Best time to visit · Rotterdam · Netherlands
The best time to visit Rotterdam
Weather, crowds, prices and events for every month, so you can pick the trip that suits you.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Johannes Schwartz, CC BY 2.0
Quick answer
The best time to visit Rotterdam is May to September, when terraces, quays and boat trips are at their best and days are long. July brings big festivals such as North Sea Jazz, while September has the World Port Days. Winter is grey and wet but quiet, with low prices and indoor highlights such as the Depot and the Markthal.
Key facts
- Best months
- May–September
- Shoulder season
- April and October
- Warmest month
- July (avg high 23°C (73°F))
- Coldest month
- January (avg high 6°C (43°F))
- Rainiest month
- November (~13 rainy days)
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–March and November
Seasons
Rotterdam has a mild maritime climate: cool, damp winters, mild summers and rain spread through the year, with frequent wind off the North Sea.
March–May
Spring
Lengthening days, King's Day celebrations and the marathon, with tulip fields within a short trip.
June–August
Summer
Long, mild days, festivals, beach trips to Hoek van Holland and busy terraces.
September–November
Autumn
World Port Days in September, then wetter, windier weather and cultural seasons.
December–February
Winter
Cold, damp and dark, but low prices, the film festival and indoor architecture and museums.
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 | Sea | Daylight | Crowds | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6°C | 1°C | 12 | 7°C | 8.3 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| February | 7°C | 1°C | 10 | 6°C | 9.9 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| March | 10°C | 3°C | 11 | 6°C | 11.7 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| April | 14°C | 5°C | 9 | 8°C | 13.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| May | 18°C | 8°C | 9 | 11°C | 15.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| June | 21°C | 11°C | 9 | 15°C | 16.7 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| July | 23°C | 14°C | 10 | 17°C | 16.3 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| August | 23°C | 13°C | 10 | 18°C | 14.6 h | 4/5 | 4/5 |
| September | 19°C | 11°C | 11 | 17°C | 12.6 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| October | 15°C | 8°C | 12 | 14°C | 10.5 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
| November | 10°C | 4°C | 13 | 11°C | 8.7 h | 2/5 | 2/5 |
| December | 7°C | 2°C | 13 | 8°C | 7.8 h | 3/5 | 3/5 |
Yearly events
Recurring dates shift from year to year; confirm with the organiser before you book.
| Month | Events |
|---|---|
| January | International Film Festival Rotterdam (usually late January to early February) |
| February | International Film Festival Rotterdam continues (early February) |
| April | Rotterdam Marathon (usually April); King's Day — street markets and parties (27 April) |
| July | North Sea Jazz Festival at Ahoy (usually mid-July); Rotterdam Summer Carnival (Zomercarnaval, usually July) |
| September | World Port Days (Wereldhavendagen) — port open days and demonstrations (usually early September) |
| November | Sinterklaas arrival celebrations (usually mid-November) |
| December | New Year's Eve fireworks around the Erasmus Bridge (31 December) |
Cheapest and quietest times
Hotel prices are usually lowest in January–March and November, and the sights are quietest in January–March 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 Rotterdam?
The best time to visit Rotterdam is May to September, when terraces, quays and boat trips are at their best and days are long. July brings big festivals such as North Sea Jazz, while September has the World Port Days. Winter is grey and wet but quiet, with low prices and indoor highlights such as the Depot and the Markthal.
+When are hotel prices lowest in Rotterdam?
Usually in January–March and November. Grey, damp and windy, but museums are quiet and hotel prices low; the film festival brings energy late in the month.
+What is the rainiest month in Rotterdam?
November, with about 13 days of rain on average.
+How hot does Rotterdam get?
The warmest month, July, averages highs of 23°C (73°F) and lows of 14°C (57°F).