STORY | AMSTERDAM

A Family from Spain Under the First Christmas Lights

By Aleksandria Rudenko | Updated 8 November 2026

Family of four hugging close on a canal bridge, the parents holding their son and daughter, trees strung with Christmas lights behind them

This family from Spain came to Amsterdam in late autumn: Javier and Alba, with Álvaro and his little sister, Martina. The first Christmas lights had just gone up in the canal trees, while the yellow leaves still hung on.

They wanted one hour together in the city before the holidays at home. For my family photoshoots in Amsterdam, I always choose one area, and this time it was the Spiegelgracht with the streets around it.

Lollipops on a Bridge

We started on a bridge over the canal. At the end of the water rose the towers of the Rijksmuseum, and the trees on both sides still held their yellow leaves.

Álvaro and Martina each had a lollipop. He showed me his with a big grin, while she stood as straight as she could beside him. A moment later, he pulled his little sister into a hug.

Boy and his little sister holding lollipops on a canal bridge, the towers of the Rijksmuseum at the far end of the water

Big brother hugging his little sister by a green bridge railing as both hold lollipops, yellow autumn trees lining the canal behind — A bridge over the Spiegelgracht, with the Rijksmuseum at the end

Then out came the sparklers. Alba laughed as hers began to fizz, Javier held his up with Martina on his arm, and Álvaro watched his own with great care.

Family laughing with sparklers by a canal railing, the Rijksmuseum towers rising above yellow autumn trees at the end of the water

Shoulder Rides and Candy Canes

Farther along the quay, between parked bikes and fallen leaves, the children climbed onto their parents’ shoulders: Álvaro onto his mother’s, Martina onto her father’s. Then up went their arms.

A family of four with their arms in the air, the children riding on their parents' shoulders beside parked bikes and a canal tree hung with lights

After that, I asked for one more: a kiss up top and a kiss below. The children leaned toward each other over their parents’ heads, while Javier and Alba kissed underneath.

Children on their parents' shoulders kissing each other while the parents kiss below, under a canal tree with yellow leaves and lights

Around the corner, garlands of lights hung over a shopping street, and the candy canes came out. Alba and Álvaro held theirs under their noses like mustaches and put on their most serious faces. A minute later, everyone smiled for a portrait under the garlands.

Mother and son holding candy canes under their noses like mustaches, the father lifting his daughter behind them in a shopping street

Smiling family of four in a shopping street hung with garlands of lights, the father holding his daughter and the mother her son

Next, two candy canes became a heart in Alba’s and Álvaro’s hands, while Martina held on to her own from her father’s arm.

Mother and son forming a heart from two candy canes while the father holds their daughter, a busy street corner behind the family

A Family Hug Under the Lit Trees

Back by the water, the afternoon slowly turned to dusk, and the lights in the trees grew brighter. When Javier and Alba kissed, both children covered their eyes. Álvaro then stuck out his tongue at me instead.

Parents kissing by a canal while their son covers his eyes and their daughter hides her face, trees with Christmas lights behind

Father smiling as his son sticks out his tongue at the camera and his daughter hugs her mother, lit trees along the canal

By a road sign on the quay, Martina gave her mother a kiss on the cheek, and Álvaro leaned back against his father.

Family of four by a canal at dusk, the daughter kissing her mother's cheek and the son leaning against his father, lights in the trees

Then everyone squeezed into one big hug, and Álvaro planted a kiss on his sister’s cheek.

Family laughing in a hug by the water, the son kissing his little sister's cheek between their parents, autumn trees glowing with lights — The lights in the canal trees at dusk

Martina made glasses out of her fingers and peered at me through them, which made her mother laugh. For one calm frame, each of them held one child, all four cheeks close: the frame at the top of this story.

Little girl making glasses with her fingers in her mother's arms, Christmas lights blurred along the canal at dusk

A Last Frame to Take Home to Spain

Close portrait of a father and his daughter cheek to cheek, her pink and gray knit snood against his red sweater, autumn colors blurred behind

Before we finished, Martina had a moment with her father alone. She pressed her cheek against his red sweater, and he laughed with his eyes almost closed.

Finally, Javier and Alba walked hand in hand along the canal, over a pattern of bricks and fallen leaves. By the water, they stopped for a kiss. That was their late autumn in Amsterdam: a family from Spain, a pocket full of candy canes and the first lights of Christmas.

Couple walking hand in hand along a canal over a herringbone brick pattern, fallen leaves and a lit tree behind them

Husband and wife kissing by a canal at dusk, lit windows and trees with Christmas lights across the water behind them

Thinking of photos in the festive season yourself? My guide to a Christmas photoshoot in Amsterdam explains when the lights go up and what to wear in the cold.

Visiting Amsterdam with your own family? Discover how my family photoshoots in Amsterdam work.