Cities to Visit from Amsterdam

We very much enjoyed Leiden, 30 minutes or so on the train from Amsterdam. Delft is lovely and walkable. I’ve also seen Den Haag and Utrecht recommended but have no personal experience. In Belgium, Ghent and Antwerp, but that may be too far for a day trip in December when the days are short. Enjoy your planning!

Days are indeed short in December, but even in June Germany is just too far away for a comfortable day trip from Amsterdam.
If you take the highspeed Eurostar train, you could potentially visit Antwerp or Brussels. But honestly I would recommend to stick to the Netherlands. There are plenty of interesting cities well worth a visit; Leiden, Delft, Haarlem, The Hague, Utrecht, Amersfoort just to name a few.

In order of personal preference (not by size, age, or fame):

Leiden
Utrecht
Amersfoort (long walk from station)
Aalsmeer Flower Auction
Keukenhof (in season only)
Delft
Den Haag
Alkmaar
Haarlem

We stayed for 3 nights in Leiden in June and it's lovely. Perfect for a day trip from Amsterdam - not too big, but plenty of interesting things to see and do. Delft is also gorgeous.

Both are short and easy train trips from Amsterdam.

I was in the Netherlands last May/June, and my favorite spots were Hoorn and Enkhuizen. They are quaint, quiet, and along the water. They don't offer any big sites, but I loved just walking around the towns and parks. I'm not sure how active these spots would be in early December.

Another good spot is Zwolle. It has more traditional sites (Old Town with fortifications and museums). My husband rented an electric boat and guided us through the deserted canals. I'm not sure this would be available when you plan to visit.

Weather in December can be with rain, low temperatures and (possibly) strong wind very uncomfortable so look also for enough indoor activities.

It’s ofcourse also the time of Christmas markets. Not only in cities, but also some country estates organize Christmas fairs like Castle De Haar near Utrecht. Dates for 2024 are not available yet, so contact the TI in Amsterdam for more info. Very enjoyable if weather cooperates, but don't expect snow in the Netherlands.