A Christmas Treat with DFDS Seaways

I have travelled with DFDS Seaways several times now, on the route between Newcastle and Amsterdam, but one of my most memorable has to be Amsterdam in December – in full Christmas spirit!

We sailed from Port of Tyne as scheduled and made our way down the Tyne & out into the North Sea for the overnight crossing to Ijmuiden. From here I would take the shuttle service right into the heart of Amsterdam. My trip was slightly extended, I wasn’t just visiting this wonderful city for the day, I was here for 2 days and I absolutely could not wait to see what Christmas was like in Holland.

My land abode would be the Ibis Amsterdam which is right next to the Central Station. The hotel is perfectly placed for easy access to just about every part of the city and is convenient for local & national transport options too. Once checked in, I added an extra layer of clothes and off I went on foot to explore the Christmas markets & soak up the festive atmosphere.

I made my way along Damrak, one of the busiest streets in Amsterdam. This is where the majority of the market stalls are during the ‘Winter Wonderland’ event. I have to admit there were plenty of them too, selling everything from Christmas tree decorations to delicious Bratwurst in a bun – it was the ideal way for many people, both locals and tourists, to spend a portion of their day.

Once I reached Dam Square I ventured off towards Singel, where eventually you will come across the world famous, and absolutely beautiful, Flower Market. There were various little Christmas stalls and food huts dotted along the streets leading away from the market and I even came across an ice rink at one point.

I had been avoiding food since my truly epic breakfast aboard KING SEAWAYS, but I could no longer resist the temptation of a freshly cooked bratwurst and ketchup – I gave in and devoured one before grabbing a warm drink and making my way back towards the Ibis via Kalverstraat, the main shopping street in Amsterdam. I didn’t spend too much time admiring the shops as that was going to be my plan for the following day, right now I had to get back to Central Station – I had an evening canal cruise to take in the Amsterdam Light Festival to add another clothing layer for.

The canal cruise was wonderful, I have done it twice now, once during the day and once in the evening, and both were just as interesting and exciting – you get to see the city in two different lights, quite literally, but I think the day time option is still my favourite.

My last day was spent doing what girls do best, shopping. Once the euros were spent and the clock neared 3pm it was time to collect my things, check-out and meet the shuttle that would take me back to the port of Ijmuiden for my journey back to Newcastle. This time I would spend the evening aboard PRINCESS SEAWAYS and as usual the crossing went without a hitch, the buffet choice was substantial and everyone onboard was having a fabulous time.