Blog
Stories from the city, tips for your hamper
About local makers, smart purchasing and the tax side of giving. Written by the Amsterdam in a Box team.
Guide · 8 min
Christmas hamper Amsterdam: the complete guide for employers in the city
Everything about Christmas hampers in Amsterdam: budgets, quantities, delivery, personalisation, WKR and why local wins every time.
Read the articleInspiration
Christmas hamper ideas 2026: 12 ideas that always work in Amsterdam
From drinks box to breakfast hamper: twelve Christmas hamper ideas, plus why a hamper filled locally in Amsterdam scores best with your team.
22 August 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Original Christmas hamper: how to give something that won't end up in a cupboard
Why standard hampers disappoint, and how local makers, personalisation and a story make a real impression.
21 August 2026 · 3 min
Makers
John Altman: two sisters who made the snack cupboard more honest
From two resignations in 2015 to organic popcorn and nuts with no unnecessary additions.
20 August 2026 · 4 min
Impact
Sustainable Christmas hamper Amsterdam: local, plastic-free and with social impact
What actually makes a Christmas hamper sustainable - from transport miles and packaging to packing via a social employment workshop.
20 August 2026 · 6 min
Makers
Amsterdam Cookies: the stroopwafel as a small gift with a big effect
How a love of the stroopwafel grew into a brand built around one thing: making people smile.
19 August 2026 · 3 min
Comparison
A Kerstpakkettenplaza alternative in Amsterdam: local instead of mass-produced
Large national suppliers deliver volume. Looking for a hamper with city identity and personal service instead? Here's what the alternative looks like.
19 August 2026 · 5 min
Makers
Amsterdam Water: spring water with broad Amsterdam slang on the back
A bottle that celebrates the city, complete with St Andrew's crosses, local landmarks and street slang on the label.
18 August 2026 · 3 min
Tips
Putting together a Christmas hamper: the step-by-step plan for Amsterdam employers
Budget, numbers, dietary requirements, personalisation and delivery - a hamper that works, in seven steps.
18 August 2026 · 7 min
Makers
Brandt & Levie: bringing the craft of sausage-making back to the city
Three Amsterdam friends started in a cellar in Baambrugge and now make sausages in the Houthavens.
17 August 2026 · 4 min
Comparison
A Rituals hamper alternative: an Amsterdam gift with character
Beauty gifts are a safe choice, but rarely a surprising one. Here's what to give instead of the well-known fragrance set.
17 August 2026 · 5 min
Makers
Brouwerij De 7 Deugden: brewing beer without distance
An Amsterdam social enterprise where the brewery floor offers low-threshold access to work.
16 August 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Amsterdam Christmas hamper for women: why we don't think in pink boxes
Splitting gifts by gender rarely works well. Here's what does: taste profiles, freedom of choice and Amsterdam makers.
16 August 2026 · 2 min
Makers
Chateau Amsterdam: a winery right in the middle of Noord
Father and son bring grapes from Europe to the city and make the wine here, from must to bottle.
15 August 2026 · 4 min
Business
Original Christmas hamper for staff: what Amsterdam teams really appreciate
From conversations with dozens of Amsterdam employers: this is what separates a dutiful hamper from a genuine thank-you.
15 August 2026 · 6 min
Makers
Chocolatemakers: cacao that sails into the harbour by sailing ship
Bean-to-bar chocolate from Amsterdam, made with wind power and fair agreements at the source.
14 August 2026 · 5 min
Inspiration
Amsterdam Christmas hamper for men: beer, drinks and something with a bit of bite
After something sturdier? These are the Amsterdam compositions chosen most often - without falling into cliché.
14 August 2026 · 2 min
Makers
El Jefe Primo Salsa: the flavour of the revolution, brewed in Amsterdam
Handmade hot sauces with no clutter, from mild and fruity to downright dangerous.
13 August 2026 · 3 min
Inspiration
XL Christmas hampers Amsterdam: giving big without waste
For anniversaries, farewells or a standout year: how to put together an XL hamper that impresses and still gets fully used.
13 August 2026 · 2 min
Makers
Klaasje: hard seltzer dreamt up by students, drunk by the city
Light, fizzy and fresh - the young Amsterdam brand turning a trend into a lasting drinks moment.
12 August 2026 · 3 min
Trends
Christmas hamper 2026 trends: what Amsterdam employers are asking for this year
Hyperlocal, diet-friendly, less packaging and more story. The five trends shaping the 2026 season.
12 August 2026 · 6 min
Makers
Koeckebackers: biscuits that change lives
A social enterprise and B Corp where 91% of participants move into a permanent job within a year.
11 August 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Christmas gift inspiration for companies: from small gesture to grand thank-you
Inspiration for employees, clients and suppliers - with budgets, do's and don'ts, and Amsterdam examples.
11 August 2026 · 2 min
Makers
Oedipus Brewing: four friends who gave Amsterdam-Noord some colour
From contract brewer in 2012 to their own brewery on Schaafstraat, with beers like Mannenliefde and Gaia.
10 August 2026 · 4 min
Comparison
Kerstpakket Makro: the Amsterdam alternative without the wholesaler feel
Wholesaler hampers are fast and keenly priced. Here's what a local alternative looks like that actually tells a story.
10 August 2026 · 5 min
Makers
Potverdorie!: jam made from fruit nobody wanted
Charlotte and Joep turn misshapen harvests into jam that technically isn't allowed to be called jam - with 70% fruit.
9 August 2026 · 4 min
Comparison
Kerstpakket Sligro alternative: buying local instead of from the catalogue
Why more and more Amsterdam employers are sourcing their Christmas hamper from local makers instead of the foodservice wholesaler.
9 August 2026 · 5 min
Makers
Senza Tea: why do we still drink bad tea in so many places?
Loose tea leaves instead of dust in a bag - with smart tools for offices and hospitality.
8 August 2026 · 3 min
Business
Printing end-of-year gifts: logo, card and sleeve without the kitsch
How to get your logo onto an end-of-year gift tastefully - and where it's better not to put a brand name at all.
8 August 2026 · 5 min
Makers
Thijsthee: a chef who started making iced tea to fight waste
100% natural, organic iced tea from Amsterdam-Noord, made with a mission.
7 August 2026 · 3 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with coffee: Amsterdam beans as the heart of your hamper
From freshly roasted beans to the right grind: here's how to build a coffee hamper that keeps delivering every morning.
7 August 2026 · 2 min
Makers
Thull's: fermenting, preserving and winter classics from the food shop
An Amsterdam deli that's caterer, preservery and kombucha brewery all at once - and makes pea soup exactly as it should be.
6 August 2026 · 3 min
Inspiration
Amsterdam Christmas hamper with a game: a gift that starts the conversation
Add a city game or quiz to your hamper and turn a box of treats into a team activity.
6 August 2026 · 2 min
Tips
How to put together a 2026 Christmas hamper that Amsterdam can be proud of
From budget and quantities to local makers and personalisation: a practical step-by-step plan for the perfect Amsterdam Christmas hamper.
5 August 2026 · 5 min
Business
End-of-year gift for clients: stand out without going over the top
Timing, tone and size determine whether your corporate gift lands well. Plus: what's handy to know about tax.
5 August 2026 · 6 min
Makers
Amsterdamse Branie: the cheekiest sweet in the Netherlands
Dreamt up in 2019 in a café by the canal: Amsterdam deserved its own treat, and it became a toffee with attitude.
4 August 2026 · 3 min
Tips
Halal Christmas hamper in Amsterdam: an equally good gift for everyone
Here's how to put together a hamper with no alcohol and no pork that looks every bit as good as the standard version.
4 August 2026 · 5 min
Makers
Join the Pipe: a bottle that delivers clean water somewhere else
Reusable bottles made of sugar cane and water taps with a buy-one-give-one model to fight plastic waste.
3 August 2026 · 4 min
Tips
Gluten-free Christmas hamper: a great gift without the exception feeling
Which Amsterdam products are naturally gluten-free, and how to put together a fully-fledged gluten-free box.
3 August 2026 · 5 min
Makers
City Gin: a city translated into a bottle
Local entrepreneurs and residents help decide what goes into the gin - including colour, icon and story.
2 August 2026 · 3 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with a drinks platter: the Amsterdam borrel as a gift
Sausage, cheese, nuts, salsa and a good drink - here's how to build a drinks platter that rounds off the year nicely.
2 August 2026 · 2 min
Inspiration
Non-food Christmas hamper: gifts that last, without plastic gadgets
Sustainable water bottles, ceramics and textiles from Amsterdam makers - non-food that actually gets used.
1 August 2026 · 2 min
Budget
Christmas hamper for 20 euros: what's possible in Amsterdam?
With a small budget you can still give something good - if you choose fewer products of better quality.
31 July 2026 · 4 min
Business
Ordering a Christmas hamper online: how it works with us, from box to doorstep
Choose online, personalise, pay or order on invoice - sorted in five steps.
30 July 2026 · 4 min
Business
Christmas hamper with logo: your brand on the box, not on the food
Where should your logo go (and not go), what file do we need, and what does it cost? Everything about branded Christmas hampers.
29 July 2026 · 5 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper without food: worthwhile alternatives to edibles
For teams with many dietary requirements or a non-food preference: these are the strongest Amsterdam alternatives.
28 July 2026 · 2 min
Budget
Cheap Christmas hamper: buying sharply without it looking cheap
Seven ways to lower the price per hamper while quality and the gesture stay intact.
27 July 2026 · 5 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with cheese: keeping a cheese hamper fresh and surprising
Which cheeses work in a hamper, how does the cooling and delivery time work, and what do you add to it?
26 July 2026 · 2 min
Budget
€50 Christmas hamper: the most popular budget in Amsterdam
What you get for €50 per hamper, and why this bracket gives the best ratio between impact and cost.
25 July 2026 · 5 min
Budget
Small Christmas hamper: giving compactly with maximum impact
For large teams, business relations, or as an addition to a bonus: here's how to make a small hamper that still feels complete.
24 July 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Luxury Christmas hamper Amsterdam: refined giving with local top makers
What makes a hamper luxurious? Not the price, but the rarity of the products and the finish of the packaging.
23 July 2026 · 2 min
Inspiration
Large Christmas hamper: giving generously without anything going to waste
Putting together a large hamper requires choices. Here's how to make sure volume doesn't come at the expense of quality.
22 July 2026 · 1 min
Budget
€100 Christmas hamper: what to give with a generous budget?
For anniversaries, board members or top clients. Here's how to spend €100 per hamper on something truly special.
21 July 2026 · 5 min
Budget
€25 Christmas hamper: the best starting point for large teams
What you can give for €25 per hamper, and why a compact Amsterdam box works better than a stuffed cheap one.
20 July 2026 · 4 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with wine: city wine from Amsterdam as a surprise
Why wine from a city winery works better than an anonymous bottle, and what to add to it.
19 July 2026 · 2 min
Makers
The makers behind our boxes: five Amsterdam crafts in the spotlight
Coffee roasters, distillers, bakers and chocolate makers. Meet the people who fill our hampers.
18 July 2026 · 6 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with chocolate: bean-to-bar from Amsterdam
From cacao shipped by sailboat to bars with character: why chocolate from the city can be the heart of your hamper.
18 July 2026 · 2 min
Tips
Christmas hamper filling: what to put in (and what not to)
The ideal balance between sweet, savoury, drinks and non-food - plus the filling materials we do and don't use.
17 July 2026 · 5 min
Inspiration
Christmas hamper with beer: Amsterdam breweries in one box
Oedipus, De 7 Deugden and more: how to put together a beer hamper that surprises without overdoing it.
16 July 2026 · 5 min
Business
The Dutch WKR explained for HR: what can you give tax-free in 2026?
Free allowance, final levy and VAT deduction without the tax jargon, with a worked example for a team of 60.
30 June 2026 · 4 min
Impact
Giving sustainably: less plastic, more impact
How we package without plastic, pack via a social employment workshop, and donate surplus to the food bank.
22 May 2026 · 3 min
Trends
Christmas hampers 2025: which trends stuck (and which didn't)
Looking back on the 2025 season: local won, plastic lost, and choice portals proved less popular than expected.
10 February 2026 · 5 min