Best time to visit The Netherlands

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The Netherlands

Best time of year to visit The Netherlands

Mid-March to mid-May with a bit chilly weather and moderate prices is the best time to visit Netherlands. It's a period of the country coming to life: Keukenhof is bloomed with colourful tulips and the Hollandse Nieuwe Herring is the freshest. June through August boasts balm weather, fun events like Fierljeppen and tastes of Alkmaar cheese market but also shows tourist crowds and steep prices. Autumn off-peak season brings generous discounts to many hotels around the Netherlands. Winter will infatuate you with traditional Christmas treats and absence of tourist crowds at major sights. But whenever you get there, remember to pack an umbrella as the weather in the Netherlands is quite unpredictable.

20 THINGS TO DO IN THE NETHERLANDS (MAY 09 - MAY 18)

Tulp Festival (Amsterdam Tulip Festival)

Tulp Festival (Amsterdam Tulip Festival)

March 21-May 12, 2024 • event

Discover the most beautiful tulips during an amazingly bright event

Strawberry Season

Strawberry Season

March–December • food

The Netherlands have probably the best strawberries in the world!

Dutch Countryside & Windmills

Dutch Countryside & Windmills

mid-April–late October • activity

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

Tulip Season

Tulip Season

mid-March–late May • nature

These spring flowers transform the Netherlands into a large colourful carpet

Smoked Eel

Smoked Eel

March–May, September–November • food

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

Hollandse Nieuwe Herring

Hollandse Nieuwe Herring

May–July • food

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

Red Light District

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

Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum

all year round • activity

Explore the best classic art by the masters of Dutch Golden Age

Football Orange Fever

Football Orange Fever

March–November (on selected dates) • event

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

Sailing and Cruising Season

Sailing and Cruising Season

March–December • activity

The Netherlands are made for sailing! Sail the beautiful rivers and channels to admire this beautiful country

Whirling Elm Seeds

Whirling Elm Seeds

late April–late May • nature

Natural confetti all around Amsterdam!

Rollende Keukens (Rolling Kitchens)

Rollende Keukens (Rolling Kitchens)

May 8-12, 2024 • event

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

Fierljeppen

Fierljeppen

May–August • activity

Watch the traditional Dutch sport and try it yourself

Dunes at Texel

Dunes at Texel

April–November • nature

The natural phenomenon of continuous sand drifting dunes at Texel National Park is a site for everyone to enjoy

National Mill Day

National Mill Day

May 11-12, 2024 • event

Windmills and water mills open doors for all the fans

Eastern Scheldt Lobster

Eastern Scheldt Lobster

last Thursday of March–mid-July • food

The pride of Zeeland province, this lobster is like no other!

Orchids at Lauwersmeer

Orchids at Lauwersmeer

May–June • nature

Lauwersmeer park is a beautiful area at any time, but when the orchids bloom it turns into magic

Breda Jazz Festival

Breda Jazz Festival

May 9-12, 2024 • event

A long-lasting Ascension weekend tradition, drawing hundreds of thousands to the heart of Breda

Birdwatching at Lauwersmeer

Birdwatching at Lauwersmeer

March–May • activity

Lauswersmer National Park is one of the top birdwatching destinations in Europe!

Giethorn

Giethorn

mid-April–mid-October • activity

A village without roads, which is called the Dutch Venice

57 THINGS TO DO OUT OF SELECTED DATE RANGE

Redhead Days (Roodharigendag)

Redhead Days (Roodharigendag)

out of rangeAugust 23-25, 2024 • event

A celebration of everything about red hair and redheads

Keukenhof (Garden of Europe)

Keukenhof (Garden of Europe)

out of rangeMarch 23–May 14, 2023 • nature

Witness seven million flowers blooming around you!

Alkmaar Cheese Market

Alkmaar Cheese Market

out of rangeMarch 31–September 29, 2023 • 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

Amsterdam Light Festival

Amsterdam Light Festival

out of rangeNovember 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

Sail Amsterdam

Sail Amsterdam

out of rangemid-August 2025 • event

One of the rarest and most remarkable events in Amsterdam!

Magical Maastricht Christmas Market

Magical Maastricht Christmas Market

out of rangeNovember 30–December 31, 2023 • event

The city of Maastricht is famous for its beautiful Christmas market and holiday lights

King’s Day (Koningsdag)

King’s Day (Koningsdag)

out of rangeApril 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

Scheveningen New Year’s Dive—Nieuwjaarsduik

Scheveningen New Year’s Dive—Nieuwjaarsduik

out of rangeJanuary 1 • activity

A typical Dutch tradition with a chilly turn!

Rotterdam Carnival Zomercarnaval

Rotterdam Carnival Zomercarnaval

out of rangeJuly 23–27, 2024 • event

Rotterdam summer sparks with the vibrant and colorful carnival

National Tulip Day

National Tulip Day

out of rangeJanuary 18, 2025 • event

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

Dutch Carnival—Vastelaovend

Dutch Carnival—Vastelaovend

out of rangeFebruary 11–13, 2024 • event

Even though Carnival is more of a southern tradition, it's being widely celebrated in Catholic provinces of the Netherlands

Open Garden Days of Amsterdam

Open Garden Days of Amsterdam

out of rangeJune 14-16, 2024 • event

A unique yearly event opens the hidden gardens of Amsterdam

Awakenings Festival

Awakenings Festival

out of rangeJuly 5-7, 2024 • event

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

Amsterdam Dance Event

Amsterdam Dance Event

out of rangeOctober 16-20, 2024 • event

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

Christmas Markets in the Netherlands

Christmas Markets in the Netherlands

out of rangemid-November–early January • event

The Netherlands Christmas markets are about to impress you with the variety of festive stalls and dazzling lights

Cherry Blossom

Cherry Blossom

out of rangemid-March—mid-April • nature

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

The Four Days Marches Nijmegen

The Four Days Marches Nijmegen

out of rangeJuly 16-19, 2024 • event

The greatest walking event in the world attracts crowds of 40,000 people to Nijmegen

North Sea Jazz Festival

North Sea Jazz Festival

out of rangeJuly 12-14, 2024 • event

Another biggie on European summer circuit is the North Sea Jazz Festival in the port city of Rotterdam

Gouda by Candlelight

Gouda by Candlelight

out of rangeDecember 15, 2023 • event

The city of Gouda is not only famous for cheese, but also for its annual Christmas candle event

Ice Sculpture Festival in Zwolle

Ice Sculpture Festival in Zwolle

out of rangeDecember 17, 2022–March 5, 2023 • activity

Around 250,000 kilos of ice is yearly used to turn Zwolle's city centre into a majestic winter wonderland

Deer at Zandvoort aan Zee

Deer at Zandvoort aan Zee

out of rangeSeptember–October • nature

Visit National Park Zuid-Kennemerland now to witness some macho behaviour of deers

Twente Ballooning

Twente Ballooning

out of rangeAugust 23–26, 2023 • event

One of the most popular ballooning events in the Netherlands

Valkenburg Christmas Markets

Valkenburg Christmas Markets

out of rangeNovember 17, 2023–January 7, 2024 • event

Feel the genuine spirit of the holidays in the prime Christmas town of the Netherlands

Bloemencorso Bollenstreek

Bloemencorso Bollenstreek

out of rangeApril 20, 2024 • event

Spring brings lots of colors to Holland and is celebrated with the annual flower parade

Zeeland Mussels

Zeeland Mussels

out of rangeJuly–mid-April • food

Zeeland is famous for two things - lobsters and mussels. Now is the time for mussels!

Schiermonnikoog Island

Schiermonnikoog Island

out of rangeJune–August • nature

A great summer retreat spot to enjoy walks, hikes, and picnics

Mysteryland

Mysteryland

out of rangeAugust 25–27, 2023 • event

The leading electronic music festival in the Netherlands

Easter Fires

Easter Fires

out of rangeMarch 31, 2024 • event

One of the most spectacular celebrations of Easter happens in the Netherlands!

Gay Pride Canal Parade

Gay Pride Canal Parade

out of rangeAugust 3, 2024 • event

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

Skûtsjesilen Championships

Skûtsjesilen Championships

out of rangeAugust 3-16, 2024 • event

The championship of the typical Frisian ships is a highlight of the region

Friese Ballonfeesten

Friese Ballonfeesten

out of rangeJuly 26–30, 2023 • event

Enjoy one of the Netherland's biggest balloon festivals in Joure, the Balloon City

Dauwtrappen: Kicking the Dew

Dauwtrappen: Kicking the Dew

out of rangeMay 25 • activity

The healthy yet odd custom fourty days after Easter

TCS Amsterdam Marathon

TCS Amsterdam Marathon

out of rangeOctober 20, 2024 • event

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

Balloon Fiesta Barneveld

Balloon Fiesta Barneveld

out of rangeAugust 16–19, 2023 • event

A popular summer ballooning event in the Dutch province of Gelderland

Oliebollen

Oliebollen

out of rangeDecember 30–31 • food

A New Year culinary habit, attractive to most foreigners

Sinterklaas Arrival Parade in Amsterdam

Sinterklaas Arrival Parade in Amsterdam

out of rangeNovember 19, 2023 • event

Meet Dutch Santa Claus and his vigorous helpers

Amsterdam New Year's Eve  (Oud en Nieuw)

Amsterdam New Year's Eve (Oud en Nieuw)

out of rangeDecember 31 • event

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

Marathon Rotterdam

Marathon Rotterdam

out of rangeApril 13-14, 2024 • event

One of Europe's most popular running events

Sinterklaаs

Sinterklaаs

out of rangeNovember 13–December 5, 2022 • event

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

Chocoladeletters

Chocoladeletters

out of rangeDecember 4 • food

We already know that Sinterklaas is the biggest holiday, but we haven't yet told you anything about these special treats!

Holland International Blues Festival

Holland International Blues Festival

out of rangeJune 14–15, 2024 • event

Save the date for this unique jazz festival

Cranberries at Terschelling and Vlieland

Cranberries at Terschelling and Vlieland

out of rangemid-October–November • food

The island of cranberries is a true cranberry lovers destination now!

Best Kept Secret Festival

Best Kept Secret Festival

out of rangeJune 7-9, 2024 • event

Great music in a unique and intimate environment

Ballonfestival Hardenberg

Ballonfestival Hardenberg

out of rangeJune 22–24, 2023 • event

The largest balloon festival in the Overijssel region

Flag Day Scheveningen

Flag Day Scheveningen

out of rangeJune 13 • event

More of a national day it is a celebration of all things Dutch, including the "new" herring!

Oosterschelde National Park

Oosterschelde National Park

out of rangeJune–August • nature

Do you want to see seals sunbathing? Visit Oosterschelde!

Lomanstraat Street

Lomanstraat Street

out of rangelate September - early November • nature

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

Snert

Snert

out of rangeDecember–February • food

A thick Dutch version of split pea soup is particularly good during winter

Relief of Leiden

Relief of Leiden

out of rangeOctober 2–3 • event

The commemoration of the defeat of the Spanish siege in 1574 makes up a special celebration in Leiden

Pinkpop Festival

Pinkpop Festival

out of rangeJune 21-23, 2024 • event

The oldest continuous pop festival in the Netherlands

Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival

Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival

out of rangeJune 28–30, 2024 • event

One of the largest bluegrass events in Europe

Speculaas

Speculaas

out of rangeearly December • food

A popular Dutch Christmas treat

Venison

Venison

out of rangemid-October • food

With the grand​ opening of hunting season, all meat lovers prepare their forks and knives!

Surfana Festival

Surfana Festival

out of rangeSeptember 6-8, 2024 • event

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

Balloonfair Staphorst

Balloonfair Staphorst

out of rangeJuly 6–7, 2023 • event

A relaxed balloon party in East Netherlands

Hutspot

Hutspot

out of rangeOctober 3 • food

Traditionally eaten for the Relief of Leiden day, the hot stew is a nice filling dish

Winter Fun at Hoge Veluwe

Winter Fun at Hoge Veluwe

out of rangemid-December–January • activity

Beautiful snowy fairy tale exists!

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