things you can do if you don't celebrate Christmas
You probably haven't missed it, and if you did, you could have expected it, but I'm not really a fan of Christmas. You could say not at all. This year I'm solving that by flying to Brazil and last year I did the escape in Vietnam, I thought it was fine. But, suppose you have to stay in the Netherlands and, like me, prefer to skip Christmas, I have some alternatives for you that you can do. It's just that I'm lying on a Brazilian beach, but I seriously feel like doing the following.
Going to the movies
All day long, ten movies in a row. The cinemas will be deserted so you'll be sitting comfortably in a practically empty hall. Plenty of M&M's and popcorn within reach and in that dark hall, you'll be nicely cut off from the Christmas world happening outside.
Having a series marathon on the couch
Those are the kinds of things you just never get around to in daily life. But Christmas Day and Boxing Day can be perfectly considered as vacation days, so park yourself on the couch from 10:00 with your favorite series and go for two days straight. Lots of good food at home, good sweatpants on your butt, nothing more to do.
Redecorating your house
Another thing you never get around to, endlessly rearranging furniture until you're satisfied. Or redecorating your wall with photos and paintings, giving your closet a new layout, cleaning all the glassware in your kitchen, that kind of work.
Finally starting on that pile of books and magazines
Next to my bed stands a sort of Leaning Tower of Pisa of books that I really want to read but never get around to. Jet still has the November Vogue in its cellophane on the kitchen table, and I'm also way behind on my magazines. Take advantage of the quiet Christmas days to catch up on everything, calmly and at your own pace.
Booking a luxury hotel and lounging in the bathroom
I've never done this before, but if I'm in Amsterdam during Christmas next year, I'm going to do this. Investing in a nice room in a fancy hotel, and then enjoying that hotel bed all day long and endlessly lounging in the bathroom. I would almost cancel my hostels in Brazil for it. Almost, that is.
