If you’re looking for a special Christmas dinner in Amsterdam, you can choose between a private dinner on the canals or a traditional restaurant. For something truly memorable, a private dining cruise is one of the most distinctive ways to celebrate Christmas in the city.
Private Christmas dining on a boat
Instead of spending Christmas lunch or dinner in a busy restaurant, you can have a private dining experience on Amsterdam’s canals. Private Boat Tour Amsterdam offers private dining cruises aboard the heated historic salon boats Delphine and Leaudine. The boat is reserved exclusively for your own group, so you can enjoy good food, wine and Amsterdam’s illuminated canals in complete privacy.
To make the evening even more special, book your private dinner during the Amsterdam Light Festival. While you dine, the boat cruises along the festival route past illuminated artworks and installations, turning Christmas dinner into a combination of private dining, sightseeing and one of Amsterdam’s most atmospheric winter events.
This is particularly attractive for expats living in Amsterdam when family or friends come to visit over the Christmas holidays. Rather than simply taking your guests to a restaurant, you can show them Amsterdam from the water while enjoying a festive meal together. It is a memorable way to experience the city during the Christmas season.
Private dining on a boat is also an original choice for an end-of-year celebration, company Christmas lunch or Christmas dinner. Colleagues can dine, enjoy drinks and experience Amsterdam together, making it feel more like an occasion than a conventional company dinner.
Delphine is particularly suited to smaller, intimate groups and couples, while Leaudine offers more space and is an excellent choice for a private dinner. Both boats are heated, making them comfortable for a winter cruise.
Christmas dinner at a restaurant
If you prefer a traditional restaurant, Amsterdam also has plenty of excellent choices. For a cosy and romantic atmosphere, De Belhamel is a great option. Located where the Brouwersgracht meets the Herengracht, it combines an atmospheric interior with beautiful canal views.
For a more gastronomic experience, De Kas is one of Amsterdam’s standout restaurants. Set in a former greenhouse, it focuses on seasonal ingredients and is well suited to a special Christmas occasion. For a more luxurious celebration, Ciel Bleu and De Silveren Spiegel are also worth considering.
My recommendation: if the food and traditional restaurant experience are your priority, choose a restaurant such as De Belhamel or De Kas. But if you want your Christmas lunch or dinner to become a memorable Amsterdam experience in itself, I would choose a private dining cruise aboard Delphine or Leaudine. And during the Amsterdam Light Festival, the combination of a private heated salon boat, dinner, wine and illuminated artworks makes the experience particularly special.
It’s an excellent option for visiting family, expats, couples, friends or a small company end-of-year celebration.
Christmas menus and opening hours vary each year, so check the specific Christmas arrangements and availability before booking.