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Best time to visit

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Dutch capital is great all year round, but April to May and September to November are the best time to visit Amsterdam. Just imagine balmy weather during canal cruising or a trip to the tulip fields of Keukenhof in spring! The city sees a surge of visitors from June to August so book your dwelling in advance to enjoy your Hollandse Nieuwe Herring without remorse. Autumn in Amsterdam demands more layers as the weather is often unpredictable from September through November, but worth walking through unforgettable windmills in the Dutch countryside. Winters in Amsterdam are cruel but try to look on the bright side: unbelievable airfare deals, cheap accommodation, and tasty snert to try.

38 things to do in Amsterdam

Summer

June, July, August Weather

Rainy and warm season can still bring some surprizes

Dutch Countryside & Windmills

mid-April–late October Activity

Explore the scenic rural surroundings around Amsterdam: its windmill villages, fishing harbours, and local family farms

Amsterdam Nightlife

all year round (except New Year's Eve) Activity

Feel the vibes of Dutch nightlife in dozens of nightclubs with a single ticket

Van Gogh Museum

all year round Activity

Discover hundreds of paintings, drawings, and personal letters of world-famous Dutch artist

Red Light District

April–June | September–November (all year round) Activity

Marijuana, prostitutes, erotic shops, and even theatres—the place is able to satisfy any unspoken desires or mere curiosity. And though most think so, the district is not only about sex and stuff

Canal Cruising

all year round Activity

The city of Amsterdam looks particularly beautiful when viewed from a boat

Awakenings Festival

July 5–7, 2024 Event

Searching for a power-packed European techno event? Here you go!

King’s Day (Koningsdag)

April 27 Event

Carnival, dancing, singing and as much fun as you can ever imagine take place on the King's day (Dutch: Koningsdag), known before 2013 as Queensday, throughout the Netherlands

Hollandse Nieuwe Herring

May–July Food

Not every herring can be called Hollandse Nieuwe. Check the reason why this one gets the special name!

Alkmaar Cheese Market

March 29–September 27, 2024 (on every Friday and additional on Tuesday in July and August) Activity

No country is as famous with its cheese as the Netherlands is! Don't miss your chance to try out all the different cheeses available regionally in one place now

Rollende Keukens (Rolling Kitchens)

May 28-June 1, 2025 Event

Enjoy the best meals from trucks in the middle of the city

Keukenhof (Garden of Europe)

March 23–May 14, 2023 Nature

Witness seven million flowers blooming around you!

Open Garden Days of Amsterdam

June 14-16, 2024 Event

A unique yearly event opens the hidden gardens of Amsterdam

Football Orange Fever

March–November (on selected dates) Event

The Dutch are crazy about two things: football and orange colour

Gay Pride Canal Parade

August 3, 2024 Event

One of the most colourful and fun festivals on the canals of Amsterdam

Sinterklaаs

November 17, 2024 Event

One of the most beloved traditional characters of the Christmas season in the Netherlands

Strawberry Season

March–December Food

The Netherlands have probably the best strawberries in the world!

Amsterdam Dance Event

October 16-20, 2024 Event

One of the biggest dancing events in Europe attracts 350,000 visitors from around the world yearly

Sail Amsterdam

mid-August 2025 Event

One of the rarest and most remarkable events in Amsterdam!

Amsterdam Light Festival

November 28, 2024-January 19, 2025 Event

Everything is illuminated around you. This is a period of Amsterdam beautifully transforming​ into a city from a fairy tale

Smoked Eel

March–May, September–November Food

Once a staple food, gerookte paling now became a delicacy and a must try

National Tulip Day

January 18, 2025 Event

There can be no excuse to miss the National Day of one of the Dutch symbols—the tulip

Oliebollen

December 30–31 Food

A New Year culinary habit, attractive to most foreigners

Tulp Festival (Amsterdam Tulip Festival)

March 20-May 11, 2025 Event

Discover the most beautiful tulips during an amazingly bright event

TCS Amsterdam Marathon

October 20, 2024 Event

A running event as a great occasion to visit the capital of Netherlands

Christmas Markets in Amsterdam

December Event

Enjoy a festive atmosphere with hot chocolate and ice skating in the city center

Chinese New Year

January 29, 2025 Event

A vibrant celebration with lots of delicious food

Mysteryland

August 30-September 1, 2024 Event

The leading electronic music festival in the Netherlands

Surfana Festival

September 6-8, 2024 Event

The best weekend for all surf-minded people spiced up with music, food, and arts

Sinterklaas Arrival Parade in Amsterdam

November 17, 2024 Event

Meet Dutch Santa Claus and his vigorous helpers

Amsterdam New Year's Eve (Oud en Nieuw)

December 31 Event

The party capital of the Netherlands is a perfect place for a New Year bash

St. Patrick's Day

March 14–17, 2024 Event

The Dutch way of celebrating St. Patrick's Day

Balloon Fiesta Barneveld

August 21–24, 2024 Event

A popular summer ballooning event in the Dutch province of Gelderland

Cherry Blossom

mid-March—mid-April Nature

Amsterdam is just as good at cherry blossoms as it is at tulip festivals

Amsterdam Coffee Festival

April 3-5, 2025 Event

Find out about coffee lifestyle at this event

Lomanstraat Street

late September - early November Nature

Don't hesitate to visit one of the most scenic streets in the world

Amsterdam Wine Festival

April 18–21, 2024 | September 26–29, 2024 Event

Blending tradition and novelty, the festival celebrates timeless flavors of wine

Amsterdam Music Festival

October 19, 2024 Event

Dance till dawn with the biggest names in electronic music at the Amsterdam Music Festival

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