STORY | AMSTERDAM

A Winter Hen Party on the Canals

By Aleksandria Rudenko | Updated 28 October 2026

Friends in gray knit beanies holding red heart balloons on a canal bridge, one balloon in front of the bride's face at their winter hen party

On a February afternoon, a big group of friends from Germany came to Amsterdam to celebrate the bride-to-be. I photographed their winter hen party on the canals, from the first group hug to one last lift on a bridge.

Afternoons like this are what my group photoshoots in Amsterdam are made for. I plan the route, so the friends only have to show up and enjoy each other.

Gray Beanies for a Winter Hen Party

The friends wore matching gray knit beanies with pompoms, black tops and jeans. The bride stood out in a white lace blouse and a lighter beanie of her own. We began by the water, where bare trees lined the canal and soft light fell on the gables.

A simple dress code like that works beautifully on camera. Because everyone matched, the bride in white became the natural center of every frame of this winter hen party on the canals. The gray wool also echoed the pale winter sky, so the colors stayed calm and soft.

Bride-to-be in a white lace blouse and cream beanie hugged by friends in gray beanies beside an Amsterdam canal, bare trees behind — Bare trees along the canal in February

A Narrow Street Full of Bikes

Then I led the group into a narrow side street with bikes parked on both sides. It is the kind of street that shows how much Amsterdam cycles. When it was empty for a moment, everyone jumped at once.

Hen party friends jumping with their arms up in a narrow street lined with bikes, the bride in white in the middle — A side street lined with bikes, early afternoon

Friends in black tops and gray beanies walking arm in arm down a bike-lined street, the bride in white a step ahead

Next, they walked toward me arm in arm, with the bride a step ahead. Walking and talking always looks better than a pose, so I keep big groups moving. After that, I gave the bride the street for a moment, and she threw her arms wide.

Bride-to-be throwing her arms wide in an empty side street, rows of parked bikes and tall brick houses on both sides

Between the big group shots, I also look for the quieter pairs. Here, the bride laughed hand in hand with a friend. Then she shared a cheek-to-cheek hug under two pompom beanies.

Bride laughing hand in hand with a friend in a black jacket, bikes parked along the narrow street behind them

Bride and a friend hugging cheek to cheek in cable-knit beanies with pompoms, both smiling straight into the camera

Red Hearts for the Hen Party

Back by the water, the whole group squeezed onto the stoop of a white canal house. Everyone waved their beanies in the air. A few minutes later, her friends lifted the bride and held her sideways in front of a row of gabled houses. She kept one arm high in the air, as if she were flying.

Hen party group crowded onto the stoop of a white canal house, waving gray beanies in the air above parked bikes

Hen party friends lifting the bride sideways beside a canal, gabled houses and an old lamp post with a blue arrow sign behind

Then the red heart balloons came out. By the canal, the bride held out her hand to show her engagement ring. Her friends gasped as if they were seeing it for the first time.

Bride holding out her hand to show her ring as friends in gray beanies gasp, red heart balloons in their hands — Red heart balloons by the canal, just after two

Their wrists carried gold temporary tattoos: Team Bride for the friends, Bride for her. From above, their hands made a circle around her ring. After that, everyone looked up at me with their fists in the air.

Circle of hands with gold Team Bride tattoos around the bride's open palm and diamond ring, seen from above at the hen party

Friends at the hen party looking up and raising their fists, gray pompom beanies and scarves, seen from above on the cobbles

One Last Lift on the Bridge

By half past two, the sun had come out over the bridges, and the old brick glowed warm in the low light. This time the bride did the lifting. She carried a friend in her arms, and the friend’s gold sneakers kicked up high. Then another friend kissed her on the cheek, and that became the last frame of their winter hen party on the canals.

Bride carrying a laughing friend in her arms on a canal bridge, gold sneakers kicking up behind the iron railing

Friend kissing the blonde bride-to-be on the cheek, sunlit gabled houses soft in the background — A canal bridge in the low winter sun, half past two

Planning a hen party in Amsterdam? Discover how my group photoshoots in Amsterdam work.