In many ways, the Netherlands is a year-round destination, with each season offering its own charms. Spring sees fields full of tulips in bloom. Summer spells long days at sandy beaches along the coast and on the Wadden Sea islands, and as autumn turns to winter, the darkening chill invites you to embrace the Dutch quality of gezelligheid (conviviality, coziness) at atmospheric cafes. Cycling is a Dutch way of life, while festivals fill the calendar throughout the year.
When deciding which time of year to visit, you’ll also want to consider your budget, the crowds and The Netherlands’ notoriously fickle weather. Here’s everything you need to know to plan your perfect trip.
Summer is the Netherlands’ high season. Temperatures are at their peak (maximums average 19ºC (66ºF) in June and 21ºC (70ºF) in July and August), countryside cycles and canal cruises are at their most enjoyable, cafes spill out to lively terraces, and everything is open and in full swing, from small, out-of-the-way museums to secluded campgrounds and lively beach bars along the strands.
Urban streets turn into a gigantic party during festivities like the Netherlands’ biggest freely accessible event, Vierdaagsefeesten (summer festivals), when more than 40 stages and 1200 performances spread across its oldest city, Nijmegen, and the world’s only waterborne Pride parade floating through the capital during Pride Amsterdam. Unlike many sweltering European cities, Amsterdam doesn’t shut down for summer holidays, thanks to the temperate climate.
The flipside is that this is also the busiest, and priciest, time to visit, making planning ahead a necessity and limiting your options for spontaneity. Book everything – accommodation, museum time-slot entry, guided tours and in-demand restaurants – as far in advance as you possibly can. Look out too for quieter locales to use as a base: the Netherlands’ compact size and efficient transport considerably widens your options.
The shoulder-season, post-summer months of September and October are some of the loveliest in the Netherlands. The weather can be glorious – temperatures are an average maximum of 18ºC (64ºF ) in September and 14ºC (57ºF) in October. When autumnal leaves start to fall, they uncover the architectural detail of gabled canal houses, making this time of year a favorite with photographers.
Fall marks the start of the cultural calendar, with ballet, opera, contemporary dance, classical concerts, jazz sessions and much more at venues throughout the country. Festivals are plentiful; blockbusters include Rotterdam’s Wereldhavendagen (World Port Days) and Amsterdam’s mammoth electronic music extravaganza ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event).
As crowds start to dissipate, sights become easier to book at
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