Best time to visit 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.
16 THINGS TO DO IN THE NETHERLANDS (MAY 01 - MAY 10)
Strawberry Season
The Netherlands have probably the best strawberries in the world!
Dutch Countryside & Windmills
Explore the scenic rural surroundings around Amsterdam: its windmill villages, fishing harbours, and local family farms
Tulip Season
These spring flowers transform the Netherlands into a large colourful carpet
Smoked Eel
Once a staple food, gerookte paling now became a delicacy and a must try
Hollandse Nieuwe Herring
Not every herring can be called Hollandse Nieuwe. Check the reason why this one gets the special name!
Red Light District
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
Football Orange Fever
The Dutch are crazy about two things: football and orange colour
Sailing and Cruising Season
The Netherlands are made for sailing! Sail the beautiful rivers and channels to admire this beautiful country
Whirling Elm Seeds
Natural confetti all around Amsterdam!
Rijksmuseum
Explore the best classic art by the masters of Dutch Golden Age
Dunes at Texel
The natural phenomenon of continuous sand drifting dunes at Texel National Park is a site for everyone to enjoy
Fierljeppen
Watch the traditional Dutch sport and try it yourself
Eastern Scheldt Lobster
The pride of Zeeland province, this lobster is like no other!
Orchids at Lauwersmeer
Lauwersmeer park is a beautiful area at any time, but when the orchids bloom it turns into magic
Birdwatching at Lauwersmeer
Lauswersmer National Park is one of the top birdwatching destinations in Europe!
Giethorn
A village without roads, which is called the Dutch Venice
61 THINGS TO DO OUT OF SELECTED DATE RANGE
Redhead Days (Roodharigendag)
out of rangeA celebration of everything about red hair and redheads
Tulp Festival (Amsterdam Tulip Festival)
out of rangeDiscover the most beautiful tulips during an amazingly bright event
Keukenhof (Garden of Europe)
out of rangeWitness seven million flowers blooming around you!
Alkmaar Cheese Market
out of rangeNo 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
out of rangeEverything is illuminated around you. This is a period of Amsterdam beautifully transforming into a city from a fairy tale
Sail Amsterdam
out of rangeOne of the rarest and most remarkable events in Amsterdam!
Magical Maastricht Christmas Market & Light Route
out of rangeThe city of Maastricht is famous for its beautiful Christmas market and holiday lights
King’s Day (Koningsdag)
out of rangeCarnival, 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
out of rangeA typical Dutch tradition with a chilly turn!
Rotterdam Carnival Zomercarnaval
unconfirmedRotterdam summer sparks with the vibrant and colourful carnival
National Tulip Day
out of rangeThere can be no excuse to miss the National Day of one of the Dutch symbols—the tulip
Dutch Carnival—Vastelaovend
out of rangeEven though Carnival is more of a southern tradition, it's being widely celebrated in Catholic provinces of the Netherlands
Open Garden Days of Amsterdam
out of rangeA unique yearly event opens the hidden gardens of Amsterdam
Amsterdam Dance Event
out of rangeOne of the biggest dancing events in Europe attracts 350,000 visitors from around the world yearly
Awakenings Festival
out of rangeSearching for a power-packed European techno event? Here you go!
The Four Days Marches Nijmegen
out of rangeThe greatest walking event in the world attracts crowds of 40,000 people to Nijmegen
Christmas Markets in the Netherlands
out of rangeThe Netherlands Christmas markets are about to impress you with the variety of festive stalls and dazzling lights
Cherry Blossom
out of rangeAmsterdam is just as good at cherry blossoms as it is at tulip festivals
North Sea Jazz Festival
out of rangeAnother biggie on European summer circuit is the North Sea Jazz Festival in the port city of Rotterdam
Deer at Zandvoort aan Zee
out of rangeVisit National Park Zuid-Kennemerland now to witness some macho behaviour of deers
Gouda by Candlelight
out of rangeThe city of Gouda is not only famous for cheese, but also for its annual Christmas candle event
Twente Ballooning
out of rangeOne of the most popular ballooning events in the Netherlands
Ice Sculpture Festival in Zwolle
out of rangeAround 250,000 kilos of ice is yearly used to turn Zwolle's city centre into a majestic winter wonderland
Rollende Keukens (Rolling Kitchens)
out of rangeEnjoy the best meals from trucks in the middle of the city
Zeeland Mussels
out of rangeZeeland is famous for two things - lobsters and mussels. Now is the time for mussels!
Bloemencorso Bollenstreek
out of rangeSpring brings lots of colors to Holland and is celebrated with the annual flower parade
Schiermonnikoog Island
out of rangeA great summer retreat spot to enjoy walks, hikes, and picnics
Mysteryland
out of rangeThe leading electronic music festival in the Netherlands
Easter Fires
out of rangeOne of the most spectacular celebrations of Easter happens in the Netherlands!
Gay Pride Canal Parade
out of rangeOne of the most colourful and fun festivals on the canals of Amsterdam
National Mill Day
out of rangeWindmills and water mills open doors for all the fans
Skûtsjesilen Championships
out of rangeThe championship of the typical Frisian ships is a highlight of the region
Valkenburg Christmas Markets
out of rangeFeel the genuine spirit of the holidays in the prime Christmas town of the Netherlands
Dauwtrappen: Kicking the Dew
out of rangeThe healthy yet odd custom fourty days after Easter
TCS Amsterdam Marathon
out of rangeA running event as a great occasion to visit the capital of Netherlands
Friese Ballonfeesten
out of rangeEnjoy one of the Netherland's biggest balloon festivals in Joure, the Balloon City
Balloon Fiesta Barneveld
out of rangeA popular summer ballooning event in the Dutch province of Gelderland
Oliebollen
out of rangeA New Year culinary habit, attractive to most foreigners
Sinterklaas Arrival Parade in Amsterdam
out of rangeMeet Dutch Santa Claus and his vigorous helpers
Amsterdam New Year's Eve (Oud en Nieuw)
out of rangeThe party capital of the Netherlands is a perfect place for a New Year bash
Sinterklaаs
out of rangeOne of the most beloved traditional characters of the Christmas season in the Netherlands
Chocoladeletters
out of rangeWe already know that Sinterklaas is the biggest holiday, but we haven't yet told you anything about these special treats!
Marathon Rotterdam
out of rangeOne of Europe's most popular running events
Cranberries at Terschelling and Vlieland
out of rangeThe island of cranberries is a true cranberry lovers destination now!
Best Kept Secret Festival
out of rangeGreat music in a unique and intimate environment
Ballonfestival Hardenberg
out of rangeThe largest balloon festival in the Overijssel region
Holland International Blues Festival
out of rangeSave the date for this unique jazz festival
Breda Jazz Festival
out of rangeA long-lasting Ascension weekend tradition, drawing hundreds of thousands to the heart of Breda
Flag Day Scheveningen
out of rangeMore of a national day it is a celebration of all things Dutch, including the "new" herring!
Oosterschelde National Park
out of rangeDo you want to see seals sunbathing? Visit Oosterschelde!
Snert
out of rangeA thick Dutch version of split pea soup is particularly good during winter
Relief of Leiden
out of rangeThe commemoration of the defeat of the Spanish siege in 1574 makes up a special celebration in Leiden
Lomanstraat Street
out of rangeDon't hesitate to visit one of the most scenic streets in the world
Pinkpop Festival
out of rangeThe oldest continuous pop festival in the Netherlands
Speculaas
out of rangeA popular Dutch Christmas treat
Venison
out of rangeWith the grand opening of hunting season, all meat lovers prepare their forks and knives!
Surfana Festival
out of rangeThe best weekend for all surf-minded people spiced up with music, food, and arts
Balloonfair Staphorst
out of rangeA relaxed balloon party in East Netherlands
Rotterdam Bluegrass Festival
out of rangeOne of the largest bluegrass events in Europe
Hutspot
out of rangeTraditionally eaten for the Relief of Leiden day, the hot stew is a nice filling dish
Winter Fun at Hoge Veluwe
out of rangeBeautiful snowy fairy tale exists!
