Nine reasons to visit the Netherlands in winter.

Edelman Means - Snow, low temperatures, and a festive season. Winter in the Netherlands is magical, and the country prepares many activities to make the season even more fun and welcoming. Check out nine tips for enjoying the Dutch winter.

1-Shopping at Christmas Markets

Typical Christmas markets offer leisure, fun and shopping in the Netherlands as well.

Maastricht: Maastricht is the capital of the province of Limburg, in the south of the country. With a friendly atmosphere, the city becomes even more attractive in December with its Christmas market, one of the most famous in Europe. Vrijthof Square is filled with stalls selling both festive items and food, in addition to the famous Ferris wheel and an ice skating rink. From December 2, 2016 to January 1, 2017.

Dordrecht: Just an hour from Amsterdam, Dordrecht is home to the largest Christmas Market in the Netherlands, stretching across the city center and harbor area. In addition to the stalls, stages with performances of Christmas carols sung in different styles are scattered throughout the market, offering a unique atmosphere for visitors. From December 16th to 18th.

2- Be enchanted by the special lighting.

Over the centuries, the Dutch have learned to make the most of the dark winter days. While in the past they used candles, today they organize high-tech light festivals to create enchanting displays.

In The Hague, Madurodam, the park with miniature replicas of Dutch icons, is one of those that receive special lighting through 33 lamps, making the visit even more special.

Amsterdam once again hosts the Amsterdam Light Festival, the backdrop for the world's most unique light installations between December 1st and January 22nd. Thirty international artists have been invited to showcase their creations for fifty days. The 'Illuminade' tour guides visitors through these extraordinary light artworks across historic Amsterdam, while the 'Water Colors' boat tour showcases the works along and on the canals and Amstel to your best advantage.

On the other hand, the unique aspect of Gouda by Candle Light in Gouda is its tradition. The city has always been the main producer of candles in the country, which are used in abundance in December to illuminate the city. The setting also hosts presentations in churches, exhibitions, and special programming for children. In 2016, it takes place on December 16th.

3- Celebrate Sinterklaas's visit

Sinterklaas, the Dutch Saint Nicholas, arrives every year by boat from Spain to various Dutch cities, accompanied by his helpers, called Zwart Piet.

On the night of December 5th, the Dutch gather to exchange gifts, accompanied by a poem. Children sing songs to Sinterklaas until they hear a knock at the door. If they have been good during the year, they will find a sack full of presents just outside the door. He is a figure similar to Santa Claus in Dutch culture.

4- Try typical winter foods

Besides cheese, raw herring, and delicious stroopwafels, the Netherlands is known for its typical winter foods.

Hutspot is a mashed potato and carrot dish, usually served with meatballs, which commemorates Leiden's victory over the Spanish invaders in 1574. Erwtensoep is a pea soup, usually accompanied by smoked sausage. Stampot is a mashed potato dish cooked with various vegetables in the same pot.

Those who love sweets should try Kruidnoten, a crunchy biscuit that mixes anise, cinnamon, white pepper and ginger, combined with butter, flour and sugar, and is common in Sinterklaas celebrations.

Olliebollen, on the other hand, are the Dutch version of our fritters. During the winter, various stalls appear in the cities selling the sweet treat, and it's impossible not to try one during your outings.

5- Ice skating

In winter, many Dutch cities offer temporary ice rinks. It's a great activity for people of all ages. The most well-known are:

Museumplein Amsterdam: You can't miss skating in this beautiful square surrounded by the Rijksmuseum, the Concertgebouw, and the Van Gogh Museum. You can rent skates and even pay for a skating lesson if you wish.

Leidseplein Amsterdam: From November to mid-January, the bohemian Leidseplein is taken over by an ice skating rink, which welcomes both tourists and locals. Enjoy the lights on the trees, snow, and many Christmas stalls serving delicious winter snacks.

Schaatsbaan Delft: A large ice rink is created in the center of Delft's old town every winter. Open from early December until mid-January.

More information here.

6- Appreciate ice sculptures

With over 100.000 visitors, the Holland Ice Sculpture Festival has become the country's largest winter event. More than 40 of the world's best ice sculptors come to the Netherlands and create a spectacular exhibition using special effects and 275.000 kilograms of ice to create these unparalleled works of art, which are then displayed at the festival. The event used to be held in Zwolle, but this year it was moved to Amsterdam and takes place from December 10, 2016 to February 5, 2017.

More information here.

7- Go to a Christmas Concert

Christmas comes alive in Amsterdam through a fantastic collection of classical and choral concerts. From intimate church performances to packed events at the Royal Concertgebouw, check out our selection of top classical music events held during the 2016 festive season in Amsterdam here.

8- Diving into the North Sea at the turn of the new year...

The New Year's plunge is a tradition in the Netherlands since 1960. Around 10 people take the plunge at Scheveningen beach in The Hague, but there are more than 60 locations across the country where you can jump into the sea or a lake on the first day of the year. For the Dutch, the icy plunge is the best way to start the year feeling refreshed.

9- ...and celebrate at a party

The people of Amsterdam love to celebrate, especially on New Year's Eve (oud & nieuw).

Plan ahead, because for many of these events you need to buy tickets in advance. Even cafes and restaurants are fully booked on New Year's Eve or have private events that require advance reservations. If you don't have special tickets for a party or dinner, don't despair: There are also many festivities in large squares, such as Nieuwmarkt and Museumplein, and Leidseplein and Rembrandtplein, which also offer plenty of fun.

The fireworks display usually takes place on the Amstel River. Head to the Magere Bridge for a spectacular view of the illuminated sky.