Best time to visit Amsterdam
Find out when to visit Amsterdam for a great experience
Our first answer to the question of what is the best time to visit Amsterdam is always going to be anytime. Amsterdam is a major city, full of culture, attractions and beauty, so be confident that a visit to Amsterdam at anytime of the year will offer you an amazing experience.
However, that is not why you are here, so lets look at some of the times of year when a visit to Amsterdam will offer you a little more.
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Spring in Amsterdam – Tulip Season
Is Spring the best time to visit Amsterdam?
Amsterdam is world renowned for its link to tulips. The tulip fields are iconic and millions of visitors every year time their Amsterdam visit to coincide with the explosion of colour and scent.
Tulip season officially starts with National Tulip Day, this falls around mid January each year. If you are there in the dead of winter, a National Tulip Day with a sudden temporary display of 200,000 tulips can really lift the spirits. However, for the real riot of colour, tulip season is a Spring event. The tulip season runs from March through to May. Throughout this season there are lots of celebratory events running like the Tulip Festival and Flower Parade.
If you are coming for the fields of tulips then mid-April to early May is the best time to come to Amsterdam. This will give you the best chance of seeing the farmers fields full of colour, which is quite a sight. Keukenhof Gardens opens in March too and they stagger their planting, so you will always be able to see tulips whatever time you come in Spring. As Spring is such a lovely season, coming to Amsterdam in Spring will (fingers crossed) give you good weather and plenty of visual treats.
Learn all about the Tulips in Amsterdam on our dedicated page and book tickets for Keukenhof Gardens.
King’s Day
King’s Day falls in Spring. This is a celebration of King Willem-Alexander’s birthday which is on 27 April. Amsterdam celebrates in style with revellers flooding the streets in orange and partying. All sorts of parties fill the city with noise and joy. This can be quite an experience for the visitor, so if you are going to be in Amsterdam during King’s Day, then be sure to pack some orange clothes to wear and become part of the day. Timing your trip for the tranquility of the flowers and the raucous party of King’s Day offers you a wonderful contrast of Amsterdam.
Festival Season
Spring sees festival season get underway, with plenty of open-air free events to attend too. Vondelpark has an open-air theatre running entertainment Fridays, Saturday and Sundays until the end of Summer. On 5 May Liberation Day is celebrated as the Nation pauses for remembrance. Various freedom events happen on this day including a concert on the Amstel.
As a major city, Amsterdam offers something for everyone no matter the weather or the season.
Summer in Amsterdam
Is summer the best time to visit Amsterdam?
Cities are often escaped from in the summer, not headed to, but Amsterdam really comes alive in the summer months. Firstly the weather improves and the Dutch weather can be a bit unpredicatable. Going to Rome in the summer for example, can sometimes be just too hot to cope with and enjoy. Amsterdam is different. The average temperature from June through to August is 20-22º. This is a lovely temperature to explore and enjoy a city without feeling exhausted by the sun.
Once in Amsterdam you’ll discover that the people really make the most of the good weather. Street food festivals run throughout the summer, so you can be sure to experience great food on your travels. Other festivals like Pride Amsterdam take place in late July/early August and fill the streets with rainbow colours, film screenings, dance parties, exhibitions and much more.
Free open-air Theatres
Open air theatres run in the summer. Vondelpark hosts events every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May right through to September. If you like movies and the great outdoors then from July through to September various iconic locations host outdoor cinema evenings with classic and new films on show in breathtaking environments.
Amsterdam loves drinking and eating outdoors. So when the sun shines, cafes and restaurants flood the outside with seating. Sitting by the canals with a coffee or cooling ice cream is one of the nicest things to do in Amsterdam. With any covid worries it is a safer way to enjoy your dining too.
Bikes and canals in Amsterdam
Riding in Amsterdam anytime of the year is lovely, but there is nothing quite like a summer ride with the wind in your hair and sun on your skin. You can ride to the forests or parks and have a picnic, or even ride to the windmills of Zaanse Schans (if your feeling fit). Exploring the city on a bike in the sunshine is sure to create great memories.
The canals in Amsterdam are an attraction in their own right and what could be nicer than boating down the canals in the sunshine. You can leisurely explore on the water taking your time, perhaps using the hop on hop off Amsterdam tickets. You can even rent your own boat for a romantic evening row together.
Amsterdam Beaches, Museums and Zoo
Dont forget the beaches. Yes Amsterdam has beaches. Some surround the lakes like Sloterpas, while if you fancied a day out at the beach then just a 30 minute train ride away are the beach resorts of Bloemendal aan Zee and Zandvoort aan Zee. These are big sandy beaches perfect for sunbathing, watersports and entertaining the kids.
Artis Amsterdam Royal Zoo will keep everyone entertained in the day, but during the summer they also open in the evenings too. Their summer night events run every Saturday in June, July and August and allow you to enjoy a show and explore at dusk which is an amazing experience.
All of this without mentioning the museums. On a hot summers day there are not many nicer things to do than pop into a cool museum for a few hours and enjoy the art. The museums on Museumplein are close to Vondelpark so you can picnic in the park before moving from Rijksmuseum to Van Gogh Museum.
You can see that Amsterdam comes alive in Summer. There is so much to see and do and with the weather at its best, but not oppressively so, you’ll find Amsterdam is a joy to visit in the summer months.
With everything that is going on in summer, it would be a good idea to consider the I Amsterdam City Card to help you get around on public transport and for free access to a multitude of attractions. One less thing to think about.
Autumn in Amsterdam
Is Autumn the best time to visit Amsterdam?
Autumn is a dream time for photographers and artists to visit Amsterdam. The city is lined with thousands of trees and when Autumn comes, their leaves turn golden yellow, red and orange making for spectacular scenic images. Walking through Amsterdam in the Autumn is a beautiful experience. The canals reflect the tree colours and the whole place feels…well golden. You can understand why the painters were so inspired here.
If you are more energetic then the ADE is for you. This is the Amsterdam Dance Event, turning Amsterdam into the capital of dance for 5-days. You’ll find plenty of places to party and dance the night away plus pop-up events, classes and talks.
Night Museums, Film Festivals and comfort food
In November, the museums open at night with special events to attend. You’ll need to ask your hotel for help with tickets though.
Autumn is film festival season in Amsterdam, so if you love movies then going to Amsterdam in the Autumn is a good choice.
Obviously, the weather is changing and you’ll need to wrap up warm for those lovely walks by the canals, you’ll also appreciate the brown cafes more with their snug interiors and warm comfort food keeping you energised for the day ahead.
Winter in Amsterdam
Is winter the best time to visit Amsterdam?
Winter is one of the most beautiful and peaceful times to visit Amsterdam. You won’t find the tourist hustle and bustle at any venues and walking around the city is a joy. Winter also has many other gifts to give this beautiful city.
Ice skating in Amsterdam
When it gets very, very cold the canals will freeze over. The authorities will actually block off canals so that the ice can form safely and thick enough and then ice skating is allowed. There cannot be many more beautiful and natural places to ice skate in any city. If you are lucky enough to be there and see the canals frozen, then if you can, you simply must have a skate to tick off that bucket list item.
Amsterdam Light Festival
During the cold, darker winter days and nights, Amsterdam does not retreat but rather it sends out light. Its light festival runs from November to January and lights up streets, landmarks and canals. One of the best ways to view this spectacular display is by boat but walking the city with dazzling lights twinkling around every corner is a fabulous experience.
Christmas and New Year in Amsterdam
Winter means Christmas in Amsterdam and Sinterklaas. The Dutch Father Christmas comes out rather early. He also is more than happy in the limelight. Around mid November the Sinterklaas Parade takes place, often attracting half a million spectators. Sinterklass will sail into the city on a parade of floats and boats.
Christmas pop-up markets will also fill the streets in Winter, offering you different products and food and drink in different locations at different times. Amsterdam likes to be different.
New Years Eve is a great time to be in Amsterdam, with an incredible array of parties to choose from. The city is lit by fireworks and the whole place comes alive to celebrate the start of a new year.
Romantic Amsterdam
Near the end of winter, Valentines Day will bring plenty of couples to the city for a magical romantic break. Here you can find diamonds, iconic locations and beautiful romantic restaurants to make your time together precious. We have a page dedicated to Romantic breaks in Amsterdam.
Snowy scenes
Finally, there is the snow, when it falls. If you are in Amsterdam when it snows you are lucky. You’ll enjoy walking street scenes that could be plucked from any novel, snow clinging to posts, bridges and crunching underfoot. The beauty of the city is only enhanced when encased in a coat of sparkling icy white and you’ll find yourself falling in love with it all over again. And when your too cold just drop in and enjoy the hearty Dutch comfort food and company. Perfect.
So, is there a best time to visit Amsterdam
Hopefully you can now see that when to visit Amsterdam is not really that critical. There is something special about this city all year round. This is why visitors come back time and time again.
For your first visit perhaps Spring will appeal most, so you can enjoy the flowers and festivals, but once you have been and seen how much there is to do and see, you’ll want to come back at a different time to see and experience Amsterdam in a different light.
That is the real beauty of Amsterdam, it is a city for all seasons. To help you plane. you can check out the weather in Amsterdam on our page too.
We also have a page all about the best things to do in Amsterdam which will help you plan what else to do whilst you are here.
