Autumn turns into winter fast here, and the events calendar fills up just as quickly. Lantern walks, a board game expo the size of an aircraft hangar, light festivals in three different cities, Sinterklaas arriving by boat, this stretch of the year is the busiest for family plans anywhere in the Netherlands. Here’s what happens each month, from Amsterdam to Utrecht to Eindhoven to Gouda, and how to plan around it instead of finding out too late.
October: Autumn Adventures and Halloween Fun
Herfstvakantie (Autumn School Holiday)
Herfstvakantie lands in mid-to-late October, though the exact week depends on which region you’re in. Museums, playgrounds and nature parks all run extra workshops and kids’ days during the break, so it’s worth checking listings a week or two ahead rather than the night before. Our school holidays activity guide tracks what’s on for every break, not just this one.
Kinderboekenweek (Children’s Book Week)
Kinderboekenweek runs for about ten days in early October, schools, bookshops and libraries all join in with themed activities. Check your local OBA library for storytelling sessions or a creative workshop; most are free and drop-in.
World Animal Day (Dierendag)
Dierendag falls on 4 October every year, no exceptions. Petting farms and zoos often offer free entry or a special programme for kids, so it’s a reliable excuse for a day out at your nearest kinderboerderij.
Halloween
Halloween isn’t a Dutch tradition, but it’s become one anyway. Expect themed days through the month at places like Avonturenboerderij Molenwaard, Julianatoren and Scheveningen. Pumpkin farms pop up around the country too, we’ve rounded up the best ones in our guide to pumpkin picking farms, which doubles as a decent photo outing if the weather holds.
November: Lanterns, Parades and Family Festivals
Sint-Maarten (Lantern Festival)
Every 11 November, children walk the streets with handmade lanterns, singing songs door to door for sweets. It’s one of the most low-key, genuinely charming Dutch traditions going, practise a song with your child beforehand so they’re not caught out on the doorstep.
Sinterklaas Arrival (Intocht)
Sinterklaas officially arrives from Spain on a Saturday in mid-November, the exact date moves each year, so check your city’s announcement rather than relying on last year’s. Amsterdam’s parade is one of the biggest, with floats and music along the canals. For the full run of Amsterdam-wide family events this season, see our guide to family-friendly events in Amsterdam.
Spellenspektakel (Board Game Expo)
Held over a weekend in November at Jaarbeurs Utrecht, this is the country’s biggest board game event. Kids and parents can test new games, meet designers, and pick up family favourites before the holidays.
GLOW Eindhoven (Light Art Festival)
For about a week each November, GLOW turns Eindhoven’s city centre into a light-art trail. It’s a fair trip if you’re based in Amsterdam, but a good one, kids tend to love the colourful installations and the excuse for a night walk.
December: Festive Magic Everywhere
Pakjesavond (Sinterklaas Gift Night)
5 December is the highlight of the Dutch festive season for most families, gifts, poems, and a fair bit of chaos. It’s a good moment to introduce younger kids to the tradition even if you didn’t grow up with it.
Amsterdam Light Festival
Running from late November through mid-January, the Amsterdam Light Festival lays out an illuminated art trail you can follow by boat or on foot along the canals. Exact dates shift a little each edition, so check ahead before you book a canal tour around it.
Christmas Markets & Ice Rinks
From Haarlem’s historic market to the Ice Village at Museumplein, there’s holiday stuff on somewhere nearby through most of December. Ice*Amsterdam, skating under the Rijksmuseum, is a reliable one if you want the classic postcard version.
Gouda by Candlelight (Gouda bij Kaarslicht)
One evening each December, Gouda turns off the streetlights and lights thousands of candles instead, with choirs singing in the square. It’s a short train ride from Amsterdam and worth the trip if your kids can handle a late one.
Kerstvakantie (Christmas School Holiday)
Kerstvakantie runs roughly from just before Christmas into the first days of January, though exact dates shift by a few days each year depending on the calendar. Our school holidays guide covers indoor play cafés and winter pop-ups for when the weather turns, and our full December events guide goes deeper on what’s on week by week.
Oud & Nieuw (New Year’s Eve)
31 December brings fireworks, oliebollen, and a lot of noise. Many cities run early “kids’ fireworks” shows so younger children can celebrate before bedtime instead of at midnight. We’ve written a full breakdown in our New Year’s Eve with kids guide.
Bonus Winter Fun
- Het Amsterdamse Winterparadijs (RAI Amsterdam): runs from mid-December into the first days of January, a giant indoor-outdoor Christmas fair with skating, snow slides and entertainment for kids.
- Zoo Light Trails: Wildlands Winterlicht in Emmen and Beekse Bergen Zoo Light Nights both run light-trail evenings through the winter months, good for a day-to-evening trip if you’re travelling further afield.
- Library Craft & Storytime Events: check your local OBA calendar for holiday workshops and bilingual story sessions.
If you’d rather browse everything in one place, our events calendar stays updated week to week as new dates get confirmed.
FAQ
When does Sinterklaas arrive each year?
The Intocht happens on a Saturday in mid-November, but the exact date changes annually, check your city’s official announcement each year rather than assuming it matches the one before.
Is the Amsterdam Light Festival free?
You can see plenty of the artworks from the street or canal-side paths for free, but the classic way to experience it, a boat tour along the full trail, is a paid ticket. Book early since family slots go quickly.
What’s the best month for outdoor family events?
November is the busiest for outdoor family events despite the cold, Sint-Maarten, Sinterklaas’s arrival, GLOW Eindhoven and Spellenspektakel all land in the same few weeks. Layer up and it’s genuinely one of the better months to be out and about with kids.
Do school holidays affect these events?
Yes, Herfstvakantie and Kerstvakantie both push extra kids’ programming into museums, playgrounds and attractions, so those weeks are worth planning around if you want the fuller version of an event rather than the regular one.
