Discovering Amsterdam in spring: the best things to do

The start of Amsterdam festival season

Yes, there are festivals in Amsterdam and the Netherlands in general all year round. But from around the middle of springtime there are festivals every week, with several film, music and cultural events happening in and around the city. From Open Tower Day in March, when you can climb to the top of several towers in the city, to the Tulp Festival, when the city is decorated with tulips, there is a festival for everyone.

Other festivals and events not to miss include music festivals like JazzFest, DGTL Amsterdam, and Amsterdam Open Air, and film festivals such as the Pink Film Days, CinemAsia Film Festival and Kaboom Animation Festival. The biggest event in spring though is, of course, King’s Day on 27 April. When everyone wears orange and every street is a party.

Look beyond the city

Amsterdam is a very green city but to truly get a feeling for how spring changes the country, you have to step outside of the city limits and explore the countryside with a tour. In spring the largest flower garden of Europe opens its doors to visitors, who can discover seven million flowers during a day trip to Keukenhof. This is a must-do experience in Amsterdam in spring.

If you are looking for Dutch icons such as windmills, cheese, wooden shoes and sailing, the All-in Countryside and Windmills tour is for you. Picturesque villages, people in traditional clothing and plenty of cheese await you just outside the city. For those who want to go a little further beyond the city limits, a trip to Giethoorn, with its thatched roofed farmhouses and lack of roads, can be just what you are looking for.