Destination guide
Amsterdam weather by month
June to August is the best time to visit Amsterdam for warmth, with average daytime temperatures rising from 19°C in June to 21°C in July and August. The catch is rain: summer is not a dry season, so keep outdoor plans flexible. May and September suit travellers who prefer milder weather and can accept cooler evenings. Winter is better suited to trips with plenty of indoor time than days spent walking outside.
- Hottest month
- 20.9°CJuly
- Coolest month
- 5.7°CJanuary
- Warmest sea
- 19.5°CAugust
- Flight from London
- 1 h 12 minShort-haul (up to 4.5 h) · estimated
Amsterdam, month by month
A little perspective
Amsterdam through the year
Every month at a glance; "best" marks our three top months on warmth, dryness and sunshine.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 5.7°C | 1.8°C | 4.7°C | 2.1 | 64 | 13 | 0% |
| February | 6.3°C | 1.7°C | 4.1°C | 2.8 | 53 | 11 | 0% |
| March | 9.1°C | 3.3°C | 5.7°C | 3.7 | 54 | 11 | 0% |
| April | 12.8°C | 5.8°C | 9.4°C | 5.1 | 50 | 11 | 0% |
| May | 16.2°C | 9.4°C | 13.3°C | 5.7 | 63 | 11 | 3% |
| Junebest | 18.7°C | 12.3°C | 16.7°C | 5.8 | 68 | 12 | 8% |
| Julybest | 20.9°C | 14.6°C | 19.1°C | 6.1 | 84 | 14 | 14% |
| Augustbest | 20.9°C | 14.7°C | 19.5°C | 5.3 | 84 | 13 | 14% |
| September | 18.0°C | 12.4°C | 16.8°C | 4.3 | 70 | 12 | 2% |
| October | 13.9°C | 9.1°C | 13.0°C | 3.1 | 70 | 13 | 0% |
| November | 9.5°C | 5.5°C | 9.3°C | 2.1 | 63 | 13 | 0% |
| December | 6.4°C | 2.6°C | 6.4°C | 1.9 | 71 | 13 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
When to go to Amsterdam
For beach weather, look at months where the daytime average clears 25°C and rainy days stay low: none reach a 25°C average here, so Amsterdam suits city breaks and walking more than beach holidays; the warmest is July. July is the wettest month (84 mm, about 14 rainy days) and April the driest (50 mm). The sea is warmest in August at 19.5°C and coolest in February at 4.1°C.
Getting there
A direct flight from London Gatwick to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS, 11 km from Amsterdam) takes roughly 1 h 12 min - short-haul (up to 4.5 h) by UK standards. Time-zone: Europe/Amsterdam.
Records and extremes, 1991-2020
The hottest day recorded in Amsterdam between 1991 and 2020 reached 36.3°C on 26 July 2019; the coldest fell to -13.9°C on 4 March 2005. In July one day in ten tops 26.0°C and about 2% of days pass 30°C; in January one night in ten drops to -3.8°C or below. The wettest single month of the period was July 2007 with 173 mm, against a July average of 84 mm.
Sunrise, sunset and daylight in Amsterdam
Local time on the 15th of each month; daylight-saving rules as of 2020.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight | Sunshine/day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 08:44 | 16:55 | 8.2 h | 2.1 h |
| February | 07:58 | 17:51 | 9.9 h | 2.8 h |
| March | 06:54 | 18:44 | 11.8 h | 3.7 h |
| April | 06:43 | 20:38 | 13.9 h | 5.1 h |
| May | 05:45 | 21:29 | 15.7 h | 5.7 h |
| June | 05:18 | 22:04 | 16.8 h | 5.8 h |
| July | 05:37 | 21:56 | 16.3 h | 6.1 h |
| August | 06:24 | 21:06 | 14.7 h | 5.3 h |
| September | 07:15 | 19:56 | 12.7 h | 4.3 h |
| October | 08:06 | 18:47 | 10.7 h | 3.1 h |
| November | 08:02 | 16:48 | 8.8 h | 2.1 h |
| December | 08:44 | 16:27 | 7.7 h | 1.9 h |
Spring: a gradual warm-up, with April the driest month
March still needs a warm coat: average days reach 9°C and nights fall to 3°C, so it is too early to pack for reliably mild weather. April improves to 13°C by day and is the driest month, making it a reasonable choice if avoiding rain matters more than warmth. That is a relative advantage, though, as it still averages 11 rain days. May is the more comfortable spring option for spending time outdoors, with daytime averages of 16°C and 6 hours of sunshine. Keep a jacket for evenings, when temperatures average 9°C, and pack waterproof footwear rather than relying on dry pavements.
Summer: the warmest choice, but keep a waterproof handy
June offers a useful balance for walking around Amsterdam: days average 19°C, with 6 hours of sunshine, while nights at 12°C still call for an extra layer. July and August are warmer, both averaging 21°C by day and 15°C at night. These are the strongest choices if you dislike the cold, but not if you expect consistently dry weather. July is the wettest month and averages 14 rain days; August has 13. Plan outdoor time around the forecast rather than assuming summer means clear skies. Light clothing with a waterproof outer layer is more practical than packing only for heat.
Autumn and winter: September stays mild, then layers matter
September is the gentlest autumn option, averaging 18°C by day and 12°C at night, though rain remains part of the picture. October drops to 14°C, making a jacket more useful throughout the day rather than just after dark. November feels much less suited to extended outdoor plans: days average 10°C, with only 2 hours of sunshine. December, January and February all average 6°C by day, so choose winter only if cold-weather clothing and regular indoor breaks fit your plans. January and February nights average 2°C; December is slightly milder at 3°C. February brings a little more sunshine than midwinter, but no improvement in average daytime warmth.
A little more detail
Amsterdam weather FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
What is the best time to visit Amsterdam?
Judged on warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, the best months in Amsterdam are July, August and June. July is the hottest month (average high 20.9°C) and January the coolest (5.7°C).
How many months a year is Amsterdam over 25°C?
No month in Amsterdam averages a daytime high of 25°C; 2 months average 20°C or more.
When is the rainy season in Amsterdam?
July is the wettest month in Amsterdam (84 mm on average) and April the driest (50 mm). Annual rainfall averages 794 mm.
What is the hottest temperature recorded in Amsterdam?
The hottest day recorded in Amsterdam between 1991 and 2020 reached 36.3°C on 26 July 2019; the coldest fell to -13.9°C on 4 March 2005. Records come from daily data for 1991-2020, not from a single station's all-time history.
Does Amsterdam get hot enough for a summer holiday?
July and August average 21°C by day, so summer is more about comfortable warmth than heat. No month averages 25°C or above. Pack light layers for daytime, but leave room for a jacket and rain protection.
Which month is best if I want less rain?
April is the driest month, but it still averages 11 rain days, so it is not a rain-free choice. With daytime temperatures of 13°C, the trade-off is cooler weather than summer. Bring a waterproof jacket and keep plans flexible.
How much sunshine can I expect?
May, June and July have the most sunshine, averaging 6 hours a day. August averages 5 hours, while November, December and January have 2. Late spring and summer therefore suit sunshine-focused trips better, without guaranteeing clear skies.
See also: Netherlands weather by month · where else is hot in July
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Amsterdam. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 5.8 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C