Amsterdam in spring feels a bit like the beginning of a crescendo that lasts until summer. Locals begin to choose the terraces of the cafes, their private boats that cross the canals and the city parks instead of being inside, even when it is still a little cold, as if they want the new season to arrive. We’re all happy to sacrifice an hour of sleep on the last Sunday in March as the time change means sunsets are already as late as 8pm and the days will only get longer.
The longest days of spring paint a colorful canvas in Amsterdam and the Netherlands.
The trees appear as if they have been outlined with a lime green marker as they finally begin to emerge. The crocus, hyacinth and narcissus flowers debut as an opening act for their larger bulb counterparts, the famous Dutch tulips. And everyone is trying to predict when the peak time will be to see them in all their glory at the Keukenhof Gardens or in the nearby bulb growing fields.
Prices for flights and accommodation in Amsterdam remain relatively low in March; They start to rise as temperatures rise, usually around April 1.
Visitor crowds follow a similar pattern, with groups of tulip tourists arriving in April, giving way to a steady stream of European tourists and North American college students in May. Spring is also when the Dutch celebrate some of their biggest and most important holidays: King’s Day, Remembrance Day, and Liberation Day.
Amsterdam events in spring
Part of the reason spring is one of the favorite times of the year to visit Amsterdam is the seasonal events calendar, which starts to fill up with exciting activities in spring, but not so many that it overwhelms visitors. Of course, the crown jewel of the spring event calendar is King’s Day (April 27), the royal birthday (and successor to the long-awaited Queen’s Day), but the rowdy street celebration isn’t for everyone. It is not to worry; There are many other events to enjoy. Beer lovers can’t miss the PINT Meibockfestival, a beer festival celebrating the best bock beer of the season, which takes place in a historic church on one of the city’s liveliest streets.
Cultural events complete the city’s spring offerings. In March, Dutch Book Week aims to promote Dutch-language literature, but also offers anyone who buys a Dutch book a free trip on the last day of the festival week. The World Press photo exhibition in April highlights the world’s best photojournalism at the Oude Kerk (Old Church), right in the heart of the Red Light District. Even windmills that are closed throughout the year are open for National Mill Day, an event for windmill enthusiasts and the simply curious.
And one of the most delicious events of the year takes place less than an hour from Amsterdam in the city of The Hague, which hosts the Tong Tong Fair in late May, a celebration of Indonesian and Southeast Asian culture in an unprecedented scale in Europe. of art, music, theater, dance and a truly impressive variety of food.
Month-by-month guides to Amsterdam in spring
In these guides you will find detailed event listings , weather information and other tips for Amsterdam in the spring months.
- March in Amsterdam
- April in Amsterdam
- May in Amsterdam
Pictures of Amsterdam in spring
See for yourself why Amsterdam is an ideal spring travel destination.
- Photos of Keukenhof flower gardens near Amsterdam
- Photos of the Queen’s Day (King’s Day) celebrations in Amsterdam
Edited by Kristen de Joseph.
