturday, November 28?
Yes. Aachen's market is open daily from 11:00 to 21:00, and Cologne's cathedral market from 10:00 to 22:00 on Saturdays.
Do I need to book Thanksgiving dinner?
Yes, early: Thanksgiving is not a Dutch holiday, so dinners are special events with limited seats; see a car to Thanksgiving dinner and back.
Is the outlet open on Black Friday?
Yes. Designer Outlet Roermond closes only on December 25 and January 1.
Sources
- DutchNews: Thanksgiving in the Netherlands (2025) (checked October 20, 2026)
- Amsterdam Light Festival: dates and hours (checked October 20, 2026)
- Festivals in Deutschland: Cologne Cathedral (checked October 20, 2026)
- Festivals in Deutschland: Aachen (checked October 20, 2026)
- ANWB: Maastricht (Dutch) (checked October 20, 2026)
- Affordable Art Fair Amsterdam (checked October 20, 2026)
- Amsterdam Tips: concert calendar (checked October 20, 2026)
- Wikipedia: climate of Amsterdam Schiphol (KNMI normals 1991 to 2020) (checked October 20, 2026)
- McArthurGlen, Designer Outlet Roermond, plan your visit: open on holidays except December 25 and January 1; parking €7 a day, first 30 minutes free (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.