Amsterdam has a temperate maritime climate with mild summers, cool winters, and frequent rainfall year-round. Temperatures range from about 3°C in January to 18°C in July and August. The weather is famously changeable, so it’s wise to pack for both sunshine and showers, no matter when you visit this vibrant canal city.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Amsterdam’s climate is shaped by its proximity to the North Sea, resulting in mild, damp winters and pleasantly cool summers. Winters (December–February) are chilly, with average highs around 5°C and lows near 1°C. Snow is rare but possible, and rain or drizzle is common. Days are short, with only 2–3 hours of sunshine, and brisk winds make it feel colder.
Spring (March–May) brings gradually warmer weather, with temperatures rising from 8°C in March to 17°C by late May. Tulip season peaks in April, when parks and gardens burst into colour. Summers (June–August) are mild, with highs of 19–22°C and occasional hot spells above 25°C. Nights stay cool, and rain showers remain frequent, but daylight stretches up to 16–17 hours in June. Autumn (September–November) sees temperatures drop from 18°C in September to 7°C by November, with increased rainfall and wind. Sunshine is most abundant from May to August, though even then, clouds and rain are never far away. The North Sea keeps the climate humid (70–90%) and breezy, especially in autumn and winter, with average wind speeds of 15–20 km/h.
| Average climate data for Amsterdam, Netherlands | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 5 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 22 | 18 | 15 | 9 | 7 | 22 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 2 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 46 | 43 | 37 | 18 | 30 | 43 | 52 | 55 | 45 | 45 | 42 | 55 | 511 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 16 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 190 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 15 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 54 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 84 | 81 | 78 | 75 | 77 | 77 | 76 | 76 | 80 | 82 | 84 | 85 | 80 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 20 | 19 | 17 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 16 |
| Average water temperature (°C) | 6 | 6 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 12 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 62 | 60 | 52 | 40 | 44 | 43 | 41 | 39 | 46 | 53 | 58 | 65 | 50 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit Amsterdam is from mid-April to mid-September. During these months, the weather is mildest, with highs of 16–22°C, blooming flowers, and long daylight hours for sightseeing. May and June offer the most sunshine and pleasant temperatures, while July and August are warmest, though occasional rain showers are still common.
The least favourable time to visit is from November to February. These months are cold, damp, and windy, with highs of 4–7°C, frequent rain, short daylight hours, and occasional snow or frost. Outdoor activities can be less enjoyable, but the city’s museums and cosy cafés offer shelter from the weather.
Amsterdam’s average temperatures range from about 3°C in January to 18°C in July and August. Winters are chilly but rarely severe, while summers are mild and pleasant, with only occasional hot spells.
Yes, Amsterdam experiences frequent rainfall year-round. Showers can occur in any season, though April and May are usually the driest months. Always carry a rain jacket or umbrella, as weather changes quickly.
Tulip season peaks in April, when gardens and parks across the city and at Keukenhof are in full bloom. Late March to early May is the best period for flower lovers to visit.
Amsterdam is often breezy, especially in autumn and winter, with average wind speeds of 15–20 km/h. Winds from the North Sea can make temperatures feel colder, so dress accordingly.
Snow is rare but possible, mostly in December to February. When it does snow, it’s usually light and melts quickly, though it can create picturesque scenes along the canals.
Amsterdam receives about 1,600–1,800 hours of sunshine annually. The sunniest months are May to August, with up to 7 hours of sunshine per day. Winters are much gloomier, with only 2–3 hours daily.
Yes, humidity is high year-round, usually between 70% and 90%. This makes cold weather feel colder and warm weather feel muggier, so dress in layers for comfort.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (21.5 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (5.3 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 13.5 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (15.1 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (2 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 8.1 °C.
The month with the highest average water temperature is August (18.3 °C). The month with the lowest average water temperature is March (6.4 °C). Overall, the average water temperature over the whole year is 12.2 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is August (55.3 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (18.2 mm). Over the whole year there are 511.4 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is August (18.9 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is April (12.1 days). Over the whole year there are 189.7 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (22 mm). The months with the least snowfall are April, May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 54.1 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (3.9 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are May and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 10.9 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (85.1 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is April (75.1 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 79.6 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is December (20.6 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (13 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 16.2 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is December (65.4 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (39.2 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 50.4 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 16.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 7.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.7 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is June (Average sunshine: 9.2 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 3 h). Over the whole year there are 6.2 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June, July and August (UV index: 5). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, November and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.3.
