01 Spring: Tulips and Returning Light
Spring is the Dutch postcard: in April and early May the tulips bloom —in the Keukenhof gardens, a short trip from the city, and in the urban parks— and tree blossom covers whole neighbourhoods. The weather is still changeable, but the light is long and gentle, ideal for combining canal, park and museum without getting cold.
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02 Summer: Very Long Days and Life Outdoors
In June the sun sets after ten at night and the city makes the most of every minute: canal-side terraces, boat trips, full parks. July and August are warm and lively, but also the most touristy and, at times, rainy. If you come in high summer, start early for the museums and leave the long evenings for the water and the green.
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03 Autumn: Low Light and the Parks
September is a secret: there is still light, the crowds thin and the weather holds. In October the light turns lower and golden, the parks blaze with colour and the rains begin. It is the season of the most photogenic Amsterdam for those after melancholy and calm: the Vondelpark in autumn is worth half a day on its own.
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04 Winter and Verdict: Few Hours of Light
Winter is short on light —in December it dawns late and darkens early— and often grey, but it has its own grace: the city turns gezellig, that Dutch idea of cosy warmth, and the odd snowfall leaves the canals in silence. The verdict is clear: for tulips and light, April or May; for very long days, June; for golden light and calm, September. Avoid the closed grey of November if it is your first time.
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