pinterest pin 6 Best Places for Snow Photography in the Netherlands

Prologue

The Netherlands is not known as a popular winter destination, as characteristically, the country receives a few days of snow every year. With climate change, the number of days is reducing with each passing year, and the day’s not far when we will narrate our grandchildren about the merry times we spent with our friends, ice-skating over the frozen lakes and canals.

However, when it snows in the Netherlands, the centuries-old windmills, polders, wooden houses, and drawbridges blanketed with a thick layer of snow turn the whole country into a winter wonderland, making it the perfect time to shoot beautiful snow images of the country. So today, I thought of sharing with you a few of my favorite places to capture beautiful snow/winter images in the Netherlands.

6 Best Places for Snow Photography in the Netherlands

Map created with Wanderlog, a road trip planner app on iOS and Android

Rural Landscape Photography

Floriande Canal Houses, Hoofddorp (Noord-Holland)

So let me start with where I live. These Floriande Canal Houses in Hoofddorp are at a drive of 10 minutes from my home. When the canals freeze and snow blankets these white houses' surroundings, the landscape turns into a living fairytale.

white houses with thatched roof snow frozen canal lake and birds shot at sunset during golden hour at floriande hoofddorp netherlands noord holland

Rural Landscape Photography

Piers and Lighthouse, Marken (Noord-Holland)

Marken, the fisherman’s village in North Holland, situated on the 700 square km lake of Markermeer that joins the 1100 square km IJsselmeer (which’s the largest inland lake of Western Europe), is an iconic location to shoot the snow. It has beautiful elements for photography like piers and a quaint lighthouse at the end of the village, accessible only on foot, about a half-hour walk over the dike. With exceptional week-long freezing weather, the Markermeer and IJsselmeer freeze. And I can tell you that walking on the frozen Markermeer feels unreal. Next time this happens, you ought to be there!

To know more about Marken, please read our article Experience Waterland | 11 Most Charming and Beautiful Authentic Dutch Villages of Waterland | The Wet Back Garden of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

marken noord holland netherlands fisherman village on markermeer ijsselmeer frozen lake showcasing wooden house boat piers breakwaters lighthouse and snow shot at sunset during golden hour

Urban Landscape Photography

Canal Rings and City Center, Amsterdam (Noord-Holland)

For capturing iconic urban landscape shots, I recommend Amsterdam alone. There is no other city in the Netherlands that can compare to Amsterdam's cosmopolitan character, which’s further enhanced in the snow. Amsterdam is an amalgamation of hip and orthodox, upstart and traditional. A perfect blend of old meets new, which’s just right for an old town urban landscape photography.

buildings bridges row houses church cars and snow in amsterdam netherlands noord holland

Architecture Photography

City Center, Den Haag (Zuid-Holland)

Living in Den Haag for six years, I’ve come to know it as a fascinating city for architecture and street photography in the Netherlands. Starting with architecture, there are several interesting monuments around the center of The Hague like The Vredespaleis (The Peace Palace or International Court of Justice), The Binnenhof (the Dutch Parliament), Mauritshuis Museum, Nieuw Kerk (New Church), De Plaats, The Noordeinde Palace (the King’s official residence), and Chinese Gate to name a few.

vredespaleis peace palace international court of justice covered in snow in den haag the hague holland netherlands

binnenhof Dutch Parliament covered in snow in den haag the hague holland netherlands

city center and binnenhof Dutch Parliament covered in snow in den haag the hague holland netherlands

Mauritshaus museum covered in snow in den haag the hague holland netherlands

Nieuw Kerk New Church covered in snow in den haag the hague holland netherlands

Statue Markt covered in snow in den haag the hague holland netherlands

equestrian statue of king willem of orange in noordeinde palace covered in snow in den haag the hague holland netherlands

Street Photography

Spui, Den Haag (Zuid-Holland)

As I mentioned earlier, Den Haag is also a hotspot for street photography with a plethora of shops, restaurants, and historic buildings in its old town center Spui (pronounced as ‘Spaawoo’ in Dutch), offering abundant opportunities for capturing fantastic street images with extraordinary backdrops. I always love to start with The Plein, a square with a monument of Prince William of Orange surrounded by shops, cafeterias, and restaurants. In December, The Plein is adorned with a grand Christmas tree that adds to the place's romantic ambiance.

city center den haag the hague holland netherlands showcasing shops people lights and snow plein with children playing christmas tree couples and snowman

city center den haag the hague holland netherlands showcasing shops people lights bike and snow

city center den haag centraal train station tram the hague holland netherlands showcasing shops people lights bike and snow shot during sunset

Action Photography

Amsterdamse Bos Canals (Noord-Holland) or Kinderdijk Canals (Zuid-Holland) or any Canals

The Dutch are patrons of winter sports. But in the Netherlands, generally, during winter, there isn’t a lot of snowfall or frozen canals for skiing or skating opportunities. That’s why Alpine skiing holidays are trendy among the locals. And if such a rare situation occurs that the canals are frozen for over a week, the winter gears in sports shops across the country get sold out in a couple of days. And as a photographer, it gives you an excellent opportunity to get some action shots of the Dutch canals bustling with skaters of all ages. And if you can club it with a stunning sunset, then you’ve killed two birds with one stone!

people skating in snow ice frozen canal and lake in amsterdam amsterdamse bos forest amstelveen shot at sunset during golden hour in netherlands holland

people skating and playing ice hockey in snow ice frozen canal and lake in amsterdam amsterdamse bos forest amstelveen shot at sunset during golden hour in netherlands holland

people skating in snow ice frozen canal and lake in kinderdijk windmills netherlands holland

Landscape and Nature Photography

Any Forest

Since the Netherlands is mostly a flat, low-lying country, the only option of getting some landscape or nature shots is in the woods. Head to the woods quickly before the snow falls off the branches!

haagse bos forest snow den haag the hague netherlands holland showcasing frozen canal and plants

haagse bos forest snow den haag the hague netherlands holland showcasing frozen canal bridge and plants

haagse bos forest snow den haag the hague netherlands holland showcasing frozen canal bench and plants

haagse bos forest snow den haag the hague netherlands holland showcasing frozen canal bench and plants with man biking

haagse bos forest snow den haag the hague netherlands holland showcasing frozen canal bench and plants with man and dog walking

haagse bos forest snow den haag the hague netherlands holland showcasing frozen canal bench bird and plants

Epilogue

So those were the top 6 spots for snow and winter photography in the Netherlands. Please let us know in the comments below if you enjoyed reading this article.

And to learn how to capture dazzling snow/winter images, please read our article A Step-by-Step Beginner’s Guide to Master Snow and Winter Photography | Snow and Winter Photography Tutorial | 20 Ultimate Tips and Tricks for Snow and Winter Photography. Until then, merry traveling and happy shooting!