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Quick Answer
At a glance
- Best time
- Apr–May tulips; Jun–Sep; late Nov–Dec lights
- Time needed
- 5 to 7 days
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Dutch
- From the airport
- Amsterdam Schiphol: Train to Amsterdam Centraal, 15–20 min
- Visa
- Schengen area rules apply
- Getting around
- NS trains; tap in with contactless
The Netherlands is small and flat, and almost every city is under two hours apart by train, so the season matters more than the route. Spring is for tulips, summer for long light evenings and cycling, and the winter months for lights, markets and museums. Every date and price below was checked on 4 October 2026.
The best time to visit the Netherlands, month by month
Temperatures are KNMI’s 1991-2020 normals for Schiphol, next to Amsterdam, and Maastricht, in the far south.
| Month | Schiphol high / low (°C) | Maastricht high / low (°C) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6.2 / 1.2 | 5.7 / 0.5 | Museums, the last weeks of the Light Festival |
| February | 6.9 / 1.0 | 6.7 / 0.7 | Quiet cities, low hotel prices |
| March | 10.1 / 2.8 | 10.7 / 2.7 | Keukenhof opens; daffodils and crocuses |
| April | 14.3 / 5.2 | 15.0 / 5.0 | Tulips at their peak; King’s Day on 27 April |
| May | 17.8 / 8.6 | 18.8 / 8.7 | Late tulips, cycling, mild days |
| June | 20.3 / 11.3 | 21.7 / 11.7 | Long evenings, canal walks |
| July | 22.5 / 13.5 | 23.8 / 13.8 | Warmest month; busiest in Amsterdam |
| August | 22.4 / 13.4 | 23.5 / 13.4 | Warm, but the wettest month at Schiphol |
| September | 19.2 / 11.0 | 19.7 / 10.6 | Mild, fewer crowds; a strong all-round pick |
| October | 14.7 / 7.7 | 14.8 / 7.3 | Autumn city breaks, wetter and windier |
| November | 10.0 / 4.5 | 9.7 / 3.8 | Valkenburg caves from 13 November; lights from 26 November |
| December | 6.9 / 1.9 | 6.3 / 1.4 | Christmas markets, Light Festival; shortest days |
The difference between north and south is small: Maastricht runs about a degree warmer in summer and a little colder on winter nights. What matters more is rain and wind. Schiphol gets about 82 to 99 mm of rain a month from July to December, and December brings only about 58 hours of sunshine in the whole month.
Top Cities to Explore
The Netherlands by trip type
Tulips and spring (late March to early May)
Keukenhof, between Amsterdam and Leiden, is open from 18 March to 9 May 2027, daily from 08:00 to 19:00, with the last entry at 18:15. Crocuses and daffodils lead in March; the tulips peak from about mid-April. Tickets go on sale from 15 October and prices vary by day, so buy online once you have dates. King’s Day on 27 April turns every city into a street party and flea market; it is a Tuesday in 2027, and trains and hotels around Amsterdam are busy that day.
Winter lights and Christmas markets (mid-November to mid-January)
The Netherlands does not have Germany’s old market tradition, but it has a few strong reasons to come in December:
| Event | 2026 dates | Entry |
|---|---|---|
| Valkenburg cave markets (Gemeentegrot) | 13 Nov to 30 Dec | Paid ticket |
| Amsterdam Light Festival | 26 Nov 2026 to 17 Jan 2027, lights 16:30 to 23:00 | Walk the route; canal cruise from 29.75 euros |
| Magisch Maastricht, Vrijthof | 27 Nov to 27 Dec | Free |
| Christmas Village, Museumplein (Amsterdam) | 3 to 27 Dec, 12:00 to 21:00 | Free |
| Dickens Festijn, Deventer | 12 and 13 Dec, 10:00 to 17:00 | 7.50 euros, children 7 and under free |
The Gemeentegrot in Valkenburg calls itself Europe’s largest underground Christmas market, set in a marl cave, and it is closed on 25 December. In Amsterdam, the Light Festival is the main event: artworks along a 4.5 km route by the canals, lit from 16:30 each evening, with a 75-minute boat option. Our Amsterdam guide has the full winter plan. To compare these with the bigger German and Central European markets, see the Christmas markets 2026 guide, and for a rail-only route, Christmas markets by train. Germany’s markets are close: see our Germany guide.
Dutch winters are more wet than cold. A packable down jacket, waterproof winter boots and a wind-resistant travel umbrella will do more for you than heavy snow gear.
Summer (June to September)
Summer is the season for cycling, canal walks and the North Sea coast, with highs of about 20 to 22°C and daylight late into the evening. July and August are the busiest and priciest months in Amsterdam; September keeps most of the warmth with fewer visitors.
How much does a day in the Netherlands cost?
Amsterdam sets the top of the range. Prices below are the published 2026 rates.
| Item (2026) | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| GVB Day ticket (Amsterdam trams, buses, metro) | 10 euros | GVB |
| GVB 3-day ticket | 21.50 euros | GVB |
| Rijksmuseum, adult | 25 euros (under 18 free) | Rijksmuseum |
| Van Gogh Museum, adult | 25 euros (under 18 free) | Van Gogh Museum |
| Anne Frank House, adult | 16.50 euros, including a 1 euro booking fee | Anne Frank House |
| Amsterdam tourist tax | 12.5% of the room price, excluding VAT | City of Amsterdam |
Rooms are the biggest cost, and Amsterdam’s tourist tax adds 12.5% on top of the room price. Staying in Haarlem, Utrecht or Rotterdam and taking the train in is a common way to save. See the cheapest European countries to visit if the Netherlands stretches your budget.
Getting around the Netherlands
Arriving overland is easy too. Amsterdam has direct high-speed trains from Brussels, Paris and London, and from Germany; if you are combining countries, see our Germany and United Kingdom guides, and the best train booking sites in Europe.
Entry rules, money and staying connected
Entry: the Netherlands is in the Schengen area, so non-EU visitors count their days under the Schengen 90/180 rule. The EU’s biometric Entry/Exit System registers non-EU travellers at the external border; our EES and ETIAS guide explains what to expect.
Money: the Netherlands uses the euro, and cards and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere, including on public transport. When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in euros.
Data: a travel eSIM gets you online on landing; see the best eSIM for Europe.
- Activate before you fly: data works on arrival
- Plans for 200+ countries from a few dollars
- Keep your number; no physical SIM swap
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best month to visit the Netherlands?
Mid to late April is the best month if you want tulips: Keukenhof is open from 18 March to 9 May 2027 and the broadest colour usually comes in the second half of April. For the mildest, driest weather go from May to September, when Schiphol averages highs of about 18 to 22°C, according to KNMI’s 1991-2020 normals.
When do the Christmas markets in the Netherlands open in 2026?
The underground markets in the Valkenburg caves open first, from 13 November to 30 December 2026. Magisch Maastricht on the Vrijthof runs from 27 November to 27 December, Amsterdam’s Christmas Village on Museumplein from 3 to 27 December, and the Dickens Festijn in Deventer on 12 and 13 December. The Amsterdam Light Festival runs from 26 November 2026 to 17 January 2027.
How cold is the Netherlands in winter?
Mild but damp and windy. KNMI’s 1991-2020 normals for Schiphol give December and January highs of about 6 to 7°C and lows of about 1 to 2°C, with 1 mm or more of rain on about 12 to 14 days a month. Snow falls on only about 4 to 5 days a month in December and January. Pack a waterproof jacket and shoes rather than heavy snow gear.
When is the tulip season in the Netherlands?
Tulip season runs from late March to early May. Keukenhof, the best-known garden, is open from 18 March to 9 May 2027, daily from 08:00 to 19:00. Crocuses and daffodils lead in March, and tulips peak from about mid-April. Keukenhof tickets go on sale from 15 October and prices vary by day.
How do you get around the Netherlands without a car?
By train. NS Intercity trains link Amsterdam, Utrecht, Rotterdam and The Hague every few minutes, with no seat reservations needed on domestic trains, and Schiphol airport has its own station under the terminal. You can tap in and out at the card readers with a contactless debit or credit card or a phone, instead of buying a ticket.
What currency does the Netherlands use, and are cards accepted?
The Netherlands uses the euro. Cards and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere, including on trains, trams and buses, where you tap in and out with your card. If a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in euros: the conversion rate it applies is usually worse.
Start planning your Netherlands trip
Pick the season first: April for tulips, summer for long days, December for lights and markets. Then base yourself in Amsterdam or, for lower room prices, a city a short train ride away. For the colder months, our where to go in November and where to go in December guides compare the Netherlands with the rest of Europe.
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