Month guide · Rotterdam · Netherlands
Rotterdam in May
What May is really like in Rotterdam: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: GraphyArchy, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
May is one of the best months to visit Rotterdam. Expect average highs of 18°C (64°F), lows of 8°C (46°F), about 9 rainy days and roughly 15.6 hours of daylight. Mild and often sunny, good for walking and cycling; Kinderdijk and the waterbus are at their best.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 18°C (64°F) / 8°C (46°F)
- Rainy days
- About 9
- Daylight
- About 15.6 hours
- Sea temperature
- 11°C (52°F)
- Crowds
- Moderate
- Hotel prices
- Average
Weather in May
May is the 5th-warmest month in Rotterdam: days average 18°C (64°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 21°C (70°F).
- Sunrise (15 May)
- About 05:48
- Sunset (15 May)
- About 21:28
- Daylight
- About 15.6 hours
- Sea
- 11°C (52°F)
Spring (March–May). Lengthening days, King's Day celebrations and the marathon, with tulip fields within a short trip.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, May rates 3 for crowds (the peak is June at 4) and 3 for hotel prices (highest in June). Prices sit in the middle of the year's range.
Events in May
May has no major recurring festival in Rotterdam, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in May
Mild, settled days suit walking, viewpoints and time outdoors.
Experience · Centrum
Harbour boat tour
Sit on the open upper deck in good weather, with a windproof layer.
- Time needed
- 1.5 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Views
- Iconic
Museum · Katendrecht
Fenix
In a restored 1920s harbour warehouse on Katendrecht, Fenix is a museum about migration, opened in 2025, telling stories of people who left from and arrived in Rotterdam.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- History
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
Waterfront · Kop van Zuid and Wilhelminapier
Wilhelminapier and Hotel New York
Take the water taxi from the Hotel New York pier for a quick ride across the river.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Views
- History
- Couples
Zoo · Blijdorp
Diergaarde Blijdorp
Rotterdam's zoo, in the Blijdorp district north of Centraal station, is arranged by continent, with the Oceanium aquarium of sharks and rays, Asian elephants and an Amazonica rainforest hall, on a site laid out around 1940 to designs by architect Sybold van Ravesteyn.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Nature
- Outdoors
What to pack
For highs near 18°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 Rotterdam?
One of the best months to visit Rotterdam. The other best months are June–September. Compare every month.
Rotterdam in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is May a good time to visit Rotterdam?
It is one of the best months to visit Rotterdam. Mild and often sunny, good for walking and cycling; Kinderdijk and the waterbus are at their best.
+How warm is Rotterdam in May?
Average highs are around 18°C (64°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Rotterdam in May?
Expect rain on about 9 days of the month.