When to go to Amsterdam

All those songs have it right. Spring is a great time to be in Amsterdam. Bright flowers break out of grassy traffic islands, and the brick façades look their best in gentle sunlight. In summer, the canals throng with life and café tables spill outdoors – though its not always that warm (often only around 15ºC, though it can get up to the mid to high 20s), and it can be wet (in recent years there have been monsoon-like downpours throughout July and August).

All that canal water means that Amsterdam can get humid in hot weather – and (unexpectedly for many visitors) mosquitoes are a pest. September often sees a lingering summer, when it is still warm enough to sit outdoors. The autumn is a good time for brisk canal walks and gable-spotting, as long lines of canal houses reappear from behind summer foliage. January and February bring an icy blast – though are an ideal time for snuggling down in a cosy café as wind whips through the alleys outside. And rain comes right through the year, sometimes for days at a stretch – so pack that umbrella.

For more information on the climate, please visit the Amsterdam Weather page