Amsterdam In Spring – Tips, Fun Things To Do & The Local Perspective

Amsterdam is a very popular throughout the year. Amsterdam in spring holds a certain appeal though because there are many activities that take place only at this time of the year. Spring in any country is beautiful. During spring, the cold grey coat of winter is finally shrugged off in Amsterdam. Aside from the green shoots on the trees and in the parks, you will start seeing flowers everywhere.

Tulips in particular are in demand. You’ll see them in people’s gardens, pots and sometimes even in the cycle baskets. In fact, it is the tulips and Keukenhof that draw in thousands of people every year. Its a big source of revenue for the city. As a local, I love the tulips but I think there is more to see than just the Keukenhof gardens. There are definitely places that are less crowded. There are also some unique sights.

I’ll be talking about all of that in my guide to Amsterdam in spring. In addition to all of that, I’ll cover the logistics like where to stay, what to wear, what’s the weather like etc. So make sure you bookmark or pin this page for future reference.

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Where To Stay In Amsterdam

If you are headed to Amsterdam in spring, one of the first things that you need to get sorted is the accommodation. This isn’t just because Amsterdam is an expensive city. It is also because people from all over the world fly in for the tulips. This means there are thousands of people flying in every single day and many of them choose to stay in Amsterdam.

Now there are different parts of Amsterdam that you can stay in and I have a very detailed guide on where to stay in Amsterdam that’s aimed at both first time and repeat visitors. I’m just going to give you a gist of it though.

Central Amsterdam: This is probably the most convenient part of Amsterdam as you’ll exit your hotel and be in the midst of everything. It does has it’s downsides because its loud, lots of drunken tourists and the hotels here tend to be expensive.

• The Flying Pig Downtown Amsterdam (Budget)
• Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam (Mid-Range)
• Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam (Luxury)

Museumplein: This is my favorite part of Amsterdam when it comes to where to stay. Still in the midst of everything. Walkable to the center or you could take the tram. Lots of museums at your doorstep. Leidseplein next door for the vibe.

• Stayokay Hostel Vondelpark (Budget)
• Hotel Van Gogh (Mid-Range)
• Conservatorium Hotel (Luxury)

I’ve obviously listed more locations on the detailed post but these are my top recommendations if you want to stay central or a little but away.

Transport In Amsterdam

The public transportation in Amsterdam is really really good. It can get expensive but it works and it is well connected. It consists of a network of buses, trams and trains. For example you can take the train from Schiphol airport to Amsterdam Centraal station which is right in the center of the city. Its a quick ride and the trains station is right at the airport.

The main bus station and tram station is just outside the Amsterdam Centraal station. You can use them to move about the city. The city itself is very walkable. You can easily walk from one end to the other. It is generally scenic. There are some sections that are way more crowded than others because of the tourists.

Parking In Amsterdam

Parking in Amsterdam is super expensive. The best way to make sure you get a better price is to book a slot in advance. That way you get a cheaper deal in many parking lots.

Amsterdam In Spring: The Tulips

As I mentioned before there are plenty of things to do in Spring in Amsterdam. The first and foremost is obviously the tulips. I’m going to get that out of the way before I go on to the rest because I know that’s what many people want the information on.

1. Visit the Keukenhof Gardens

I want to be very clear and upfront here. The Keukenhof gardens are not in Amsterdam. They are a day trip from Amsterdam. This probably the biggest attraction in Amsterdam in spring. It gets crazy busy and so so crowded. We visited in the early half of the season. Everything is not fully in bloom and there are fewer tourists but it is still very very crowded.

A couple of things that you need to know about Keukenhof.

Opening Times

It isn’t open throughout the year. There’s a season and the opening dates are announced the previous year so you can plan in advance. It generally is mid to end March to mid May. This year Keukenhof opens on the 19th of March and closes on the 10th of May. The park is open from 8am to 7pm every day during this season. Note that earlier in the day is better to avoid the crowds.

How To Get To Keukenhof

Getting to Keukenhof is easy via the public transport. You could also drive in and there is a huge parking lot there. Note that this is not just one of the activities for Amsterdam in spring. People come from all over and the parking lot gets very crowded. So make a note of where you parked.

I have a detailed guide on how to get to Keukenhof from different cities. You can check it out if you are headed there with the public transport.

Book Your Tours In Advance

As I mentioned before, Keukenhof is very popular and you won’t be the only one who heads to Amsterdam in spring just to see it. The tours book out quickly and if you are late in this respect you won’t get your choice of tour (guide to picking the right Keukenhof tour) which is rather disappointing if you are traveling just for it. You can book your tour in advance online and have everything ready before you reach.

2. Cycle And See The Tulip Fields

Again not really something that happens in Amsterdam but one that you would have to travel for. Instead of just bumping elbows with people in Keukenhof, head out for a different experience. You can rent a cycle from Keukenhof itself or close by and cycle round the countryside. There aren’t a lot of people who do this so it is much quieter.

It gives you a chance to see the sprawling tulip fields. Make sure you don’t enter them though because they are private property. The flowers here are meant for sale. So when tourists enter and trample them, they destroy the farmers revenue.

3. Visit The Tulip Fields

Aside from Keukenhof there are other tulip fields that you can visit. These are designed such that you can walk in and you can take photographs. You can even pluck tulips to take home from here. We’ve done this and found it a much better experience than Keukenhof. My mum loved it when she came and she couldn’t get enough of the tulips. It is also really nice for children.

There are tours that take you here and arrange other activities with it. It is great especially when you don’t have transport on your own. It can also get crowded but generally it isn’t quite as bad as Keukenhof. I would still advise booking your tickets in advance.

4. Visit The Flower Market In Amsterdam

One of the best things to do in Amsterdam in Spring is to head to the flower market. It is located along the Singel between Muntplein and Koningsplein and is hard to miss. The flower market in Amsterdam consists of a number of stalls along the street. You’ll see them on both sides. These are full of flowers, seeds, tulip bulbs and even souvenirs.

A side note here because I’m obliged to warn you: The souvenirs here are very expensive! There are cheaper places in the city to buy good local Dutch souvenirs.

Kings Day

Another one of the big festivities that takes place every year is Kings day. This is celebrated on the 27th of April. It is known as Koningsdag in Dutch where Koning means King. It is the King Willem-Alexander’s birthday and the whole country celebrates it.

The celebrations take place all across the country and it a big party in Amsterdam. It’s one of those things to do in Amsterdam in spring that you should not miss. An important thing to note here is that not all locations are open on the 27th of April. The bigger museums generally are but the timings may be different.

Orange is the color of the day. Everyone dresses up in orange and if you don’t you stick out like a sore thumb. The Dutch flag flies proudly across the city and you’ll find that the people are really enthusiastic.

What are the cool things to do during Koningsdag in Amsterdam?

5. The Free Markets

Many people and children have sales on the streets. Here people sell and buy second hand items. They range from toys to kitchen utensils and everything in between. These markets are also in the other cities and villages in the Netherlands.

6. Boat Parties

Amsterdam turns into one big party place and many people party on boats. If you want to join the fun make sure that you book your canal cruise in advance. The canals of Amsterdam are packed because everyone who wants to party comes out here. This is especially true if the weather is on the warmer side.

7. Koningsdag Music Festivals & Concerts

There are many music festivals and concerts that are conducted on the day but they get sold out quickly so it is wise to stay on top of things and book your tickets before you visit.

8. Celebrate At One Of The Bars

The party generally continues to the bars and pubs in the city. There is music playing, people chattering, singing and just overall good cheer. To say it is crowded on Kings day in Amsterdam is an understatement. The whole city is crowded. It is also an overlap with the Keukenhof gardens being open simultaneously which means that there are a lot of tourists. The influx of local tourists should also not be underestimated.

Touristy Things To Do In Amsterdam In Spring

I know it sounds odd to frame it this way but there are some iconic things to do in Amsterdam that is on the bucket list of every tourist. It was on my list as well. This is especially true if it is your first time visiting Amsterdam. If it isn’t then you could probably skip this section by. Generally speaking these are year round activities.

9. Visit The Museums

Amsterdam is a treasure trove of museums. Some of the biggest and the best museums in the country are here. Living in the city and staying at the museum square make visiting the museums of Amsterdam very easy. One thing that you need to note is that the museums are very in demand so make sure to book your tickets in advance. Here are a couple of the most popular museums.

• Van Gogh Museum
• NEMO Science museum (great for kids)
• Rijksmuseum
• Stedelijk museum

Things To Do In Amsterdam In Spring – Nature Related Activities

Despite being a big city there are many nature related activities that you can try when you are in the city. Amsterdam in spring is really beautiful and these spots are the best place to see them.

10. Visit The Cherry Blossoms

Did you know that you could see the cherry blossoms in Amsterdam in spring? There are located in the Bloesempark in the Amsterdam bos. There are over 400 trees here. They were donated by the Japan Women’s club in 2010 and symbolize the relationship between Japan and the Netherlands. The best time to see these trees flowering is between mid March and mid April.

The park is always very crowded which is why it is advisable to cycle here or take the public transport.

Another important thing to note is that the park will be renovated between 2025 and 2029. This is because the average lifespan of the trees is 35 years and the city is working on replacing the older trees that have completed their lifespan.

11. Visit The Amsterdam Bos

Very few tourists head here and it is a shame. The Amsterdam Bos loosely translates as the Amsterdam woods. It is huge and has a number of different trails that you can follow. You either choose to walk or cycle through them. The woods are quiet but if you really want to see spring creep in, this is the place to be.

12. Geitenboerderij Ridammerhoeve

If you are in the Amsterdam Bos, it is fun to visit the Geitenboerderij Ridammerhoeve which is a goat farm. Here you can interreact and play with the goats. It is pretty cool and fun for both adults and children.

The farm also conducts workshops and activities for children. These are generally held on the weekend or holidays.

13. Visit ARTIS Zoo

ARTIS zoo is another great place to visit in Amsterdam in spring. This is especially true if the weather is good because you can spend the day outdoors. It is one of the fifth oldest zoo in the world! The zoo has so much history and it isn’t just about the animals. It is also related to the war.

The zoo is very popular during the spring and summer. This is why it is important to book your tickets in advance.

Amsterdam In Spring: Food You Should Try

There are a lot of very trendy things to try in Amsterdam in spring and there are also some unique food related activities to keep on your radar. I’ve documented a whole long post on popular food in the Netherlands so I won’t get into that again. Instead I’m just going to give you the experiences that you should consider.

14. Boederij Meerzicht

The Boederij Meerzicht is one of my favorite places in Amsterdam. Outside of the chaos of the main city, this is one of the few places that shows you what Amsterdam must have been like in its quieter days. The place is huge and has loads of tables both inside and outside. The outside has a boederij or a farm. Here you can interact and watch the animals. There is even a play area for kids.

Boederij Meerzicht is famous for its pancakes. Dutch pancakes and not the fluffy ones. These look like crepes but are much thicker and can come in savory or sweet versions. There are so many options to choose from.

15. Manneken Pis Fries

What To Pack For Amsterdam In Spring

It is important to note that the weather in Amsterdam in Spring is very unreliable. Which is why you need to be prepared for it. You can expect frequent showers, the temperature oscillates between cold and warm and do not underestimate the windchill!

I’ve talked about what to wear in Amsterdam in different seasons in detail which is why I won’t go over it in detail. I’m just going to emphasize that waterproof shoes and a rain jacket are a must!

Capsule Wardrobe For Amsterdam In Spring

And just because I can, I’m adding in a capsule wardrobe for spring. That way you don’t have to keep moving from post to post searching for the right information.

• Rain jacket
• 1 cardigan or 1 light jacket (black or fall colors)
• 1 scarf (and a pair of thin leather gloves if you have them)
• Jewelry (fun earrings, fun necklaces)
• Waterproof shoes
• 1 pair of jeans
• 1 pant (jewel tone preferably)
• 2 pairs of leggings or fun stockings
• 1 black skirt (below knee)
• 2 long sleeve dresses (choose the colors according to the season. Vibrant for spring. Neutrals for autumn. I recommend wrap dresses for maximum flattery)
• 5 tops (neutral colors, think whites, nudes, blacks work extremely well)
• Undergarments

I’ve tried to be as comprehensive as I can in this post and I’ve touched on most of the aspects that you need to consider when visiting Amsterdam in Spring. If you find that you need more information, you will probably find it in all the Amsterdam posts on Globetrove. You could also just drop me a comment below and I would be happy to help.

Other Posts That You May Find Interesting

• Amazing day trips from Amsterdam
• The Dutch Countryside
• Great Local souvenirs from Amsterdam
• Fun things to do in Amsterdam with kids
• Amsterdam in Summer: Tips from a local
• Dam square and its attractions

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