Amsterdam is known for its unique attributes, not the least of which are the tall narrow houses with their ornate gables that line the city’s historic canals.

These canal houses have been interpreted into ceramic tealight candle holders that add to the festive feeling of the holiday season. These can also make a great gift for family or friends back home.

Pictured left (top) are those offered by the Dutch brand &Klevering which are 12.5-13.5 cm tall (€10.95-13.95 at De Bijenkorf)

Pictured left (bottom) are ceramic canal house tea candle holders available in 3 colors. They stand 14.5-15.0 cm tall (€7.50/ea at HEMA).

Holland has so many iconic symbols…windmills, clogs, bicycles, tulips, canal houses, Delft Blue, etc. You can find each of them interpreted as a Christmas tree ornament. These can make for great gifts, especially because the receiver will remember you each year when they place it upon their tree!

Picture left are some examples: greenhouse glass ornament (€4.75 HEMA), windmill glass ornament (€19.95 De Bijenkorf), Miffy glass ornament (€20.95 De Bijenkorf), De Bijenkorf Amsterdam building gold glitter glass ornament (€16.95 De Bijenkorf), bicycle glass ornament (€4.50 HEMA).

Have a look at Holland Christmas ornaments available from:

• De Bijenkorf
• Heinen Delfts Blauw
• HEMA
• Vondels

Alternatively, you could give a Christmas ornament designed by a Dutch brand such as

• Clayre & Eef
• Riviera Maison

Dutch artist Dick Bruna introduced his ‘Nijntje’ bunny children’s book character in the 1950’s. In the seven decades since, not only has Nijntje become a beloved icon in the Netherlands, but around the world too (known internationally as ‘Miffy’).

If there is a baby, toddler or young child on your Christmas shopping list, rest assured they will love receiving a Miffy/Nijntje gift. See what is on offer at…

There are two types of books that can make for great Christmas gifts for friends or family back home… a hardcover photographic coffee table book and a humorous book that makes you laugh out loud.

HOLLAND Winter Wonderland is a terrific option as a hardcover coffee table book. It is a scenic look at the Netherlands during the winter season by photographer Frans Lemmens. Published in 2021, it is currently available at bol.com for just €12.50.

The Undutchables is a humorous look at the many unique traits of Dutch people and Dutch society. First published in 1989, the book has been updated several times to keep it fresh and relevant to the times. The current version is The Undutchables 9.0, released in November 2023.

The Dutch love their chocolate. It is an affinity that begins at a young age as children in Holland will often have a breakfast of buttered bread topped with ‘hagelslag’ (chocolate sprinkles).

The fondness continues right through adulthood which is evident from the fact that the Netherlands has one of the highest per capita consumption rates of chocolate in the world.

It should also be said that the Dutch are really good chocolate makers (even if the Belgians are better known for their expertise). Popular chocolate brands from Holland include Tony’s Chocolonely, Droste, Verkade and De Bonte Koe. All will make for a very tasty Christmas gift.

See the Dutch chocolate assortment available at…

The Dutch are known for producing (and consuming) lots of cheese. Many types of Holland cheeses are eaten around the world without the consumers realizing they are Dutch. These include Gouda cheese, Edam cheese and Leyden cheese.

Why not treat someone back home with a Dutch cheese gift for Christmas this year?

Check out what is available from these shops…

• Henri Willig
• Alexanderhoeve

Jigsaw puzzles are timeless, enjoyed by young and old alike. This Christmas, you might consider gifting a Holland puzzle with beautiful Dutch tulips and windmills.

Or perhaps a puzzle of a specific city such as the Amsterdam puzzle shown to the left (€6.50 at HEMA).

You might also choose a humorous one such as those created by the popular Dutch illustrator Jan van Haasteren.

If a standard jigsaw puzzle is too traditional, consider a 3-D puzzle of a well-known building in Holland such as the Binnenhof (The Hague), Rijksmuseum or Westerkerk (Amsterdam), Markthal (Rotterdam), Dom Tower (Utrecht), Stadhuis (Delft) and the Martinikerk (Groningen).

Find more Holland-related jigsaw puzzles at:

Since drinking always plays a key role in celebrating the holidays, why not give a festive bottle of Dutch liqueur or spirits?

Two especially well-known Dutch brands established in Holland centuries ago are Bols and Ketel One.

Another big Dutch distiller is Kuyper which produces liqueurs under its own name plus the sub-brands Peachtree, ChocoVine, Warnink’s and Drop Shot.

Also consider one of these for a great Christmas gift…

• Likeur & Jeneverfabriek Amsterdam flavored liqueurs: speculaas, stroopwafel, caramel, limoncello, Haags hopje and drop (licorice)
• Van Meer flavored liqueurs: stroopwafel, chocolate, tiramisu, brownie and white chocolate

Who doesn’t love Dutch stroopwafels, those delicious caramel and waffle cookies? They can make the perfect Christmas gift, especially when packaged in a decorative collector tin.

You can find the best assortment at stroopwafels.com

Also see stroopwafel gifts at…

• Amazon NL
• bol.com
• De Bijenkorf
• HEMA

Delft Blue porcelain tableware originated in the Dutch city of Delft way back in the 17th century. Items are easily recognizable by their blue and white designs.

Over the years, thousands of different products have been styled with a Delft Blue take including vases, candleholders, clocks, statues, jewelry, birth plates and more.

Have a look at the Delft Blue Christmas gift possibilities available at:

Share the beauty of the Netherlands by gifting a scenic 2024 wall calendar this Christmas. There are lots of options when it comes to Holland-related calendars…

OR… you could go with a Dutch city or region wall calendar such as Amsterdam, Brabant, Leiden, Maastricht, Rotterdam, The Hague, Utrecht or Zeeland.

OR…you could go with a Dutch artist wall calendar seeing as Holland has produced some of the most renown painters and artists in the world including Rembrandt, Johannes Vermeer, Vincent van Gogh, Piet Mondrian, M.C. Escher and Anton Pieck

The most popular contemporary Dutch tableware brand has to be Blond Amsterdam. It is known for its colorful designs and humorous texts.

There are lots of fun collections within the assortment, but for sure you should start with a look at their special ‘Kerst’ (Christmas) collection.

The nice thing is that you can buy stand-alone items such as a 15-cm candle holder, 12.5-cm cookie jar, 19-cm tea pot or 10-cm Christmas tree ornament. There are also serving platters, dinner plates, dessert plates and coffee mugs in the Christmas series.

See more of the Blond Amsterdam Christmas collection at:

• De Bijenkorf
• bol.com