We are planning a short trip to Amsterdam in early December - to go off on one day train trips to Christmas markets. Are we crazy (weather-wise) to travel at that time of year there?
Posted by
San Diego
19 posts
Barbara, you are from Winnepeg. I am from San Diego and I'm going mid December. If this is crazy, then I'm crazier than you are! You will be much more acclimated to the weather than I will be. I've gotten a lot of advice here on how to layer correctly, dress for the weather and then enjoy everything with less crowding. My daughter is in Amsterdam at school and I hear a lot about the rain and cold, but then she's a southern California gal, too. We're not much used to either.
Posted by
OP
Winnipeg, MB
2 posts
Oh my...I hang my winter head in shame!!! Your answer made me laugh out loud! Yes - Winnipeg is bloody cold in the winter so I guess we are used to it! We even had snow this past Friday - just in time for Canadian Thanksgiving!
Thank you for your reply - I hope you have a wonderful (warm!) trip.
Posted by
San Diego
19 posts
Oh I'm afraid....very afraid. It's been in the low 60's when I go to work in the mornings lately and I have the heater on in my car. I'm grateful for this board and the advice I've been getting on dressing for a European winter and planning on having a wonderful time no matter what the thermometer says.
Posted by
St Petersburg Florida
951 posts
Waterproof shoes, smartwool socks, layers, gortex waterproof coat, scarf, gloves, oh and an umbrella; will be ready to rock in Amsterdam!!!!!!!Went there Nov/Dec 2008. Never saw a blue sky and it did not rain all the time, but most of the time. It didn't ruin my vacation. Watch out for all the little fair children with black-face pulling on your jacket for some candy. My jaw dropped but then I realized I was not in America anymore. Sinter Klaus & Black Peter will be in full effect. Traditions & culture are way different over there.
Posted by
Des Moines, IA
2193 posts
Considering your average high in December is 17 degrees Fahrenheit, 44 degrees in Amsterdam should feel reasonably comfortable…I know it would for those of us in the upper Midwest (snowed here last weekend…yuck).
Posted by
Brangwin, Wa, USA
349 posts
With the hi speed trains Cologn is 2 hours or so. That Cathedral is special !!
Posted by
Calgary
2297 posts
Considering your average high in December is 17 degrees Fahrenheit, 44 degrees in Amsterdam should feel reasonably comfortable…
Unfortunately, it's not that easy. While the thermometer in Amsterdam will give you higher temperatures than what your Canadian one is giving you it will feel quite different from what you'd expect. With constant grey skies and higher humidity it's not that comfortable. My husband has been living in Calgary for over 40 years of his life and still remembers the December he spent in Germany as being the coldest time he EVER experienced: at temperatures of +5 C compared to -20 to -30 C in Calgary ...
My main strategy is to keep my feet warm. As mentioned waterproof shoes and warm socks are key. Holding on to a mug of Glühwein is my favourite strategy to keep hands warm ;-)
But even with the somewhat uncomfortable weather it's not a crazy idea to spend the Christmas/Advent season in the Netherlands. It's just a very magical time. And yes, I'd also recommend a day trip to Cologne. A wonderful city and Christmas markets set in beautiful surroundings.
Posted by
Bay Area
3551 posts
Nope have a great time, just dress right as in Winnipeg. Remember some fab museums await you in Amsterdam and nearby if it is too rainy.
Posted by
Calgary
2297 posts
Michael,
I can certainly see that a humidifier in the house makes sense. 15% humidity (Calgary in winter) is really hard on your skin and body. But outside that feels quite different. I can walk around without longjohns in Calgary at -10 C quite easily. But in Germany I wear them even in +5 C weather. How do you explain my husband's experience that he never felt as cold as when he was in Northern Germany (weather identical to Amsterdam)? He did feel warmer when we moved south towards the Alps where the tempertature dropped significantly below 0 C, the sky was blue and snow everywhere in sight.
In Calgary, I can walk around with my jeans jacket and no gloves in + 5 C weather, I'd never do that with those temperatures in Amsterdam.
That said, an average December day in Amsterdam still feels warmer than your coldest days in Winnipeg or Calgary ;-) And you don't have to worry about dangers of frostbite in Amsterdam even if it feels cold.