Amsterdam
Capital of Netherlands
Amsterdam is the capital of the Netherlands and has a population of about 921,000. Visitors are drawn to the city for its historic Grachtengordel and major cultural sites.
What to see
The city is home to several major museums, including the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, and the Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam. Historic sites include the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, the Anne Frank House, the Westerkerk, the Oude Kerk, and the Begijnhof. The Portuguese Synagogue is also located here. For architecture and landmarks, visitors look to the Amsterdam Centraal station, the Olympic Stadium, and the Johan Cruyff Arena. The Grachtengordel is a UNESCO site, and Vondelpark provides green space.
When to go
Temperatures are mildest from May through September, with daily highs ranging from 16 °C to 20 °C. The warmest months are July and August. Rain occurs throughout the year. The wettest months are October, November, and December, often with 16 rainy days per month. January and February are the coldest, with daily highs of 5 °C to 6 °C and lows of 1 °C.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, located 10 km from the city.
Top sights in Amsterdam
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 21 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 5 | 6 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 6 |
| Average low, °C | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
| Rainfall, mm | 81 | 60 | 70 | 45 | 63 | 71 | 86 | 92 | 92 | 104 | 96 | 89 |
| Rainy days | 16 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 16 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Amsterdam (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Amsterdam Museum
- Amsterdam-Noord
- Amsterdam-Oost
- Amsterdam-West
- Amsterdam-Zuid
- Amsterdam-Zuidoost
- Beurs van Berlage
- Binnenstad, Amsterdam
- De Gooyer, Amsterdam
- H'ART Museum
- Heineken Experience
- Het Scheepvaartmuseum
- Het Schip
- Homomonument
- Hortus Botanicus
- Joods Historisch Museum
- Jordaan
- KattenKabinet
- Magere Brug
- Micropia
- Moco Museum
- Museum Van Loon
- Museum Willet-Holthuysen
- Museumplein
- National Monument
- Nieuwe Kerk, Amsterdam
- Noorderkerk
- Ons' Lieve Heer op Solder
- Oosterpark
- Plantage
- Rembrandt House Museum
- Sarphatipark
- Verzetsmuseum
- Wereldmuseum Amsterdam
- Zuiderkerk