Netherlands
Amsterdam in May
🌷 SpringPleasant and some showers.
🎒 Pack: warm jacket for evenings
Why May scores 9.2What goes into the score
How it works- Weather comfort9.2
- ✓Comfortable temperatures (18°C highs / 9°C lows)
- ✓Comfortable humidity (dew point 9.5°C)
- ✓Mostly dry (~54 mm rain)
- Air quality9.4
- ✓Good (within WHO guideline) (PM2.5 ~9 µg/m³)
- Seasonal hazards10.0
- ·No notable seasonal hazards
- Safety baseline7.5
- ·Increased caution
| May | Jun | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 9.2 Excellent | 9.3 Excellent |
| Season | 🌷 Spring | ☀️ Summer |
| High / low | 18° / 9° | 20° / 11° |
| Rain | 54 mm | 65 mm |
| Humidity | dew pt 10° | dew pt 12° |
| PM2.5 | 9 µg/m³ | 9 µg/m³ |
Typical-month data: NASA POWER (MERRA-2 reanalysis) 2015–2024 (modelled, not a forecast). Temperatures: Amsterdam Schiphol weather-station normals. Rainfall: Amsterdam Airport Schiphol weather-station normals (national met service).
Holidays & crowdsMay 2027
Long weekendThere's at least one long weekend. Domestic travel picks up and popular spots get busier over those days.
- Pentecost 15–17 May · 3 days off in a row
Other public holidays: Ascension Day (6 May)
National holidays only; regional holidays and school breaks aren't included. Source: holidays (open-source public-holiday calendar).
Explore AmsterdamEvents, sights, food & souvenirs
Check event dates locallyThe Dutch capital, known for its 17th-century canal ring, major art museums, cycling culture and relaxed neighbourhoods.
Tulip seasonDate variesRoughly early April to early May, depending on weather
Bulb fields between Haarlem and Leiden flower in bands of colour.
Why go: Peak bloom varies with the weather, so check bloom reports.
Where: Keukenhof and bulb fields near Lisse
Coming up later
Pride AmsterdamDate variesUsually late July to early August
A week of events culminating in the Canal Parade of decorated boats.
Why go: Canal-side viewing spots fill early on parade day.
Where: Canals and city centre
Amsterdam Light FestivalDate variesUsually late November or December to January
Light art installations along the canals, viewable on foot or by boat.
Why go: Boat tours for the festival sell out on weekends.
Where: City-centre canals
King's Day (Koningsdag)Date varies27 April (26 April when the 27th falls on a Sunday)
The national celebration of the king's birthday with street parties, boat parties and a citywide flea market.
Why go: The city is extremely crowded; wear orange and expect limited public transport in the centre.
Where: Citywide, especially canals and the Jordaan
Rijksmuseum
The national museum of Dutch art and history, home to Rembrandt's The Night Watch and works by Vermeer.
Van Gogh Museum
The world's largest collection of Vincent van Gogh's paintings and drawings.
💡 Time-slot tickets are needed; book online ahead.
Anne Frank House
The canal house where Anne Frank and her family hid during the Second World War.
💡 Tickets are sold online only and often sell out weeks ahead.
Canal ring
The UNESCO-listed ring of 17th-century canals, best seen on foot or by boat.
Jordaan
A former working-class district with narrow streets, small shops and canal-side cafés.
Keukenhofgreat in May
A large spring flower garden near Lisse, about 40 minutes from Amsterdam.
💡 Only open in spring, roughly mid-March to mid-May.
Stroopwafel
Two thin waffles sandwiching caramel syrup, best eaten warm.
💡 Street markets such as the Albert Cuyp Market
Raw herring (haring)
Lightly brined herring served with onions and pickles.
💡 Herring stands around the city
Bitterballen
Deep-fried crumbed balls of meat ragout, served with mustard as a bar snack.
💡 Brown cafés (bruine kroegen)
Appeltaart
Deep Dutch apple pie, usually served with whipped cream.
💡 Cafés
Rijsttafel
An Indonesian 'rice table' of many small dishes, part of Dutch food culture through colonial history.
💡 Indonesian restaurants
Dutch cheese
Aged Gouda and other cheeses, often vacuum-packed for travel.
💡 Cheese shops and markets
Delftware
Blue-and-white ceramics; genuine pieces carry a maker's mark from Delft.
💡 Specialist shops; cheap versions are often imported
Tulip bulbs
Bulbs with export certificates for taking abroad.
💡 Bloemenmarkt and garden shops