Amsterdam in Spring: What It’s Really Like (Weather, Tulips & Tips)
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Thinking of visiting Amsterdam in spring and wondering what to expect? This guide covers what it’s really like in Amsterdam in March, April, and May, including weather, crowds, tulip season, what to wear, and how far ahead you should book hotels, museums, and tours. We also share a few spring-specific tips that can save you time (and frustration), especially if you’re visiting on a weekend or during a holiday.
We live nearby and have been to Amsterdam many times, in different seasons. Spring can be a great time to visit the Netherlands if you’re well prepared (and a bit of luck with the weather helps too). In this guide, we share our experience-based tips to help you make the most of your spring trip to Amsterdam.
You’ll find practical information for each spring month, the best time for tulips near Amsterdam, how busy it gets around Easter and King’s Day, and what to reserve in advance.
If you’re also looking for itinerary recommendations, these guides will help you get started: 3 days in Amsterdam, and 4-day Amsterdam itinerary. For hotel advice, see our guide to the best places to stay in Amsterdam.
Is Spring a Good Time to Visit Amsterdam?
Yes, spring can be a very good time to visit Amsterdam, but the experience can be quite different depending on when you visit. From March to May, the city slowly comes out of winter. Parks turn green, café terraces reopen, and the days get noticeably longer. Compared to summer, temperatures are more comfortable for sightseeing and there are usually fewer tour groups, especially on weekdays.
That said, a lot depends on when exactly you’re visiting:
March is still early spring and often feels more like late winter. It can be cold, grey, and windy, especially at the beginning of the month. On the plus side, crowds are relatively low and accommodation is usually more affordable. Keukenhof typically opens in the second half of March, but it’s still too early for tulip fields. You may see daffodils and hyacinths, but nature is only just waking up.
April is the peak month for flowers. The second half of April is usually the best time for tulips, both in Keukenhof and in the flower fields. The downside is that it’s also one of the busiest times of the year. Easter and King’s Day (April 27) bring large crowds and higher prices, and the weather can still be cool and changeable.
May is usually the most pleasant month of spring for outdoor sightseeing. Temperatures are milder, days are long, and it’s a great time for walking, biking, canal cruises, and day trips to the countryside. The drawback is that the main tulip season is over, except possibly in the very first days of the month. Crowds are moderate on weekdays but increase during long weekends and school holidays.
Tulip Season
Tulip season is the main reason many people plan a spring trip to the Netherlands, but it’s important to know where and when you can actually see the flowers.
When to visit? The best time for tulips is usually from early April to the first days of May, with peak bloom often in the second half of April. Exact timing depends on the weather each year. Keukenhof normally opens from mid-March to mid-May, but the outdoor fields are usually at their best a bit later than the first opening weeks.
March is usually too early for tulip fields. You may see early spring flowers like daffodils and hyacinths, and the greenhouses at Keukenhof are already colorful, but most outdoor tulips are not in bloom yet.
April – especially the second half of the month – is the best time for tulips and other spring flowers near Amsterdam. Keukenhof and the surrounding fields are usually in full color, but it’s also the busiest period, especially around Easter, King’s Day, and Labor Day. Booking tickets and transport in advance is essential.
Early May can still be good for late-blooming fields, and Keukenhof usually stays open through the first week or so. After the first week of May, most tulips are already cut.
Where to See Tulips
Despite all the colorful photos you might have seen online, there are no large tulip fields in Amsterdam city itself. You may spot some tulips in parks, along canals, at markets, and in city planters, but the famous endless fields are in the countryside.
The most popular place to see spring flowers is Keukenhof Gardens and the nearby Lisse tulip fields, about 40 minutes south of Amsterdam. Click on the links for our detailed guides and tips to plan your visit. For tickets and tours, check this page – it gives a good overview of the best options in one place.
Good to know: If you’ve seen photos of Amsterdam canal houses or Dutch windmills standing in the middle of endless tulip fields and want to take a picture like that, it’s good to know that most of those images are not real. There is a windmill at Keukenhof, and you can take photos from the road with tulip fields and a windmill in the distance (see the image below), but it doesn’t look like many of the heavily edited pictures circulating online.
For a more realistic impression of what Amsterdam tulip season looks like, see the photos in our articles. And if you’re after colorful, fun pictures, visit one of the tulip farms in Lisse – they usually have all kinds of props for photos, like the featured image at the top of this article.
Spring Weather
Spring weather in Amsterdam is very changeable. You can get sunny, mild days, but also cold wind, rain, and grey skies. In general, it’s warmer in May than in March, but you never really know what you’ll get, so it’s important to be prepared for all kinds of conditions.
- March: Average daytime temperatures are around 9–11°C (48–52°F), with nights often close to freezing. It can also feel colder because of wind and humidity. Rain is common, sunshine is far from guaranteed, and it often feels more like late winter than spring, so warm layers are essential.
- April: A transition month, with average daytime temperatures around 12–15°C (54–59°F). Some days can be pleasantly mild, while others are still quite cold. Showers are frequent, but there are also more bright, sunny spells. Wind often makes it feel colder than the temperature suggests, so dress warmly.
- May: Usually the most pleasant month of spring. Rain is still possible (as always in the Netherlands), but it’s noticeably warmer. Average daytime temperatures are around 16–18°C (61–64°F), and if you’re lucky, you may even get days well above 20°C (68°F). Overall, it’s a great time to visit for canal cruises, bike rides, and exploring the countryside.
What to Wear
Layering is key in spring. Whether you visit in March, April, or May, pack clothes that you can easily put on and take off as the weather changes during the day.
Bring a light but warm jacket (preferably waterproof), a scarf, a sweater or two, and long pants. Comfortable walking shoes are essential, ideally water-resistant, since rain showers are common and you’ll be walking a lot.
In March, you may still need a warm hat and gloves. On warmer days in May, a sweater or even just a T-shirt may be enough during the day, but it can still get chilly in the morning and after sunset. An umbrella and/or a compact rain jacket are always a good idea.
Good to know: Wind can make it feel much colder than the forecast suggests, so when in doubt, always pack an extra layer.
Public Holidays & School Breaks
Spring is not peak season like summer, but several holidays can make Amsterdam much busier.
Easter usually falls in late March or April. Good Friday is a working day in the Netherlands, but Easter Sunday and Monday are public holidays. Furthermore, many neighboring countries have school holidays, so expect more crowds and higher hotel prices.
King’s Day (April 27) is one of the busiest days of the year in Amsterdam. The entire city turns into an orange street party, with huge crowds, full hotels, and limited availability of tickets and restaurants. If you plan to be in Amsterdam around this date, book everything well in advance and be prepared for packed public transport.
Labor Day (May 1) is not a public holiday in the Netherlands, but it’s a day off in many neighboring countries, including Germany, France, and Belgium. This often means more international visitors in Amsterdam around the end of April and the beginning of May.
Dutch school holidays can also play a big role in how busy Amsterdam feels. The spring break usually falls in late February or early March, depending on the region, and can make weekends busier. But the busiest time is during May holidays (Meivakantie), usually from late April into early May.
Good to know: Weekdays are usually much quieter than weekends. If you want to avoid the biggest crowds, try to plan your visit to the most popular attractions on weekdays outside of the school holidays.
What to See & Do in Spring
Spring is a great time for sightseeing in Amsterdam, and you can do pretty much everything the city is known for. Temperatures are comfortable for walking and biking, museums are fully open, and the city starts to feel lively again after winter. As it gets warmer, café terraces and rooftop bars reopen, and whenever the sun comes out, you’ll see locals spending much more time outdoors.
All the classic sights and activities are available in spring: world-class museums, canal cruises, bike tours, parks, and day trips to the surrounding towns and countryside. The main seasonal highlight is, of course, the tulip season, with Keukenhof Gardens and the flower fields near Lisse in peak bloom from late March to early May. See all the ticket/tour options here and book in advance!
For more details and our personal recommendations on what to see and do, please see our detailed guides:
- For the main attractions and activities in the city: Best Things to Do in Amsterdam.
- For ideas outside the city, including small towns and countryside excursions, see: Best Day Trips from Amsterdam.
These guides cover everything from museums and canal cruises to bike routes, parks, markets, and popular excursions – all of which are excellent options in spring.
Do You Need to Book in Advance?
Amsterdam is one of the most popular cities in Europe, so many top attractions sell out. And while spring is quieter than summer, it’s still a busy travel period, so booking ahead is strongly recommended.
In March and on weekdays outside holiday periods, you can be a bit more flexible. Still, if you don’t want to risk missing out, it’s best to reserve in advance – especially for high-demand tickets like the Van Gogh Museum, the Anne Frank House, and popular canal cruises.
Tulip season is another reason to plan ahead. Some activities in the flower fields sell out, and if you want a specific time slot at Keukenhof Gardens, it’s best to book well in advance. See here for an overview and availability.
Hotels also fill up quickly in spring, particularly in April and early May, so booking early usually means more choice and better prices.
For more details and experience-based tips, please see our detailed guides:
- For tickets and practical tips: Tips and Tricks for Visiting Amsterdam.
- For where to stay: Best Areas to Stay in Amsterdam.
Advantages of Visiting in Spring
Some of the main advantages of visiting Amsterdam in spring are:
- Milder temperatures, good for sightseeing.
- Tulip season and blooming parks, which make the city and countryside look their best.
- Longer daylight hours compared to winter.
- Fewer crowds than in July–August (except during major holidays).
- Often better hotel availability and prices than in peak summer.
Overall, spring offers a good balance between pleasant weather, manageable crowds, and seasonal highlights like flower fields.
Disadvantages of Visiting in Spring
Spring also has a few downsides:
- Unpredictable weather, with wind, rain, and sudden temperature changes.
- Very busy periods around Easter, King’s Day, and during tulip season.
- Higher prices and limited availability, especially during tulip season near Keukenhof.
- Shorter opening hours for some attractions in March compared to summer.
So while spring can be a great time to visit, it does require a bit more flexibility and planning than a summer trip.
Practical Tips for Visiting Amsterdam in Spring
A bit of advance planning makes a big difference. Here are some of our top tips for your spring visit:
- Check public holiday dates before booking (Easter, King’s Day, Labor Day in neighboring countries).
- Reserve hotels, major museums, and Anne Frank House as soon as your travel dates are fixed and/or tickets are released.
- Book Keukenhof tickets and transport in advance.
- Plan alternatives for outdoor activities, so you can swap them if the weather is poor.
- Pack for wind and rain, even if the forecast looks good.
READ ALSO: Amsterdam Travel Tips
Spring vs Summer
If you haven’t booked your trip yet and are wondering whether to visit Amsterdam in spring or summer, here is a short comparison.
Spring is better if you:
- Want to see tulips and famous flower fields in the Netherlands.
- Prefer (or don’t mind) cooler temperatures for walking and sightseeing.
- Are okay with variable weather in exchange for fewer crowds (outside holidays).
Summer is better if you:
- Want the warmest weather and long evenings outdoors.
- Plan lots of outdoor activities, terrace time, beaches, swimming, or festivals.
- Don’t mind bigger crowds and higher prices.
In short, spring is ideal for sightseeing and flowers, while summer is better for a relaxed, outdoor-focused city break. Curious what early summer is like? Check out our June guide below.
READ ALSO: Amsterdam in June
So, this is our guide to visiting Amsterdam in spring. I hope that it gives you a better idea of what to expect and helps you plan a perfect visit.
Spring in Amsterdam is a mix of great sightseeing days and unpredictable weather. If you choose your dates carefully, book popular sights in advance, and pack for wind and rain as well as sunshine, it can be one of the nicest seasons to visit.
Have a great trip!
More travel inspiration for Amsterdam & beyond:
- What to see & do:
- Outside the city:
- Winter season:
- Top places in Belgium:
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