Question 1

When is the sunniest time of year in Amsterdam?

Accepted Answer

The sunniest time of year in Amsterdam runs from late spring through summer, with **August 2025 the brightest month of all at 311.4 hours of sunshine** — roughly 10 hours of sun per day. If you want reliable daylight and clear skies, the period from April to August is your best bet.

Across 2025, Amsterdam recorded about 2,130 hours of sunshine in total. The strongest stretch was concentrated in just a handful of months:

- **August:** 311.4 hours (sunniest, with highs reaching 32.5°C / 90.5°F)
- **May:** 282.7 hours
- **June:** 279.7 hours
- **April:** 273.1 hours

Spring (March–May) and summer (June–August) were closely matched, averaging around 264 and 280 sunshine hours per month respectively. The contrast with winter is dramatic: January 2025 was the dimmest month with only 46.7 hours of sunshine, less than a sixth of August's total.

For visitors, this makes the late-spring-to-summer window the clear choice for sightseeing, canal tours, and outdoor cafés in Amsterdam. Keep in mind that bright does not always mean dry — June and July still saw over 100mm of rain each despite their long sunny spells, so a packable rain layer remains wise. April and May offer a sweet spot in Amsterdam, pairing 270-plus sunshine hours with comparatively low rainfall (around 24mm and 42mm), making them ideal for travelers who prefer sunshine without the peak-summer crowds or heat.

Question 2

Which season is the wettest in Amsterdam?

Accepted Answer

Autumn is by far the wettest season in Amsterdam, with the meteorological autumn of 2025 (September 1 to November 30) delivering 503.4 mm (19.8 inches) of rain — nearly half of the city's entire annual total.

Across the full 2025 calendar year, Amsterdam recorded 1,051 mm (41.4 inches) of precipitation. Autumn alone accounted for about 48% of that, far outpacing every other season:

- **Autumn (Sep–Nov 2025):** 503.4 mm (19.8 in)
- **Summer (Jun–Aug 2025):** 272.6 mm (10.7 in)
- **Winter (Jan–Feb 2025):** 138.8 mm (5.5 in)
- **Spring (Mar–May 2025):** 87.5 mm (3.4 in)

October was the single wettest month of the year at 192.2 mm (7.6 inches), followed by November at 165.2 mm (6.5 inches) and September at 146.0 mm (5.7 inches). At the other extreme, March was the driest month with just 21.9 mm (0.9 inches).

For visitors, this means autumn in Amsterdam is the season most likely to disrupt outdoor plans, so waterproof clothing and a flexible itinerary are wise from September through November. Spring and early summer offer the driest, most settled conditions for cycling and canal-side sightseeing, making them the better bet if you want to avoid the heaviest rain.

Question 3

What were the temperature extremes in Amsterdam in 2025?

Accepted Answer

Amsterdam swung between a scorching high of **36.0°C (96.8°F)** and a freezing low of **−5.5°C (22.1°F)** in 2025, giving the city a full annual temperature range of about 41.5°C (75°F).

The hottest day of the year arrived on **July 1, 2025**, when temperatures in Amsterdam peaked at 36.0°C (96.8°F). At the other end of the scale, the coldest reading came on the night of **February 18, 2025**, when the thermometer dropped to −5.5°C (22.1°F). Across the whole of 2025, the average temperature settled at a mild 11.2°C (52.1°F), reflecting Amsterdam's temperate maritime climate.

Heat above 30°C is relatively uncommon here, so 2025 stood out with **seven days reaching 30°C (86°F) or higher**, clustered in late June, July and mid-August. July was the warmest month overall, averaging 18.8°C (65.8°F), while February was the coldest, averaging just 3.5°C (38.3°F).

For visitors, these figures show that Amsterdam rarely experiences true extremes for long. The occasional summer heat spike is brief, and even the coldest winter nights stay close to the freezing mark rather than plunging far below it. Packing layers for cool evenings and a light option for the odd warm spell will cover most conditions you are likely to encounter in the city.

Question 4

What is the weather like in Amsterdam in July?

Accepted Answer

Amsterdam in July is mild and changeable rather than reliably hot, with an average temperature of 18.8°C (65.8°F) in July 2025. Daytime highs averaged a comfortable 23.2°C (73.7°F), while nights cooled to an average low of 14.6°C (58.3°F).

The month opened with a brief heatwave: the hottest day was 1 July 2025, reaching 36.0°C (96.8°F). After that, temperatures settled into the low 20s°C for most of the month. Only 3 days climbed to 30°C (86°F) or above, and 6 days reached at least 25°C (77°F), so genuinely hot weather was the exception rather than the rule.

July is also a fairly wet summer month in Amsterdam. Key precipitation figures for July 2025 were:

- **Total rainfall:** 104.0 mm (4.09 in)
- **Rainy days:** 18 out of 31 days
- **Wettest day:** 20 July 2025 with 20.9 mm (0.82 in)

On the brighter side, Amsterdam recorded 248.9 hours of sunshine in July, averaging about 8.0 hours of sun per day. Winds were light at an average of 12.6 km/h (7.8 mph), and average humidity sat at 74.3%.

For visitors, this means July in Amsterdam is pleasant for sightseeing, cycling, and canal-side dining, but you should pack layers and a rain jacket. With rain on more than half the days, flexible plans and a light waterproof layer go a long way during an Amsterdam summer.

Question 5

How windy is Amsterdam, and which months are the windiest?

Accepted Answer

Amsterdam is a consistently breezy city, averaging a wind speed of 14.2 km/h (8.8 mph) across 2025, with the windiest conditions arriving in late autumn and early winter.

December 2025 was the windiest month in Amsterdam at 16.7 km/h (10.4 mph), closely followed by September at 16.1 km/h (10.0 mph) and October at 15.6 km/h (9.7 mph). The calmest stretch came in early spring, when March eased back to just 11.2 km/h (7.0 mph). Grouped by meteorological season, the wind pattern in Amsterdam was clear in 2025:

- **Autumn (September–November):** 15.6 km/h (9.7 mph) — the breeziest season
- **Winter (January–February):** 14.0 km/h (8.7 mph)
- **Summer (June–August):** 13.5 km/h (8.4 mph)
- **Spring (March–May):** 12.8 km/h (8.0 mph) — the calmest season

This steady airflow reflects Amsterdam's low-lying, coastal position near the North Sea, where there is little terrain to block incoming weather systems. For visitors, the practical takeaway is that spring and summer offer the most settled, comfortable conditions for cycling, canal walks, and terrace dining, while autumn and winter trips should factor in gustier days and a sharper wind chill. A light windproof layer is sensible year-round in Amsterdam, but it becomes essential from September onward, when the city's strongest winds of 2025 set in.

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FAQ

When is the sunniest time of year in Amsterdam?

Which season is the wettest in Amsterdam?

What were the temperature extremes in Amsterdam in 2025?

What is the weather like in Amsterdam in July?

How windy is Amsterdam, and which months are the windiest?