Thanksgiving in Amsterdam 2026: where to celebrate, dinners and tips

Thanksgiving is an American holiday with no Dutch equivalent: the fourth Thursday of November, which is Thursday 26 November in 2026, is an ordinary working day in Amsterdam. Schools, offices and shops run as normal. Yet the city has a large American community and many visitors who want to mark the date. This guide explains how to find a Thanksgiving dinner in Amsterdam, how to prepare one yourself and why the holiday has a link to the Netherlands. Not all 2026 menus have been published: the places named are those that offered a Thanksgiving dinner in 2025, to be confirmed before booking.

Thanksgiving in the Netherlands: what to know

The Dutch do not celebrate the holiday, but the custom has settled into restaurants that welcome Americans and expats. There are no days off and no street decorations: the event happens mostly in a few restaurants, bars and caterers that announce a special menu a few weeks ahead. Because Thursday is a working day, these dinners are held in the evening.

There is a historical link, though: before leaving for America in 1620, the Pilgrims of the Mayflower had lived for about ten years in Leiden, in the Netherlands. If you are passing through, a trip to Leiden, half an hour by train, lets you see the city they left; see our page on Leiden.

Where to have dinner on Thanksgiving

Several places offered a Thanksgiving menu in 2025, according to event listings and the local press. Check that they are doing it again in 2026 and book, because these dinners fill up fast:

Hard Rock Cafe: a two- or three-course Thanksgiving menu, with turkey or a vegetarian option, stuffing, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie; the day's traditional American football games are shown.
Seasons, a modern café in the canal belt: a four-course menu with smoked turkey and a vegetarian option.
Café Belcampo: dinner from 6:30pm (18:30), with turkey, a vegetarian main, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes and corn.
Staring at Jacob: a restaurant known for its American-style brunches, which has held a big communal-table Thanksgiving dinner.
Slagerij De Leeuw: a neighbourhood butcher offering a complete Thanksgiving dinner to take away.

We give no prices: they change every year and depend on the menu chosen. For a more everyday dinner, our guide to where to eat in Amsterdam presents the neighbourhoods and the types of places.

Cooking your own Thanksgiving

If you are staying somewhere with a kitchen, you can prepare your own dinner:

The turkey: order it from a butcher several days ahead, as whole turkeys are not always on the shelf. Say what size you want and the pick-up day.
The sides: potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, squash and mushrooms are easy to find in supermarkets. Some American products (cranberries, canned pumpkin purée) are harder to find: look in import shops or plan substitutes.
The oven: rental flats often have small ovens; check that a turkey fits before you buy it.

Around the date

On Friday 27 November, shops run Black Friday sales, which has caught on in the Netherlands. For opening hours, see our guide to shopping in Amsterdam. On Sunday 15 November, eleven days earlier, Sinterklaas arrives: see our guide to Sinterklaas in Amsterdam.

Summary table

Item	What to know
2026 date	Thursday 26 November (a working day in the Netherlands)
Where to dine	A few restaurants offer a special menu; 2026 menus to be checked
Booking	Essential, these dinners fill up
Takeaway	Butchers and caterers, to order in advance
Historical link	The Mayflower Pilgrims lived in Leiden
The next day	Black Friday (27 November)