Amsterdam in August: Weather, events, packing list and more!
Last Updated on October 3, 2024 by Lauren Allen
Wondering what it’s like to explore Amsterdam in August? Then you’re in luck! In this post, I’ll take a deep dive into visiting this well-loved European city.
August is the perfect month for visiting the Dutch capital. The city is lively at any time of the year, but in peak summer, the atmosphere is just so much more vibrant.
Visiting Amsterdam during this time gives you an opportunity to explore the city for longer in the daylight, enjoy some incredible sunsets and do many outdoor activities.
With picturesque canals, beautiful buildings and a huge range of things to do, Amsterdam is the perfect city for a summer break.
You could easily stay a couple of days or a full week and your itinerary is sure to be jam-packed for the whole trip.
After enjoying a wonderful city break in Amsterdam at this popular time of year, I’ll share everything you need to know to make the most out of your trip.
By the end of this guide, you’ll know all about the weather, what to pack, funky events you can’t miss and the best things to do. Let’s get to it!
A quick note: This is a guest post written by Charlotte from The Geo Room – feel free to check out her blog!
Amsterdam weather in August
In August, the weather in Amsterdam is typically warm and sunny. If you’re unlucky with the weather, you’ll experience some rain.
While the climate is usually warm, it’s never too hot in Amsterdam. Its location means that there’s always a bit of a breeze coming from the North Sea. This makes sure that temperatures never rise drastically.
Amsterdam temperatures in August average around 21°C, dropping lower to 12°C at night. This weather is perfect for a city break as it allows you to do plenty of things outdoors and not be exhausted from the heat and humidity.
Rain is expected for approximately 11 days during the month of August, meaning that a light rain jacket might be wise. When it does rain, showers tend to be very light and are rarely heavy enough to halt any plans.
However, that’s not always the case. I personally experienced a lot of rain on my last trip to the Netherlands so it’s wise to come prepared!
The city can get as much as 14 hours of daylight in early August and 12 towards the end of the month. This is great for solo travellers who perhaps don’t like being out after dark.
August is therefore a great month to visit Amsterdam. With warm temperatures, little rain (if you’re lucky) and long days, Amsterdam is lovely to explore in late summer.
The great August weather means that the city gets very, very busy. If you fancy escaping the hustle and bustle then a weekend trip away from the city is a great opportunity to experience something different.
What to pack for visiting Amsterdam in August
Figuring out what to pack for a trip to Amsterdam in August all depends on what type of activities you plan on doing. It also depends on how long you plan to spend outdoors.
Clothes to take to Amsterdam in the summer months
As previously mentioned, the weather in Amsterdam in August is typically warm and pleasant meaning you can pack light.
For clothing, you’ll want to pack light layers such as linen trousers, dresses, shorts, cotton fabric t-shirts and other summer clothes.
Make sure to pack some sunglasses for sunny days and perhaps a cap or sun hat. You should also consider bringing a jacket for cooler evenings and a lightweight, waterproof coat in case you get caught in showers.
Amsterdam is a very walkable city and it’s typically easier to walk between attractions than take public transport. For this reason, you’ll want a pair of comfortable shoes like trainers.
Essentials for a summer trip to Amsterdam
When you’re out and about for most of the day, there are a few things to consider packing. A light backpack or bag to keep your phone and money safe is ideal. It’s also handy for carrying around other items you might need during the day.
I always find a portable charger very useful to take with me on city breaks as I find myself taking lots of photos. A portable charger means you don’t have to worry about stopping off at your accommodation or a restaurant to charge up your device.
Packing small snacks to take with you as you check off your Amsterdam bucket list is a great idea. You’ll likely find yourself on your feet for many hours which can make you lose energy quickly. As such, carrying a bite to eat is wise.
Snacking in Amsterdam can be quite expensive. If you can’t find a local grocery store nearby, having some cereal bars or rice cakes handy is an easy and cheap fix.
Card payments are widely accepted in the city with many shops and restaurants preferring customers to pay by card or contactless methods. If you travel a lot, I highly recommend using Monzo as they have no foreign transaction fees.
Amsterdam operates with the Euro, so you may also want to pick some up before heading on your trip.
While paying with a card is king, having some cash isn’t a bad idea. This is particularly true if you plan on tipping in Amsterdam. It can also come in handy if your card declines.
Amsterdam events in August
August is one of the best months to visit Amsterdam if you’re looking to celebrate! There are many events and festivals in the city each year, with many new ones cropping up here and there.
Amsterdam Pride
One of the largest celebrations is Pride. The people of Amsterdam love it and are so accepting of all sexualities and identities. The Pride Parade is so huge that you often get people travelling from all over Europe to attend.
It’s also one of the biggest Pride celebrations in the world with street parties and club events running all weekend. The huge canal parade attracts over 500,000 attendees looking to celebrate love in all forms.
Grachtenfestival
The Grachtenfestival is another of Amsterdam’s biggest events in August. The festival celebrates all things classical music and gives an audience to smaller artists to perform. The performers are mainly young people waiting to be discovered for their musical talents.
The Drag Olympics
The Drag Olympics is a super fun event to experience in Amsterdam. Drag queens from all over the Netherlands come together to compete in some very fitting events such as the stiletto sprint, handbag throw and limbo; all dressed in their very best attire.
The Open Air Film Festival
The Open Air Film Festival is also a highly anticipated event. With thousands of deck chairs laid out for the public, you can enjoy upcoming movies and documentaries on the big screen – all under the beautiful night sky.
All of the films are either in English or have subtitles so don’t worry about not knowing how to speak Dutch!
Dance Valley Festival
Just outside of Amsterdam, the Dance Valley Festival runs every year. It’s the biggest and most popular dance festival in the Netherlands and draws huge crowds.
The city runs free buses from Amsterdam Sloterdijk to and from the festival making it super easy to get to if you’re staying in the city centre.
Things to do in Amsterdam in August
There are many weird and wonderful things to do in Amsterdam. Here are the best activities and attractions to check out during August:
Van Gogh Museum
The Van Gogh Museum is home to some of the Netherlands’ most famous art. The museum houses over 200 of Vincent Van Gogh’s paintings, 400 drawings and 700 letters. One of his most famous works, ‘Sunflowers’ is in pride of place in the museum
Anne Frank House
The Anne Frank House is an amazing experience and allows you to travel back to a time when war was at its peak and Jewish people in Amsterdam lived in fear.
This popular Amsterdam attraction hid the Frank family and their family friends for over two years during WWII, with office workers helping them to survive. Anne, the youngest of the Frank family kept a diary during their hiding period.
This diary has now been translated into over 70 languages, allowing millions of people to learn of the terrors of war.
Tickets for the Anne Frank House are always hard to come by but they’re even harder in the summer months. If you’re planning to visit Amsterdam in August, be sure to get your tickets well in advance!
Upside Down
The Upside Down Museum is the perfect attraction for social media lovers. It offers 25 cleverly designed rooms that allow you to take some awesome photos upside down or with cute props.
It’s super busy, particularly with younger travellers but is often quieter (and cheaper) first thing in the morning or during the evenings.
I loved my trip to the Upside Down and managed to get some awesome photos. However, I was very frustrated with people walking in front of the camera while we were posing or just hovering around waiting for us to finish.
Typically families with kids were the worst for ruining photos as the children were just so excited to see what was next.
The good news is that you can take as many photos as you like at The Upside Down, so it doesn’t matter too much if a few get ruined! You just have to be prepared to pose a few times or let people in front of you in the one-way system.
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum is the most popular museum in the Netherlands. It’s home to thousands of Dutch artefacts which show the progression of the country throughout time.
Paintings from famous Dutch artists such as Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Vermeer are housed in the Rijksmuseum. This makes it a must-see for art enthusiasts exploring the city.
If you’re on the hunt for crazy things to do in Amsterdam, don’t miss the Rijksmuseum’s secret library! It’s truly one of the best hidden gems in the Dutch capital.
Foodhallen
Foodhallen is the place to go if you’re a foodie! It’s a massive indoor market with cuisines from all over the world.
This makes it one of the best places to try authentic Dutch food such as stroopwafels, bitterballen or poffertjes.
There are over 40 stands to choose from meaning you’re bound to find something for everyone. Plus, it has a cool atmosphere that’s hard to beat!
Walking Tour of Amsterdam
A walking tour is one of the best ways to truly discover a new city. Amsterdam is no different! If you’re looking for free things to do in the Dutch capital, this is a great option.
Amsterdam walking tours often start in the infamous Dam Square and tour the main sights of the city. This means you’ll often stop at popular Instagram spots if you’re on the hunt for great holiday photos.
The tour guides will give you great insights into life in Amsterdam during the war and the cannabis craze in the city. They’ll also give you lots of information on the tolerance of prostitution. For many, this is a big reason to visit Amsterdam.
Body Worlds
Body Worlds is a fantastic museum for anyone who loves learning about the human body. The museum has over 200 real human bodies on display to showcase the intricacy of the different body systems that we all have.
Body Worlds encourages its visitors to expand their knowledge of human anatomy and grow a greater appreciation for how great our bodies are.
Canal Tour
With hundreds of canals in Amsterdam, it would be silly to leave the city without jumping on a canal cruise. August is the perfect time for a canal tour with such lovely weather.
Canal tours are great, particularly the smaller ones which are more conversational. They allow you to appreciate the architecture of the city from a different angle and learn lots of information from your skipper.
We had a lovely experience on our canal boat tour. The operator we chose was Those Dam Boat Guys, which is a small company that offers some amazing tours of the city.
Their smaller boats mean you tour with only a handful of other people – far better than huge boats crammed with hundreds of tourists. It made it far easier to ask the skipper questions and she was super informative.
Xtracold Ice Bar
If it’s just unbearably hot in the city, then the best place to escape the heat is the Xtracold Ice Bar. The bar is made entirely of ice – even the cups that you drink from.
The bar is kept at a temperature well below freezing, but don’t worry! You’ll be provided with some thermal clothing to stop you from shivering.
Heineken Experience
The Heineken Experience is the best place to cool off in the August heat.
With Heineken being one of the Netherlands’ most loved and famous beers, you need to try the experience if you’re a beer-lover.
The Heineken Experience takes place in one of the original breweries used for making Heineken.
FAQs about visiting the Dutch capital in August
Thanks to the many great events in the Dutch capital during August, it’s a great time of year to explore the city!
While it can be hot (it is summer after all), the weather can be a little hit-and-miss sometimes. On my most recent trip to the city, it was more rainy than sunny despite it being August.
Absolutely! August is one of the busiest times to visit Amsterdam due to events such as festivals and pride.
August is an expensive time of year to visit Amsterdam as it’s during high season. With such high demand, hotels hike up their prices.
If you’re debating whether to go to Amsterdam in July or August, it’s all down to personal preference. August offers the best weather and coolest events, but it’s also more crowded.
The best time of year to visit Amsterdam depends on personal preference. However, spring is typically a good time as the city is in full bloom during tulip season.
Conclusion for visiting Amsterdam in August
August is a fab month to visit Amsterdam. The weather is at its best and the city is full of life. There’s so much to do in the city all year round, but it’s so much more enjoyable to experience the city in warm weather.
The festival and events at this time of year ensure that citizens and visitors have an enjoyable experience. There are events to suit everyone’s tastes such as music, film or dance.
Amsterdam is also bursting with museums and experiences, you’ll never run out of ways to fill your itinerary. Even if you’re visiting Amsterdam for a week, you won’t run out of things to do!
There are opportunities to look at world-famous art, learn about the history of the city, get a glimpse at life during WWII or just have fun!
If you’re considering a trip to Amsterdam then consider booking it for summer – particularly August. The atmosphere in the city is just incredible and the people are super lively and welcoming.
Has this post inspired you to explore Amsterdam in August? If so, let me know!
