Your August weather guide
WarmWeather in Amsterdam in August
August is a good time for Amsterdam if you want mild city weather rather than reliable heat. Average highs of around 21°C suit walking, while nights near 15°C make an extra layer useful after dark. The catch is rain: about 13 days have measurable rainfall, so outdoor plans need some flexibility. For a UK traveller, this is familiar summer territory, not a dependable upgrade to hotter, sunnier conditions.
Long-term climate averages for Amsterdam, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Amsterdam, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Amsterdam.
- Average daytime high
- 20.9°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 26°C
- Average night-time low
- 14.7°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 12°C or lower
- Compared with London
- -0.5°C
- London averages 21.4°C in August
- Sea temperature
- 19.5°C
- year to year: 18°C to 21°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 5.3h
- 37% of 14.5 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 13
- 84 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 79%
- Days over 25°C
- 14%
- 2% over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 33.1°C
- 2020-08-08
- Record low 1991-2020
- 8.9°C
- 2018-08-26
- Flight from London
- ≈ 1 h 12 min
- 375 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How August compares
August is the 2nd warmest month of the year in Amsterdam and ranks 132nd of 134 destinations we compare for August - see where else is hot in August. Against London's average high of 21.4°C in August, Amsterdam is 0.5°C cooler by day and 1.2°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in August
The typical August day in Amsterdam peaks at 20.9°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 25.8°C or more. Roughly 1 in 7 days top 25°C and 1 in 67 pass 30°C. Nights average 14.7°C; one night in ten drops to 12.2°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest August day here reached 33.1°C (2020-08-08) and the coldest night 8.9°C (2018-08-26).
Rain in August
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 13 days with 1 mm or more, 84 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest August was 2006 with 166 mm, the driest 1995 with 13 mm. Humidity averages 79%.
Sea temperature in August
The sea averages 19.5°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 18.4°C to 20.6°C. This is the warmest the sea gets here all year.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 5.3 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 14.5 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:24 and sets about 21:06 local time in mid-August. Average cloud cover is 63%.
Is August a good time to visit Amsterdam?
August is not the strongest month here: warm days and frequent rain. The best months for Amsterdam on our scoring are July, August, June.
Comfortable warmth, with cooler evenings
August is among Amsterdam's warmest months, but that means comfortable warmth more often than strong heat. Days reach 25°C about 14% of the time, while 30°C is unusual at 2%. That makes the month a reasonable choice if you prefer exploring on foot without planning everything around midday heat, though a warmer spell can still call for a slower pace. Pack light clothes alongside a jumper or light jacket rather than relying on summer outfits alone. The cooler nights can fall to around 12°C or below, so an evening outdoors may feel noticeably different from a warm afternoon. Layers give you more flexibility than a heavy coat.
Plan for rain without writing off outdoor time
Rain is the main compromise in August, so keep indoor options in reserve and avoid making every day's plans dependent on dry weather. A light waterproof is a sensible part of your everyday bag, with footwear you are comfortable wearing in the wet. About 5.3 hours of sunshine sit within 14.5 hours of daylight: there is a long window for getting out, but it will not all be sunny. The rainy-day figure does not mean each wet day is a washout, nor does it promise brief showers. Keep the timing of longer walks flexible and use brighter spells when they arrive.
A little perspective
Amsterdam through the year
August is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| 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% |
| AugustSelectedbest | 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.
Keep exploring
Similar in August
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Amsterdam in August FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Amsterdam hot in August?
Amsterdam is warm in August: the average daytime high is 20.9°C and nights average 14.7°C. Roughly 1 in 7 August days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Amsterdam in August?
The sea around Amsterdam averages 19.5°C in August, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 18°C to 21°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Amsterdam in August?
Amsterdam sees about 13 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 84 mm of rain in a typical August. The wettest August between 1991 and 2020 was 2006 (166 mm) and the driest was 1995 (13 mm).
How sunny is Amsterdam in August?
Amsterdam gets around 5.3 hours of sunshine a day in August out of 14.5 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Amsterdam compare with the UK in August?
Amsterdam is on average 0.5°C cooler than London by day in August (20.9°C against 21.4°C).
What is the hottest August on record in Amsterdam?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest August day in Amsterdam reached 33.1°C on 2020-08-08, and the coldest night dropped to 8.9°C on 2018-08-26.
Is Amsterdam warmer than London in August?
Not on average. Amsterdam's daytime high is 20.9°C, compared with London's 21.4°C, a difference of just 0.5°C. Treat it as broadly similar summer warmth when packing, rather than choosing Amsterdam because you expect hotter weather.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming in August?
If you are considering a sea swim during your trip, the average water temperature is 19.5°C, which is bracing rather than warm. It suits travellers comfortable with cooler water; do not expect the sea to feel like a warm-weather bathing destination.
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