You certainly will not be bored while visiting Amsterdam in wintertime. Next to the Amsterdam Light Festival, from today you can also attend the famous ‘World Christmas Circus’.

From December 17 (2015) until January 3 (2016) the most award-winning Christmas Circus ever is in Amsterdam! The 31st version will be held in Royal Theater Carré along the Amstel River.

The Circus with about 100 employees won 4 Circus Oscars, the Golden Clown and 2 Silver Clowns. The World Christmas Circus combines classical circus acts with new style circus acts, offering a world-class program.

This year you can eg enjoy the ‘Starbugs’, ‘Double Hungarian Post’ with Edith Richter and her son Kevin, coached by Father Florian Richter, the ‘Baskultoo’ with the “Korean springboard,” the fastest juggler Mario Berousek, The National Circus of ‘Pyongyang Pas de deux’, the great flying trapeze act of ‘The New Flying Girls’, aerial acrobatics Anastasio Makeeva and many other award-winning acts.

The circus brings the building back to it’s origin: the German circus director Oscar Carré opened Circus Carré in 1887 for winter performances. Later the circus building changed into a theatre. In 1920 the name changed into Theatre Carré. When Dutch companies turn 100 years old, they get the title ‘Royal’. So in 1987 the name was changed to Royal Theatre Carré. In 2004, the theatre was completely renovated, however the historic façade and interior design maintained.

Get your tickets here: Kerstcircus Carré.

Amsterdam VIP Tours  |  0031 6 42119900
info@amsterdam-viptours.com  |   www.amsterdam-viptours.com

From Januari – July 2016, the Netherlands will hold the Presidency of the European Union for the 12th time. The last time was in 2004. The meetings will all take place at the Marine Etablissement dockyard (next to the Maritime Museum / Scheepvaartmuseum). The building is owned by the Ministry of Defence.

The Presidency of the European Union rotates (among the members) every 6 months.  EU meetings are attended by representatives of all 28 member states (ministers and civil servants). The formal meetings of EU ministers take place in either Brussels or Luxembourg, but the Presidency also holds preparatory and informal meetings in its own country. These include the meetings of the ministers of finance, economic affairs or foreign affairs.

The Ministry will gradually be handing over the Marine Etablissement to the municipality of Amsterdam over the next few years. The city will develop the area for residential, commercial and leisure purposes. The EU Presidency is an example of the area’s future role.

Amsterdam VIP Tours  |  0031 6 42119900
info@amsterdam-viptours.com  |   www.amsterdam-viptours.com

The TripAdvisor Traveller’s Choice Awards 2015 showed that half of the Netherlands’ top 10 museums can be found in Amsterdam, with the Rijksmuseum being voted the best museum in the Netherlands. The Rijkmuseum was recently awarded a place in the top 10 museums in the entire world, joining the likes of The Louvre in Paris and New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The museum’s collection includes next to many paintings also Delftware, sculptures, archaeological artefacts, clothing, Asian art, prints, items from Dutch maritime history and many other culturally significant objects. A vivid way to explore 800 years of Dutch history. The collection is still expanding with new items from more modern times, such as a Mondrian-inspired dress by Yves Saint Laurent (from 1965).

The Rijksmuseum’s on the Museumplein (Museum Square) was designed by the renowned Dutch architect P.J.H. Cuypers.  Opened in 1885 as the largest museum in the Netherlands. In April 2013 the Rijksmuseum was reopened after a 10 years of renovation. Making it one of the most modern ‘old’ museums in the world.

Our Recommandation: Next to art, the surrounding gardens are a great place to spend sometime. The gardens are open daily from 9 AM – 6 PM and host temporary exhibitions from spring to autumn.

Hereby the list of the TOP 10 DUTCH MUSEUMS:

1. RIJKSMUSEUM (Amsterdam)
2. VAN GOGH MUSEUM (Amsterdam)
3. REMBRANDT HOUSE MUSEUM (Amsterdam)
4. MAURITSHUIS MUSEUM (The Hague)
5. OUR LORD IN THE ATTIC (Amsterdam)
6. RESISTANCE MUSEUM (Amsterdam)
7. LOUWMAN MUSEUM (The Hague)
8. ZUIDERZEE MUSEUM (Enkhuizen)
9. AIRBORNE MUSEUM (Hartenstein)
10. ESCHER IN HET PALEIS (The Hague)

Amsterdam VIP Tours will be happy to answer your questions for tour options including some of these museums.

Amsterdam VIP Tours  |  0031 6 42119900
info@amsterdam-viptours.com  |   www.amsterdam-viptours.com