Season guide · Amsterdam · Netherlands
Amsterdam in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Alf van Beem, Public domain
Quick answer
Cold, grey and dark by mid-afternoon, but the Light Festival, festive markets and quiet museums make up for it. Expect highs up to 7°C (45°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 35 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 1°C (34°F) to 7°C (45°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 35
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C (43°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 12 | 8.2 h | 2/5 |
| February | 7°C (45°F) | 1°C (34°F) | 10 | 9.8 h | 2/5 |
| December | 7°C (45°F) | 2°C (36°F) | 13 | 7.7 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 7°C (45°F) against a yearly 14°C (57°F), and 35 of the year's roughly 125 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 3/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- January: Amsterdam Light Festival — artworks along the canals (late November to January)
- February: Chinese New Year celebrations around the Nieuwmarkt (late January or February)
- December: Sinterklaas evening — gifts and poems (5 December)
- December: New Year's Eve celebrations (31 December)
Good choices for winter
Experience · De Pijp
Heineken Experience
Book online for a lower price and a time slot, and combine it with the Albert Cuyp Market a few minutes away.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Rainy day
- Food
Museum · Old Centre
Our Lord in the Attic
Behind a 17th-century canal-house façade in the Red Light District hides a complete Catholic church built across the attics of three houses, at a time when Catholics could not worship openly.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
Museum · Old Centre
Rembrandt House Museum
Pair it with the Waterlooplein flea market outside and the nearby Jewish Cultural Quarter.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
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Garden · Plantage
Hortus Botanicus
Founded in 1638 as a herb garden for doctors and apothecaries, the Hortus Botanicus is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Off the beaten path
- Rainy day
- Outdoors
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Museum · Museum Quarter
Rijksmuseum
Head straight to the Gallery of Honour at opening, then explore the quieter medieval and 20th-century floors.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Iconic
- Art
- History
- Rainy day
Day trips in winter
- Volendam and Marken (About 30 minutes by bus) — Two former fishing villages on the IJsselmeer: Volendam with its harbour promenade and smoked-eel stalls, and Marken with green wooden houses on mounds and a lighthouse.
- Utrecht (About 30 minutes by train) — Utrecht's two-level canals have old wharf cellars at water level converted into cafés and terraces.
What to pack
- 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
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Amsterdam?
It is a trade-off: Cold, grey and dark by mid-afternoon, but the Light Festival, festive markets and quiet museums make up for it. The best months overall are April–June and September.
+What is the weather like in Amsterdam in winter?
Highs of up to 7°C (45°F) and lows around 1°C (34°F), with about 35 rainy days over the season.