Best time to visit · Amsterdam · Netherlands
The best time to visit Amsterdam
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alf van Beem, Public domain
Quick answer
The best times to visit Amsterdam are April to June and September, when days are long and mild and the canals and terraces are at their best. Late April brings tulips and King's Day but also peak crowds and prices. Winter is cold, wet and dark early but quiet, with the Light Festival and cosy brown cafés.
Key facts
- Best months
- April–June and September
- Shoulder season
- March, July–August and October
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 22°C (72°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 6°C (43°F))
- Rainiest month
- November (~13 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–February
Seasons
Amsterdam has a mild, damp maritime climate: cool winters with nights around freezing, mild summers that rarely pass 25°C, and frequent wind and showers year-round. The weather changes quickly, so a waterproof layer is useful in every season.
March–May
Spring
Bulb season, King's Day and Liberation Day, with mild, changeable weather and the year's highest prices in late April.
June–August
Summer
Long, mild days, festivals and Pride, with the biggest crowds; real heat is rare but showers are common.
September–November
Autumn
Settled September days, Amsterdam Dance Event and autumn colour, turning wet and windy by November.
December–February
Winter
Cold, grey and dark by mid-afternoon, but the Light Festival, festive markets and quiet museums make up for it.
Month by month
Long-term averages (rounded). Crowds and prices are relative, 1 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Daylight is sunrise to sunset on the 15th.
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C | 1°C | 12 | 8.2 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 7°C | 1°C | 10 | 9.8 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 10°C | 3°C | 10 | 11.7 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| April | 14°C | 5°C | 8 | 13.8 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| May | 17°C | 8°C | 9 | 15.7 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| June | 20°C | 11°C | 9 | 16.8 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| July | 22°C | 13°C | 9 | 16.3 h | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| August | 22°C | 13°C | 10 | 14.7 h | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| September | 19°C | 11°C | 10 | 12.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| October | 15°C | 8°C | 12 | 10.5 h | 3/5 | 4/5 |
| November | 10°C | 4°C | 13 | 8.6 h | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| December | 7°C | 2°C | 13 | 7.7 h | 3/5 | 4/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | Amsterdam Light Festival — artworks along the canals (late November to January) |
| February | Chinese New Year celebrations around the Nieuwmarkt (late January or February) |
| March | Keukenhof gardens open (usually from mid-to-late March) |
| April | King's Day — citywide street party and flea markets (27 April, or 26 April when the 27th is a Sunday); Tulip fields in bloom around Lisse (usually mid-to-late April); National Museum Weekend (usually April) |
| May | Remembrance Day two-minute silence (4 May) and Liberation Day festivals (5 May) |
| June | Holland Festival of performing arts (usually June); Open Garden Days — private canal-house gardens open (usually mid-June) |
| July | Keti Koti — commemoration of the abolition of slavery (1 July); Julidans contemporary dance festival (July) |
| 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) |
| September | Open Monumentendag — historic buildings open free (usually second weekend of September); Jordaan Festival (usually September) |
| October | Amsterdam Dance Event (usually mid-to-late October); Amsterdam Marathon (usually mid-October) |
| November | Museumnacht — museums open until late (usually early November); Sinterklaas arrival parade (usually mid-November); Amsterdam Light Festival begins (late November) |
| December | Sinterklaas evening — gifts and poems (5 December); New Year's Eve celebrations (31 December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–February, and the sights are quietest in January–February and November.
What to pack
| Season | Pack |
|---|---|
| Spring | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Summer | Light layers for the day and a light jacket for the evening; A packable rain jacket for showers; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Autumn | Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
| Winter | A warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; Shoes with good grip for icy pavements; A compact umbrella and waterproof shoes — rain is frequent; Comfortable walking shoes |
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best month to visit Amsterdam?
The best times to visit Amsterdam are April to June and September, when days are long and mild and the canals and terraces are at their best. Late April brings tulips and King's Day but also peak crowds and prices. Winter is cold, wet and dark early but quiet, with the Light Festival and cosy brown cafés.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Amsterdam?
Usually in January–February. Cold, grey and short days, but quiet museums, low prices and the Light Festival along the canals.
+What is the rainiest month in Amsterdam?
November, with about 13 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Amsterdam get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 22°C (72°F) and lows of 13°C (55°F).