Month guide · Amsterdam · Netherlands
Amsterdam in May
What May is really like in Amsterdam: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: pj soans, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Amsterdam. Expect average highs of 17°C (63°F), lows of 8°C (46°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 15.7 hours of daylight. Mild and bright with long evenings; terraces fill and the canals look their best.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 17°C (63°F) / 8°C (46°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 15.7 hours
- Crowds
- Busy
- Hotel prices
- High
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Amsterdam: days average 17°C (63°F) against a yearly average high of 14°C (57°F), and nights fall to about 8°C (46°F). Rain falls on roughly 9 of its 31 days. Compared with April (14°C (57°F)), May is warmer; by June highs climb to around 20°C (68°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:44
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 21:28
- Daylight
- About 15.7 hours
Spring (March–May). Bulb season, King's Day and Liberation Day, with mild, changeable weather and the year's highest prices in late April.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 4 for crowds (the peak is April at 5) and 4 for hotel prices (highest in April). Book accommodation early: May is one of the pricier months.
Events in May
- Remembrance Day two-minute silence (4 May) and Liberation Day festivals (5 May)
Dates move from year to year. Check the organiser’s site before booking travel around an event.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Experience · Canal Ring
Canal cruise
Choose a small open boat on a fine evening or a covered boat in winter, and compare operators rather than booking from touts at Centraal Station.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Kids
- Couples
- Views
- Iconic
Park · Museum Quarter
Vondelpark
Amsterdam's best-known park stretches about 1.5 km west from near Leidseplein, with ponds, a rose garden, playgrounds and cafés.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Couples
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
Zoo · Plantage
Artis Zoo
Founded in 1838, Artis is one of the oldest zoos in Europe, set among 19th-century buildings and mature gardens in the Plantage.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 17°C, lows near 8°C and 9 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is May a good time to visit Amsterdam?
One of the best months to visit Amsterdam, with a notable event on the calendar. The other best months are April, June and September. Compare every month.
Amsterdam in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Amsterdam?
It is one of the best months to visit Amsterdam. Mild and bright with long evenings; terraces fill and the canals look their best.
+How warm is Amsterdam in May?
Average highs are around 17°C (63°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Amsterdam in May?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.