Amsterdam in Spring — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
Amsterdam in Spring offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for tulip season, koningsdag & culture seekers. Expect temperatures of 6–14°C, around 9–10 days of rain, and medium crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around €110–170 for mid-range travellers. Book three to four weeks ahead for the best mid-range rates and the widest hotel choice.
Contents16 sections
#At a Glance
Spring in Amsterdam runs from March to May, and it is the season the city is sold on. The bulb fields south of the city flower from mid-March to mid-May, the terraces return along the canals, and the evenings stretch so fast that a late-May day feels twice as long as an early-March one. It is also when the city throws its biggest party, King's Day, and remembers its liberation in early May. Expect changeable weather throughout, and crowds and prices that rise with the tulips.
#Weather in Amsterdam in Spring
Amsterdam in Spring averages 6–14°C (43–57°F), ranging 3–18°C across the season, with around 9–10 days of rain, and crowds are medium.
| Month | Daytime high | Overnight low | Wet days | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| March | About 10°C / 50°F | About 3°C / 37°F | About 10 | 6:19pm on the 1st, after 8pm once the clocks change |
| April | About 14°C / 57°F | About 5°C / 41°F | About 9 | 9:04pm by the 30th |
| May | About 18°C / 64°F | About 9°C / 48°F | About 9 | 9:51pm by the 31st |
Figures are KNMI 1991–2020 normals for Amsterdam Schiphol.
What that actually means for your trip:
- The season changes fast. March is still cold in the wind; May can bring the first warm terrace evenings of the year.
- The rain barely moves. Amsterdam's driest and wettest months differ by only a few wet days, so there is no dry window to wait for; showers come and go all season.
- The wind matters more than the thermometer. A still 10°C afternoon and a blowy one are different days, especially on a bike.
- The light is the reward. The clocks go forward on Sunday 28 March 2027, and by late May it is light until nearly 10pm.
Is spring a good time to visit Amsterdam? Yes, and April is its peak, with the tulips, King's Day and long evenings. The trade-off is crowds and prices: the bulb season and the May holidays fill the city's hotels, and the museums sell out their timed slots. March is quieter and cheaper; May is warmer and greener, with the tulips mostly over by the middle of the month.
#Which spring month to choose
March is early spring.
Keukenhof, the bulb garden at Lisse, opens on Thursday 18 March 2027 and runs until Sunday 9 May; in March the crocuses and daffodils lead.
Easter falls on 28 March, the same day the clocks change, and Easter Monday is a public holiday.
April is the tulip month: the fields and Keukenhof usually peak from about mid-April.
King's Day, Tuesday 27 April 2027, turns the city orange, with a street market across every neighbourhood, music on the squares and boats packed on the canals, after King's Night on the 26th. See our King's Day guide.
May is green and warmer.
On 4 May, the country falls silent for two minutes at 8pm on Remembrance Day, and on 5 May, Liberation Day, festivals celebrate the end of the occupation.
Ascension Day, 6 May, and Whit Monday, 17 May, are public holidays, and the national windmill days usually open mills across the country on the second weekend of the month.
#What to Do in Amsterdam in Spring
Solo Travellers
Book a morning at the Van Gogh Museum, cycle the Vondelpark and along the Amstel, and take the train to Haarlem for the Frans Hals Museum.
The Hortus Botanicus is lovely in spring growth.
Couples
Take a small open boat on the canals in the last hour of light in May, ride out to the bulb fields by bike in April, and sit on a terrace in the Jordaan as the evenings lengthen.
Families
Artis zoo in spring, NEMO's rooftop terrace on a sunny day, and the Amsterdamse Bos, with its goat farm and rowing lake, suit spring weather. On King's Day, children sell toys and play music at the street market.
Groups
King's Day is the big party: wear orange, join the street market and the canal boats, and expect a crowd.
Liberation Day festivals on 5 May are free and lively.
#Getting Around
Frequent trains link Schiphol with Amsterdam Centraal in 15 to 20 minutes, and your contactless bank card or phone is the ticket, on the trains and on the city's trams, buses and metro; the IJ ferries are free.
For Keukenhof, special buses run from Europaplein, beside Amsterdam RAI station, and from Leiden Centraal while the garden is open.
Spring is the season for cycling, though the wind can be hard work. The city's canal ring is walkable from end to end in under an hour.
#Budget & Costs
| Travel style | Per day | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | €100–160 | Hostel or simple hotel, café meals, trams |
| Mid-range | €230–370 | Canal-ring hotel, a museum, restaurant dinner |
| Luxury | €550+ | Top hotel, tasting menu, private boat |
Prices rise through the season, peaking in April with the tulips and King's Day and staying high into May. March is the best-value spring month.
Costs worth knowing:
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Tourist tax | 12.5% of the room price in 2026; the 2027 rate follows the city budget |
| Keukenhof | Timed tickets, sold online |
| Bulb fields | Free to look at |
| King's Day street market | Free, with bargains |
| Major museum entry | About €20–25 |
- Book hotels early for April and King's Day.
- Reserve museum slots before you travel.
- Stay midweek for better rates in April.
#Food & Dining
Spring brings asparagus, the white Dutch asperges, served from April with ham, egg and butter, and the first herring is still weeks away, in June. Terraces open from the first warm days, often with blankets and heaters in March and April.
Book restaurants for weekends from April, and especially over King's Day and the May holidays.
#Nightlife
Terraces fill on any dry evening once the clocks change, and King's Night, the eve of King's Day, brings parties and concerts across the city.
Paradiso and Melkweg run full programmes, and the bars of De Pijp and the Jordaan spill outside by May.
#Shopping
Spring collections arrive in the Nine Streets and on Kalverstraat. On King's Day, the whole city becomes a vrijmarkt, a free market where anyone can sell, for second-hand bargains.
The Bloemenmarkt sells bulbs, but check your country's import rules before buying.
#Culture & Etiquette
- Wear orange on King's Day; everyone else will.
- Keep silent at 8pm on 4 May for the two-minute Remembrance silence, wherever you are.
- Respect the bulb fields: look from the road, never walk between the rows.
- Keep off the cycle paths on foot.
#Essential Local Phrases
| Dutch | Meaning | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Fijne Koningsdag | Happy King's Day | On 27 April |
| Hoeveel kost dit? | How much is this? | At the King's Day market |
| Een terrasje pakken | To sit out on a terrace | The first sunny afternoon |
| Asperges | White asparagus | On spring menus |
| Lekker weertje | Lovely weather | When the sun comes out |
| Dank je wel | Thank you | Everywhere |
#Packing List
- A waterproof, windproof jacket
- Layers for days that swing from cool to mild
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Something orange for King's Day
- Sunglasses and sunscreen for May
- A contactless bank card for transport
- A small bag for market finds
#Backup Plans (Rainy Days)
If it rains: spend the day at the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk, or the Wereldmuseum, formerly the Tropenmuseum, in the east.
If Keukenhof is crowded: cycle or drive the bulb fields instead, which are free to look at from the roads.
If King's Day is too much: escape to the Amsterdamse Bos or take a train to Haarlem, where the party is smaller.
#Safety & Health
Busy bike lanes and tram rails are the main hazards; look both ways before crossing. On King's Day and King's Night, the crowds are huge and pickpockets work them, so keep valuables close and agree a meeting point. Hay fever season starts with the spring pollen.
Emergency: 112.
#What's New for Spring 2027
- Keukenhof opens from 18 March to 9 May 2027
- King's Day falls on Tuesday 27 April 2027, with King's Night on the 26th
- Easter and the clock change both fall on Sunday 28 March
- Remembrance and Liberation Days are on 4 and 5 May
- The tourist tax is 12.5% in 2026, and the 2027 rate is set in the city's budget
#About This Guide
By Harry Nara (founder of WhenToWander), updated October 2026 for spring 2027. Climate figures are KNMI 1991–2020 normals for Amsterdam Schiphol. Dates and prices verified against:
- Keukenhof for the 2027 season
- Gemeente Amsterdam for King's Day 2027
- Anne Frank House for timed tickets
- NS for trains to Haarlem and Leiden
- KNMI for climate normals
For each month in detail, see Amsterdam in March, Amsterdam in April and Amsterdam in May.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to visit Amsterdam in spring?
Mid to late April, for the tulips and King’s Day on 27 April 2027, if you can accept the crowds and prices. March is quieter and cheaper, with Keukenhof open from 18 March; May is warmer and greener, with the tulips mostly over by mid-month.
Is spring a good time to visit Amsterdam?
Yes, it is the city’s favourite season, with the bulb fields, terraces and long evenings. The weather stays changeable, with nine or ten wet days a month, and April is busy and expensive, so book hotels and museum slots early.
What is King’s Day and should I plan around it?
King’s Day is the king’s birthday, on Tuesday 27 April 2027, when the whole city turns orange with a street market, music and boats on the canals, after King’s Night on the 26th. Join the party or avoid it, but do not plan museums or easy travel in the centre that day.
How much does a spring trip to Amsterdam cost?
Prices rise through the season and peak in April. Allow about €100–160 a day on a budget and €230–370 mid-range, plus the tourist tax, 12.5% of the room rate in 2026. Book King’s Day and April weekends early.
What’s the weather like in Amsterdam in Spring?
Amsterdam in Spring typically sees temperatures of 6–14°C with around 9–10 days of rain across the period. Pack lightweight layers that suit both cooler mornings and warmer afternoons.