Right then, let me tell you about my Christmas holiday hopping between Amsterdam and Berlin. You might think it was a bit mad doing Northern Europe in winter but trust me – it turned out to be absolutely brilliant!
Amsterdam: Dancing in the Rain
Talk about lucky timing! Rocked up in Amsterdam during their 750th birthday bash. The whole city was properly done up – these gorgeous golden chandeliers hanging everywhere and “Amsterdam 750” lit up across the streets. Definitely made up for my umbrella by throwing in the towel on day one!
Started off at Albert Cuyp Market, where I found these massive displays of tulips – proper Dutch, that. Got absolutely soaked wandering around, but found this wicked stone guardian statue watching over one of the canals. The funny thing about Amsterdam is how all the houses lean forward slightly – apparently, they built them that way to hoist furniture up using those hooks at the top. Clever bunch, these Dutch!
Did one of those evening canal tours (in the rain, obviously). Even with the weather being proper miserable, seeing all those historic canal houses lit up was pure magic. Had a bit of a laugh trying to dodge speeding bikes – these Dutch folks don’t let a bit of rain stop them from cycling!
Made my way through the Red Light District – bit of an eye-opener, that! The historic Moulin Rouge was lighting up the whole street in this mad red glow, bouncing off the wet cobblestones. Been there since the 1300s, if you can believe it. Dam Square was something else with this massive Christmas tree, and they’d even decked out their trams with Christmas decorations. Proper festive!
Berlin: Where History Hits Different
Next up was Berlin, and cor blimey, what a change of scene! First night, stood in front of the Brandenburg Gate – absolutely massive thing, all lit up with this Christmas tree peeking through the middle. Bit mind-bending when you think about everything this gate’s seen – Napoleon marching through, the Wall going up, the Wall coming down. Makes you feel like a proper small fish in a big pond.
Had a right laugh when I spotted the UK Embassy near Checkpoint Charlie. You know how it is when you’re abroad – get oddly excited seeing anything British! Couldn’t resist taking a few cheeky photos outside, looking like a proper tourist in my beanie.
Found this brilliant museum called the Barberini in Potsdam – used to be some fancy palace before they turned it into an art gallery. Dead interesting stuff about how they track down artwork that went missing during the war. The building itself is gorgeous – all herringbone floors and clever lighting. Proper posh!
Speaking of Potsdam – what a place! It’s like stepping into a fairy tale, this UNESCO World Heritage city. The St. Nicholas Church has this massive green dome that you can spot from miles away. Best bit? Found this traditional circus set up with those red and white striped tents – wasn’t expecting that!
Also discovered this lovely lake called Straussee, just outside Berlin. Did a proper nice walking trail around it on Christmas Day – bare trees making cool shapes against the sky, leaves crunching under your feet. Found these information boards dotted about, telling you about some posh villa that belonged to a Dr. Hamburger and an old church. My German’s rubbish but managed to get the gist!
The Little Moments
Do you know what really made this trip special? The random bits you don’t plan for. Like finding this shop called Nanu-Nana (which means grandma and grandad in Bengali – proper coincidence that!). Or getting excited about spotting British embassy signs when feeling a bit homesick. Even the disasters – like my umbrella giving up the ghost in Amsterdam – make for good stories now.
Christmas Market Magic
The Christmas markets here are next level! Started with the Gendarmenmarkt – probably Berlin’s poshest one. All these white tents set up in front of this massive old building, lit up like something out of a fairy tale. You’ve got to see these entrance arches they do – all covered in lights with “Weihnachtszauber” (Christmas Magic) glowing in gold letters. Dead fancy!
The Botanical Garden Christmas market was another belter – they had this massive red bow on the entrance arch and the whole place was dripping in fairy lights. Proper magical! But my favorite had to be the one by the TV Tower (Berliner Weihnachtszeit) – you’ve got this massive church in the background, the tower all lit up, and these gorgeous light decorations everywhere saying “Berliner Weihnachtszeit” (Berlin Christmas Time). The atmosphere was something else.
Got properly stuck into the German food too. These Christmas market stalls do the best German sausages, but mate, the döner kebabs in Berlin are something else entirely! Nothing like what we get back home.
Found this gorgeous little copper lantern with intricate patterns that light up when you put a candle in – had to get it for the house. The craftsmanship on these German Christmas decorations is proper nice, not like the plastic stuff you usually see.
The best bit? Everyone’s just standing around in the cold, stuffing their faces with bratwurst and having a laugh with their glühwein. Didn’t matter if it was freezing – the Germans know how to do Christmas proper!
Berlin Kebab Feast?
Right, let me tell you about the best kebab I’ve had in ages! Found this spot called Muca Kebab in Berlin – the sign was all lit up in green and red, looked proper inviting. Got in there with my mate, and wow – the kebabs were massive! None of that dodgy meat you get back home – this was the real deal. Fresh salad, tons of properly carved meat, all wrapped up in this warm bread. They even do these amazing chips on the side. Sat there with our Cokes and kebabs, just taking it all in. Dead cheap too – whole meal for about 7 euros. If you’re ever in Berlin, skip the fancy restaurants and get yourself one of these – you won’t regret it!
Final Thoughts Was It Worth It?
Could I have picked a warmer time to visit? Maybe. Would it have been the same? No, definitely not. There’s something special about seeing these cities in winter – all moody skies and twinkling lights. Yeah, my shoes got soaked and I had to buy a new umbrella, but honestly? Wouldn’t have it any other way.
If you’re thinking about doing Northern Europe in winter, I say go for it. Just pack a good coat and maybe a spare umbrella… or two! and yes you can carry them in the airplane (of course after the security check)
