Best Time to Visit The Netherlands

Amsterdam sets the tone

Our site covers Amsterdam, so that's where the advice below comes from. The Dutch climate is mild and fairly even across the country, so it works well for Rotterdam, Utrecht or The Hague too. The coast is windier and a little cooler than inland.

June and September are the best months. Days are long and pleasant, and you can sit outside on a café terrace along the Prinsengracht canal without melting or shivering. September is calmer than June, and the summer crowds have thinned out.

Summer, and why it isn't perfect

July is the hottest month, at 21°C. That's warm, not scorching, and most Dutch homes and trams have no air conditioning, so a rare hot day can feel stuffy. August is the wettest month, with 83 mm. Showers tend to pass quickly, so a rain jacket and a plan to duck into the Rijksmuseum or the Van Gogh Museum will save the day.

Summer is high season. Dutch school holidays roll through the country in staggered regions from July into August, and the canal belt and museum queues get busy. Travelling with kids? The beach at Zandvoort, a short train ride from Amsterdam, is a good break from the city.

Spring, autumn and winter

Spring is the other big draw. Tulips bloom at Keukenhof gardens, usually from late March to mid-May, and the bulb fields around Lisse are at their best in April. Expect crowds in both places. King's Day on 27 April turns Amsterdam into a giant orange street party, and hotels fill up fast. If you hate crowds, avoid that date. If you love a party, it's the best day of the year.

Autumn is quiet and cosy. Brown cafés, the traditional Dutch pubs, glow in the evenings, and the museums are easier to walk around.

Winter is low season. It's cold, grey and damp, but prices ease and the city feels local. December brings Christmas markets and the Amsterdam Light Festival, when artworks light up the canals. If you're lucky and the canals freeze, locals head out on skates. It doesn't happen every year.