Things to do in Amsterdam in summer

The Amsterdam Open Air Weekender is one of the summer's biggest music festivals. It takes place in Gaasperpark in the south-west of the city on 3rd and 4th June 2023. The festival features stages curated by clubs from around Amsterdam, so you can experience the best of the city's electronic music scene - from techno to dubstep - all in one place.

Amsterdam's famous tulips are at their best in late winter and early spring. However in summer, there's plenty of flower power to be found just outside the city at the Aalsmeer Flower Festival (14th to 18th July 2023). The festival takes place in the town of Aalsmeer, known as the flower capital of the world, thanks to its famous flower market. The festival features all sorts of floral things to see and do around the historic town centre.

The Awakenings Festival is one of the world's biggest electronic music gatherings. The Spring Festival takes place on 13th and 14th May in the countryside around Spaarnwoude, easily reached from Amsterdam via a shuttle bus from Sloterdijk station while the Summer Festival will be held from the 7th - 9th July in Hilvarenbeek which is a 2 hour train ride south of Amsterdam. The festival will have more than 130 acts playing in impressively-designed arenas. Tickets to the festival often sell out, but if you don't manage to get one you can still experience the festival's vibe. The massive De Gashoulder club, in West Amsterdam's Westergasfabriek park is Awakenings' permanent home in the city.

End of June (28th - 30th June) another massive party takes place in the area around the city's Oosterpark. The Amsterdam Roots Festival has been bringing the best world music artists to the city for over 40 years, and has grown to become one of its biggest summer events.

The city's answer to the Edinburgh Festival, the Holland Festival (1st June - 1st July) presents some of the best art, music and theatre from around the world. For the 76th edition, the festival presents a multifaceted programme. You'll find world-leading dance, classical and contemporary music performances happening every day and site-specific artworks too.

At the edge of the city, the Amsterdamse Bos is roughly three times larger than New York's Central Park. It might have the feel of an ancient woodland, but it was actually only created in 1937. So you'll find all sorts of modern conveniences around its grounds. It's home to several cafes, a camping ground, outdoor sports facilities - including kayaking and paddle-boarding and even a spa hotel.

There's a real touch of magic to the Mystic Garden festival (17th June). This characterful one-day dance music event completely transforms the city's Sloterpark. The festival is known for its stunning setting, and fantastically costumed dancers.

Amsterdam has some pretty amazing restaurants, with 23 holding one or two Michelin Stars. You can taste some of the best of their dishes, without having to worry about reservations at the Taste of Amsterdam festival. Taking place over the weekend of 2rd - 5th June, the festival's bite-sized portions are the perfect way to get a full taste of what the city has to offer.

Every Saturday in June, July and August, the ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo stays open until sunset for its Summer Nights (Zoomeravonden) events. Each late opening offers food, music, art and talks from some of the zoo's experts.

Fancy taking a boat trip out to a private island, and tucking into a five course gourmet meal while you're there? Vuurtoreneiland (lighthouse island) is a small island in the river IJ, formerly a military base and now a UNESCO world heritage site. From May to September a pop-up restaurant opens in a large greenhouse on the island - the glass walls making it the perfect spot for admiring the scenery. Tickets for the boat trip and meal go on sale at the start of each month, and sell out quickly. So it's worth keeping an eye on the official website for the next batch, or returns.

You can find your sea-legs without leaving dry land at the NEMO Science Museum. Immediately recognisable for its ship-shaped building, the museum is full of fascinating scientific facts. But why not save those for a rainy day? When the sun's out, take the staircase leading directly from the street up to the museum's Roofsquare terrace. The highest square in the city, you'll find a restaurant, sculptures, and panoramic views of the harbour. Plus a few educational displays, if you want to learn a bit about science while you're up there.

When it's really sunny, many locals take a short trip from the city to the nearby coast for seafood, nightlife, beach clubs and the water sports of Bloomendaal and Zandvoort. However, you don't even have to leave the city to find a beach. Instead just catch a boat to the north bank of the IJ to PLLEK. One of the city's coolest bars, PLLEK is found in an old shipping container, and sits by its own artificial beach. During the summer months, it hosts all sorts of cultural events, including live music and open-air film screenings.

Another movie hotspot by the IJ is the EYE Filmmuseum. Quite possibly one of the world's best film museums, the distinctively designed riverside-building houses several exhibition spaces and a cinema. As well as a chic restaurant with views of the harbour.

And don't miss our complete guide about the best museums in Amsterdam.

The banks of the IJ are home to some of the city's best places to eat and drink.

• Hanneke's Boom is a charmingly ramshackle waterfront cafe, in the up-and-coming Eastern Docklands. Conveniently found by the Central Station, it hosts live music and DJ sets each weekend.
• Or you can catch a free boat from the station across to Tolhuistuin, an open-air events space which also serves great tapas.
• And Noorderlicht is a greenhouse-style cafe which specialises in local and seasonal produce.

The A'DAM Tower is a riverside hub for Amsterdam's creative industries. In the 22-storey building you'll find The Butcher Social Club bar and restaurant and Sir Adam - a boutique hotel with its own recording studio. The real highlight though is on its top floors. You can enjoy a drink or meal with a view at the M'ADAM bar and restaurant, or experience Europe's highest swing on the Lookout sky deck. At 100 metres above the ground, you'll see the IJ from a whole new angle as you swing over the side of the building.

Found 25km to the south of the city, Schaep en Burgh is home to a 17th century mansion. As well as what might be one of the most scenic music festivals around. Wonderfeel (21st-23rd July), is devoted to classical music, with more than 100 concerts taking place around the estate's landscaped grounds.

The city's own centre of classical music - the Concertgebouw hosts the Robeco SummerNight concert series during July and August. There's a different concert each night, ranging from traditional recitals to jazz and contemporary music. You'll also find some intriguing one-offs. The Concertgebouw's elegant Mirror Hall is also turned into a summer restaurant. You can book dinner there as a package with your concert tickets.

Devoted to diversity, Milkshake (28th-31th July) is the most open-minded dance festival in town. Co-founded by nightspots AIR and Paradiso (the heart of the Leidseplein clubbing scene), Milkshake celebrates Amsterdam's famously inclusive nature. Both LGBTQ and straight (and everyone in between) partygoers are encouraged to spend the weekend being whoever they want to be. And, with its extensive DJ line-up, drag performers and anything goes dress code, 2023's is sure to be another wild weekend.

Running from the end of July to the start of August, Amsterdam's Pride Festival is one of the world's biggest. Among the highlights are street parties (3rd-5th August), an open air cinema (2nd-3rd August) and a big closing party in the historic city centre, Dam Square (6th August). However, what makes Amsterdam's pride particularly unique is its Canal Parade (3rd-5th August), where fabulously colourful boats take to the city's waterways.

Another big show hits the canals later on in August for the Grachtenfestival. The 10-day long festival is largely focused on classical music, with free open-air performances taking place around the historic canals. In some cases the show actually takes to the water, with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra staging performances on a barge.

Amsterdam's markets are world-famous. There are over a dozen daily markets around the city, each with their own feel and specialties. On a sunny day, the Bloemenmarkt is an absolute must-see. It's the only floating flower market in the world, with stalls set on houseboats along the Singel canal. The Waterlooplein Flea Market is conveniently just by the Rembrandt House, and is the only market in town where haggling is encouraged. And if you're looking for a bit of street food to munch on, head to the Albert Cuyp Market. The biggest market in the city, the selection of dishes perfectly reflects Amsterdam's multicultural, cosmopolitan nature.

The Rijksmuseum is a must-see at any time of year. But during the summer the museum offers tours of its beautifully landscaped gardens. Meanwhile, several major exhibitions take place inside the museum's galleries this season.

Found in the heart of the city, the Vondelpark is Amsterdam's most famous park. And if you visit during the summer, you can catch the opening of the Openluchttheater. Every weekend between May and September, the large open-air theatre hosts dance performances, concerts, exhibitions and club nights, including shows from some of the country's biggest stars. All for free.

De Parade is a touring festival of free theatre and music, which travels throughout the Netherlands during the summer, ending up in Amsterdam's Martin Luther King Park in mid-August. From August 18th-September3rd, the festival features 80 different shows. And even if you don't speak Dutch, the website includes a list of shows with no language barrier.

Taking place during the last weekend in August, Mysteryland (25th-27th August) is a truly memorable way to see out the summer. One of the oldest, and biggest dance events in the world, the festival now includes all sorts of electronic music. Expect big international names, mind-blowing art exhibitions, film screenings and some truly incredible stage sets.