Ten Ways to Enjoy Spring in Amsterdam

From March 20 to May 11 Keukenhof, the most beautiful flower garden in the world opens its doors. Keukenhof is just a short bus ride from Amsterdam, which you can book from our website. Enjoy the many flowers, from tulips and daffodils to huge green trees. With over 800 species of flowers, it’s truly a spectacular view.

Keukenhof has themed gardens, a windmill, indoor displays and much more. With millions of bulbs planted every year, you’ll see more flowers than you’ve ever seen before. And there are many paths along the most colourful flowerbeds you’ve ever seen. This makes it the ultimate Dutch spring experience.

We offer entry tickets and direct buses from Amsterdam city centre, so you don’t have to worry about getting there. In the park you can roam freely, and you’ll be brought back to downtown Amsterdam after your tour. Still not enough? Make a pit stop at the Tulip Experience, a real tulip farm, where you can pick your own to take home. You can book a combination ticket for Keukenhof and the Tulip Experience on Tours & Tickets.

The best way to get around town and catch some sun while travelling is by bike. With many bike rentals around town, getting around is easy and cheap. And if you’re scared to get lost, we offer guided bike tours through the city. Ride like a local, but without the trouble of finding your own way, and discover Amsterdam the most Dutch way possible.

Would you rather cycle somewhere quiet? We also offer bike tours through the beautiful Dutch countryside. Discover the green fields and many waterways of the Waterland area on a guided tour. Or discover the unique fishing villages of Volendam and Marken on an electric bike, for beautiful views with extra comfort.

Amsterdam has many parks, including the famous Vondelpark, small city centre Wertheimpark, lush and green Flevopark and many more. As soon as the sun comes out, locals grab a blanket and some snacks, and spend their afternoons enjoying the weather. Escape the crowds of the city and have a nice picnic in the sun. And a little secret: the side of Vondelpark near the city centre is very crowded, but if you walk a little further it gets more relaxed. Here you might even see the stork’s nest, where a pair breeds every year. Amsterdam is greener than you think!

If you arrive on time, there’s a chance you will see Japanese cherry blossoms in bloom. In late March and early April these beautiful trees are covered in white flowers. This only lasts a few weeks, but this year the weather is perfect, so the trees might bloom a bit longer. The best spot is the blossom park in Amsterdamse Bos, where fields of trees create a magical experience. Other parks also have cherry trees, so you might just stumble upon this wonder during your picnics as well.

The most relaxed way to catch sun and discover the city center is of course a canal cruise. The views are best from the water, especially in the sun. You can marvel at the centuries old architecture and learn about the city while touring through the many waterways. Our semi open boats offer sunlight and shade, and audio guides in several languages, so a great option for everyone.

Or for a more casual experience, take an open boat tour with a local guide. Our open boats give you an unobstructed view, and can go where regular canal boats cannot go, including through the old narrow canals of the red light district. We even offer tours with food and drinks, a dinner cruise or pizza cruise, or an open boat tour with drinks included.

Spring means new life, and not just flowers. At ARTIS Royal Zoo new babies are born every spring, so this is the perfect time to enjoy this beautiful place. Marvel at freshly hatched eggs, animals crawling out of hibernation, and blooming trees and flowers all over the park. ARTIS is the oldest zoo in the Netherlands, and one of Amsterdam’s most popular attractions for both tourists and locals.

ARTIS is not just home to hundreds of animals, plenty of which have babies this time of year. The zoo also has a planetarium, to show you the stars, and Micropia, where you can discover the world of bacteria and other microbes. And to top it off, ARTIS organises many events in spring, from music shows and lectures to workshops. It is a great place to visit in spring, with and without kids. Don't miss out, get your tickets on our website.

A national tradition every spring is ‘terrasje pakken’, which means sitting at a bar’s outdoor space and enjoying the sun. Most bars have streetside terraces, or even on the waterfront, where you can spend endless hours watching boats go by. Enjoy local craft beers, a nice coffee or a fancy cocktail or have lunch or dinner in the sun. And don’t forget to order a portion of bitterballen, a very important part of terrasje. Bitterballen are deep fried snacks made of meat stew in crispy breadcrumbs, eaten with mustard. Don’t burn your mouth!

Even though it sometimes rains, in spring Amsterdam gets filled with open air activities like festivals and other events. For those looking to dance there’s many places to go, DGTL, Jazzfest, Amsterdam Open Air, Festival Macumba or one of the many Kingsday festivals. Amsterdam has a great reputation for dance music, and offers many festivals with all kinds of music, so there is something for everyone who wants to dance.

Looking for something more relaxed? Late March there’s Amsterdam Wine Festival, where you can taste, try and learn about all kinds of wines, and enjoy well paired bites. Or discover new and contemporary opera’s at Opera Forward Festival. Did the weather turn bad? Visit one of the city’s film festivals. Here you can discover movies you’ve never heard of, or watch classics on the big screen. There are also many smaller street fairs, markets, theatre festivals and culinary events to choose from, so no reason to get bored on your spring break.

Little bonus tip: on June 21th Amsterdam celebrates its 750^th birthday. There will be a massive festival celebrating the city and its history. A big part of the A10 highway  turns into a massive festival ground with all kinds of entertainment. This will truly be a historical event, so if you haven’t booked your trip to Amsterdam yet, this is the best weekend to do it.

Amsterdam is a historical merchants city, and that history is still alive in its many markets. The best known ones are of course Albert Cuyp Market and Waterlooplein flea market. Albert Cuyp market, in the bustling district of De Pijp, is full of traditional and international food stands. . If you’re curious to try Dutch food Albert Cuyp market is definitely the place to go, for bitterballen, herring and other fish, stroopwafels and even rookworst, traditional smoked sausage.  At Waterlooplein, in the city centre, vendors sell piles and piles of second hand clothes, souvenirs, bikes and many other trinkets and delights for cheap, and several food stands offer local and international delicacies.  

These of course aren’t the only markets in town. Every Saturday and Monday at the beautiful Noordermarkt square in Jordaan, there’s a unique flea market. Here you can find antiques, clothes, art pieces, flowers, and much more. For artisanal goods, we recommend the Sunday Market, which happens at different a different spot every Sunday. Discover what local and European artisans have to offer at this lively and unique market, from food to clothes to art. Check the location beforehand, so you don’t accidentally end up at the wrong spot.

Still not satisfied? One weekend a month the industrial NDSM area turns into the biggest flea market of Europe. With 750 stalls by locals who empty their houses and closets, antique vendors and anyone who has something to sell, it is truly massive. It’s just a ferry ride from Central Station, so worth a trip.

Escape the city and see one of the Netherlands’ most famous sights, the windmills at Zaanse Schans. A typical Dutch sight, these windmills were used for many reasons, from creating new land to producing mustard, and Zaanse Schans is the most beautiful place to see them.

Another recommendation is to go further into the countryside and visit the traditional villages of Volendam and Marken. Here you can see what Dutch countryside and small town life is really like. Volendam is an old fishing village that still sticks to tradition. It has cheese factories, a clog maker and many old houses. Marken is a former island, now connected by a land bridge, that still has its island charm. A trip to Marken and Volendam gives in a view into how the Dutch lived in the past, and is the perfect opportunity to escape the city and relax by the water too.

Combine them all? We offer a day trip that stops at Zaanse Schans, Volendam and Marken, including a ferry trip between Volendam and Marken and a visit to a traditional clog factory and cheese shop. With a fully organised bus trip, including plenty of free time to explore, the trip is a perfect way to escape the city and explore the traditional Dutch way of life.

Aside from these ten things, Amsterdam has plenty more to offer. Check out what other activities the city has, and plan your ultimate Amsterdam spring getaway!