How is Amsterdam in the Autumn? How is the rain? Is it worth visiting? Here is everything you need to know and what to expect with a trip to Amsterdam in the Autumn.
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Why Visit Amsterdam in the Autumn?
Isn’t the Spring the best time to visit Amsterdam to to see all of the blooming tulips? Or the summer for all of the epic festivals? Why visit Amsterdam in the Autumn?
I am a BIG fan of the autumn aesthetic, with the fall foliage, cooler weather, and moody vibes (in reality I really dislike the words “aesthetic” and “vibes” but they feel necessary here). What is better than canals lined with fall foliage, Dutch windmills with the fall-colored wardrobes and damp leaves lining cobblestone roads?!
If you are a big fan of the above-mentioned things as well, you are going to love Amsterdam in the autumn!
**Also, we found flights round-trip from Little Rock, Arkansas to Amsterdam (with only ONE layover) for $575 🙂**
Amsterdam in the Autumn Aesthetic
The “autumn aesthetic” 100% lived up to the hype and fulfilled all of my fall-vibe needs! Especially taking day trips to the nearby windmills. There is just something about a crisp, fall day wandering beautiful Dutch towns, windmills and canals 😍
Browse the gallery below to decide for yourself if Amsterdam does Autumn-vibes well 😜
When is the Best Time to Visit?
As you know, going fall-foliage chasing can be hard to predict, especially because it varies year to year. However, usually, September is too early. The leaves haven’t really started changing yet, though the weather will be really nice. By November, there is a good chance the leaves may have already changed and started falling. If you choose to go in November, I recommend going at the beginning!
We visited toward the end of the third week of October in 2023, which is typically about the time the leaves begin to change in Amsterdam. Obviously, peak foliage depends on the rain and weather of the season, and in 2023 Amsterdam had a bit of a dry and warm summer/early autumn, so peak foliage was a little later than normal.
- While we were there, the leaves had definitely started changing, but there was also still some green leaves.
- However, if you are wanting to visit Amsterdam in all of its fall foliage glory, mid-to-end of October should be a good time for it!
Temperatures in Amsterdam in the Autumn
I was nervous about the weather being miserable in Amsterdam in the Autumn, but honestly, it wasn’t bad! Mornings were a bit chilly but afternoons on most days were pleasant! I was able to wear a sweater and a lighter coat and feel comfortable (with the exception of one chillier morning). The average temps for each month (per weather.com) are below:
- September: Average highs are 66 degrees F and lows are 51 degrees F
- October: Average highs are 58 degrees F and lows are 45 degrees F
- November: Average highs are 49 degrees F and lows are 40 degrees F
Will it Rain Every Day?
Maybe lol. People told me to prepare for all the rain when visiting Amsterdam in the Autumn. However, there was only one day out of the 5 that we were there where it rained, and it did rain ALL day. However, the other days, were pleasant and sunny!
Obviously, this is so unpredictable. You should be prepared for rain if you visit Amsterdam this time of year. If you experience no rain at all, it’ll be a miracle. However, from our experience, the rain didn’t slow us down nor was it daily.
What to Expect for the Crowds
A perk of visiting this time of year is that the crowds are less than the Spring when everyone comes for tulip season as well as summer when people just generally travel more. Visiting in October, we didn’t have to wait for a seat at restaurants and the intercity trains were super manageable (aside from the Saturday we were there).
Are the Prices Better?
Amsterdam can be expensive. In general, visiting Amsterdam in the autumn should offer more affordable accommodation and flight prices compared to tulip season and summer time.
HOWEVER, you should be aware of festivals this time of year. I was NOT aware of the festivals, and though we found affordable flights, the accommodations were SUPER expensive due to the festival the week we booked. 😅
- For 5 nights for 2 people including flights from Arkansas to Amsterdam, accommodations, trains, food, and activities we spent $1,275 per person.
Festivals in Amsterdam in the Autumn
One in particular that happens yearly is the Amsterdam Dance Event, which usually falls toward the end of October. For 2024, this festival occurs October 16-20th! Click here to keep up with the festival dates.
Unless you want to party hard with the rest of the festival-attendees, I recommend skipping this weekend at ALL costs! The crowds are more than they should be during shoulder season and the prices for hotels are ridiculous.
Another popular festival is the International Documentary Film Festival that happens in November, which is the world’s largest documentary film festival. As you know, Amsterdam is a festival-lovers paradise! They have events and festivals happening nearly every weekend, though the popularity of them obviously vary.
- Click here for ALL of the Amsterdam festivals and activities and keep an eye on accommodation prices before you choose which dates you want to visit!
- Especially over the next year, as Amsterdam will be celebrating its 250th anniversary on October 27, 2025 and will have LOADs of cultural events and activities leading up to the even beginning on October 27, 2024!
How to Beat the Festival Prices
If you have already booked your flight for this weekend and are determined to keep on with the trip (like we were), there are ways to beat the crowds and prices of the festival. The best way to do this is to stay OUTSIDE of Amsterdam, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
- There are SO many beautiful, small Dutch towns that I recommend you add to your itinerary anyway. So rather than day tripping to them, you can stay overnight in a couple of the close-by towns in order to avoid the crowds and to save money.
- Two of these towns are Haarlem and Utrecht. I highly recommend staying in Utrecht for a few nights (click here for everything you will need to know about visiting). You can normally make a day trip to Haarlem since it is so close to Amsterdam. However, it is SO charming as well that I didn’t mind staying a night there either!
Where Should you Stay in Amsterdam?
If you are wanting a photogenic neighborhood lined with canals, away from the noise of central Amsterdam but still in walking distance of many of the highlights of Amsterdam, I suggest staying in the Jordaan neighborhood.
Amsterdam in the Autumn Recap
Have I convinced you autumn is the perfect time to visit Amsterdam and the Netherlands yet? 😏 But, honestly, I had visited Amsterdam before in the month of August. Though I actually enjoyed the city both times, I preferred it when it wasn’t so hot and crowded. And, despite having to work our itinerary around the. unexpected festival, the price still worked out fine and we ended up seeing some of the best small Dutch towns!
Browse before for other articles you may be interested in, including an epic 5 day itinerary to Amsterdam!
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