Amsterdam is a beautiful city. Although the Netherlands is known for its humid climate, a rainy day only makes the city even more beautiful. Here’s a list of some of the best places and things to do when the weather turns sour.
Stay in one or two neighborhoods
Trams are sure to offer a sheltered way to get around the city, but travel on a rainy day in Amsterdam and you will also be joined by larger crowds of locals and visitors who are also trying to stay dry. So why not make a wet day focus on getting to know a neighborhood or two? This way, you can get in and out of shops, attractions, and cafes within walking distance of each other.
Consider the Eastern Canal Belt to visit several museums in canal stately homes, including the Van Loon Museum, the Willet-Holthuysen Museum, the Museum of Bags and Purses ( Tassenmuseum ), and FOAM, a photography museum. The narrow alleys of the Jordaan are dotted with fantastically modern galleries and shops, and like the De Pijp neighborhood, it’s also full of cozy cafes.
Visit the less popular museums in Amsterdam
Spending time inside museums seems like an obvious way to spend a rainy day in Amsterdam, but in the most popular ones, you will surely find many people with the same idea.
Visiting museums like the Verzetsmuseum (Museum of the Dutch Resistance) and the Jewish Historical Museum, both located in the quiet Plantage neighborhood, could be one way to avoid the crowds seeking refuge. Also in Plantage is Artis, Amsterdam’s historic zoo. Many visitors may dismiss this site on a rainy day, not knowing that the grounds are also home to fun inside the planetarium, aquarium, and butterfly pavilion.
Take refuge in a cafe
Spending a few hours in a café café or eetcafé is a must for visitors to Amsterdam, regardless of the weather. But in the days when the skies opened up and the puddles look more like mini lakes, the gezelligheid (a Dutch word that loosely translates to friendly warmth) inside Amsterdam cafes is even more irresistible.
If the rain isn’t too heavy and doesn’t blow sideways (it happens), choose one with a coffee-covered terrace, where you can dry off and watch the locals ride their bikes like it’s a sunny day.
Buy strategically
Nobody likes to try on a new dress when it’s soaked. But some of Amsterdam’s best shopping options are great for wallet damage on rainy days. Bijenkorf, a five-level department store on Dam Square, can keep even the most efficient shopaholic busy for a few hours. The nearby Magna Plaza, in an impressive neo-Gothic building, comprises several popular clothing stores such as Laundry Industry and Mango.
Did you feel robbed because you missed the open air markets of Amsterdam? Opt for the Looier indoor flea market in Jordaan, where dozens of stalls stock antique jewelry, collectibles, furniture, and the usual favorite lost treasures. Do you prefer better pieces of history? Dodge the rain door-to-door at the Spiegelkwartier, Amsterdam’s center for fine arts and antiques.
Go to the cinema in special theaters
In most travel destinations, going to the movies can be a waste of time. But there is something about the sad weather that makes it more attractive. If you spend a rainy day in Amsterdam in front of the big screen, choose one of these special theaters:
- Tuschinski: The striking 1920s Art Deco façade, lobby, and original auditoriums (pictured) add an elegant touch to conventional titles.
- Het Ketelhuis – Showing art films, documentaries and cult favorites, the building is part of the old restored Westergasfabriek gas works area.
- The Movies – The oldest operating cinema in the Netherlands (since 1912) is a perfect place to dine and watch a movie with its adjacent restaurant. Many exhibits have an intermission to enjoy libations in the Art Deco bar.
