Pick a Free Bouquet on National Tulip Day

Tulips are often associated with the beginning of spring, but Amsterdam prefers to enjoy this cheery bloom much earlier in the year. National Tulip Day, or Nationale Tulpendag in Dutch, is celebrated on the third Saturday of January.

At 8 a.m., locals start unloading their trucks and setting up more than 200,000 tulips in a temporary garden in Dam Square. The garden is made available to the public at 1 p.m, and anyone can come in and select flowers for no charge. Arrive early since watching the setup is almost as entertaining as picking your own flowers. If you want to get flowers, be prepared to wait in line (often for an hour or more). One of the best free things to do in Amsterdam in the winter is well known to be this. Visit Keukenhof, the stunning estate of Keukenhof Castle, which is located only 30 minutes outside of Amsterdam, if you're in the mood for more beauty. It doesn't open until the end of March, but its vibrant spring blooms are spectacular.