What to Wear in Amsterdam for All Seasons
Amsterdam is one of those cities that’s always trying to catch you off guard. You could fall asleep one night freezing under a thick blanket and wake up sweating because of how hot it is. That’s because the weather here changes very drastically, not just throughout the year but often throughout the same day!
The unpredictability of Amsterdam means that you really need to go into the whole thing super prepared, so no matter what type of weather the city throws at you, you’ll be prepared for it!
In this post, we’ve created a little guide that you can use to ensure that when you visit Amsterdam, you know exactly what to pack for that particular season!
What to Wear in Amsterdam for Every Season
You have your tickets booked but don’t know what to pack for Amsterdam? Here’s a breakdown of what you should be wearing according to all of the seasons of the year:
Packing for Amsterdam in the Spring
If you want to visit Amsterdam when it’s in all its glory, spring would be the time to go. It’s when the harsh winters are ending, the flowers are blooming, and it’s just nice out. However, this doesn’t mean it's a warm and sunny season. The day starts a little chilly because of the crazy winds and rain, warms up slightly in mid-day before it gets colder again. So you need to think about layering up.
Everyone, in general, should try to keep as many long-sleeves and jeans in their luggage for spring. That would be your main layer for spring in Amsterdam. Jackets are part of everyday attire, so think about trench coats, puffer jackets, and jean jackets to wear throughout the day.
What to Wear in Amsterdam for the Summer
Although Summer in Amsterdam isn’t really that hot, some unexpected heat waves have been going around Europe in the past couple of years. So, typically, it’s nice and warm, but the wind and rain could make things cool down. It’s a bit of everything really but nothing too cold.
So leave out the thick winter jackets and keep mainly short-sleeved T-shirts and Jeans handy. Women could also pack summer dresses or skirts, but remember, it does get pretty windy while they look great, so it might not be that fun to wear. One layer that everyone should pack for Amsterdam in the summer, for sure, is a nice windbreaker, so if it gets too windy or rains unexpectedly, you’ll have something to protect you from it!
What to Pack In the Autumn for the Netherlands
Autumn in the Netherlands isn’t the cozy fall we have everywhere else in the world. It’s more so like a lighter winter. The weather is fairly chilly, with winds and rain making it a lot colder at random times in the way.
Keep long sleeves T-shirts with jeans and light jumpers in your Autumn luggage. Keep one or two windbreakers and a slightly thick shawl for whenever it gets colder. This is the time of year when summer dresses and skirts aren’t really going to work. So skip those and go for leggings and jeans instead!
How to Dress for Winter in Amsterdam
Winter is the slowest month for tourism in Amsterdam because, well, the temperature can get as low as 2°C at night. In the daytime, it’s still a comfortable 5-9°C, so if that’s the type of weather you like, you’d have a grand time in Amsterdam and enjoy the perks of “off-season traveling.” Granted, you know what to wear in Amsterdam in the winter.
This time of year is all about the thick layers. Pack heavy, start off with thermal long johns. They might not be the cutest, but they will keep you all warm and cozy while you explore the city.
In the daytime, you’ll need full-sleeved shirts as your base layer. On top of that, you could add a sweater and a thick jacket just in case you feel extra chilly. You should also keep a scarf, cap, and gloves handy at all times.
You could get away with only keeping one thick jacket for your entire trip, but remember to keep extras for the socks, gloves, and long johns. That way, even if your clothes get wet, you can change into a dry layer of the basic clothing that’s always going to keep you warm!
Best types of shoes to pack for visiting the Netherlands
While packing the right clothes for Amsterdam is important. It’s even more important to know what to pack for Amsterdam in terms of shoes! Too many people pack the right clothing and get the shoes wrong. Walking a mile in the wrong shoes is never easy, but it’s harder when you consider the ever-changing terrain throughout Amsterdam!
Here’s an easy overview of the types of shoes you should pack for Amsterdam!
Shoes for cobblestones
Cobblestones are no joke to walk on. Even if you visit in the summer, if you have thin sandals on, your feet will start to hurt after a while, and heels are just a bad idea for the whole city throughout the year anyway. Swap out those impractical shoes and pack boots and sneakers. Anything that has more of a thicker sole. These types of shoes will be able to “grip” onto the cobblestone and keep you from falling, and protect your feet while they’re at it!
Best Beach Shoes
While Amsterdam isn’t really known for beaches. If you venture outside the city a little bit, you could enjoy a day by the sand on beaches like Zandvoort beach! The waters may be quite chilly for most of the year, but it can still be fun to get all up in the water! A nice pair of thick flip flops are a must, but apart from that, keep a waterproof pair of sneakers or crocs that you can take a stroll on the beach with and just wash off once you’re out without having to worry about ruining them at all.
Shoes for visiting the national parks
The Netherlands is all about natural beauty, and a lot of it can be seen in the national parks near Amsterdam! Some of the most notable ones are Hoge Veluwe national park and Maasduinen National Park. In natural parks, you shouldn’t really break out the nice boots or anything. It’s going to be thick, grippy, waterproof sneakers for everyone across the board. Shoes that are tough and are easy to get around in! Plus, once you’re out of the (usually) muddy terrain, you can just rinse the shoes and be ready for the next day!
You’re all set to hit the streets of Amsterdam!
Now you know exactly what to expect in the unexpected city of Amsterdam. Whether you go in the summer or the peak of winter, you’ll know exactly what to pack, so the weather never ends up coming in the middle of you and your vacation!