When to go to Amsterdam

Amsterdam is a brilliant year-round destination – in this corner of northern Europe, you’re glad to see the sun but it’s not essential to the experience. There are lots of fun festivals and events in Amsterdam throughout the year, and if you can adjust your dates to coincide with an event, whether it’s Gay Pride or the King’s Birthday, do it. Amsterdammers know how to have a good time.

Amsterdam has warm, mild summers and moderately cold and wet winters. And no matter what the weather forecast says, it’s best to pack assuming you may well experience all four seasons over the course of a few days. The climate is certainly not severe enough to make much difference to the city’s routines, which makes Amsterdam an ideal year-round destination. That said, high summer – roughly late June to August – sees the city’s parks packed to the gunnels and parts of the centre almost overwhelmed by tourists.

Spring and autumn are not too crowded and can be especially beautiful, with mist hanging over the canals and low sunlight beaming through the cloud cover. Even in January and February, when the light can be at its gloomiest, there are compensations – wet cobbles glistening under the street lights and the canals rippled by falling raindrops. You can, however, have wonderful sunny days at any time of year, and Amsterdammers always hope for long periods of bright, cold winter spells. In the summer, from around June to August, mosquitoes can be annoying – a side effect of all those canals.

Take both sunscreen and an umbrella in summer, and plan to dress in layers at any time of year. Nights can be cold, so be ready with a jumper, even in summer.