Month guide · Amsterdam · Netherlands
Amsterdam in August
What August is really like in Amsterdam: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: 14:43, 17 October 2006, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
August is a shoulder-season month. Expect average highs of 22°C (72°F), lows of 13°C (55°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 14.7 hours of daylight. Summer holidays bring crowds and festivals, with occasional heavy showers.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 22°C (72°F) / 13°C (55°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 14.7 hours
- Crowds
- Very busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in August
August is the 2nd-warmest month in Amsterdam: days average 22°C (72°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 13°C (55°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with July (22°C (72°F)), August is about as warm; by September highs drop to around 19°C (66°F).
- Sunrise (15 August)
- About 06:24
- Sunset (15 August)
- About 21:06
- Daylight
- About 14.7 hours
Summer (June–August). Long, mild days, festivals and Pride, with the biggest crowds; real heat is rare but showers are common.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, August rates 5 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in April). Book accommodation early: August is one of the pricier months.
Events in August
- Pride Amsterdam with the Canal Parade (usually early August)
- Grachtenfestival classical music on the canals (usually mid-August)
- Uitmarkt cultural season opener (late August)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in August
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Market · De Pijp
Albert Cuyp Market
Running along Albert Cuypstraat most days of the week, the city's biggest street market sells cheese, fish, flowers, clothes and fabric.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Food
- Free
- Shopping
Viewpoint · Amsterdam-Noord
A'DAM Lookout
Take the free ferry from behind Centraal Station to Buiksloterweg, a five-minute crossing, and go up for sunset.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Views
- Couples
- Kids
- After dark
Historic site · Old Centre
Begijnhof
Through a doorway off the busy Spui square, the Begijnhof is a quiet courtyard of almshouses built for the Beguines, a lay Catholic sisterhood, in the Middle Ages.
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Architecture
Zoo · Plantage
Artis Zoo
Buy tickets online and combine with the Hortus Botanicus a few minutes' walk away.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 22°C, lows near 13°C and 10 wet days: light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is August a good time to visit Amsterdam?
A shoulder-season month, with 3 notable events on the calendar. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September are better overall. Compare every month.
Amsterdam in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is August a good time to visit Amsterdam?
It is a shoulder-season month. Summer holidays bring crowds and festivals, with occasional heavy showers.
+How warm is Amsterdam in August?
Average highs are around 22°C (72°F) and lows around 13°C (55°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Amsterdam in August?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.