Reasons to visit Amsterdam in summer
Never is Amsterdam more alive than in summer, when the city’s streets, canals and parks transform into a buzzing kaleidoscope of activity. Whether you want to party all day long at a festival, lounge on the beach, explore the canals by boat, or barbecue in the park, there's an endless choice of things to do during the warmer months. Here are a few reasons why the Dutch capital is the perfect summer destination.
Discover Amsterdam’s street food scene
Amsterdam doesn’t hold back when it comes to celebrating street food. With festivals like Rolling Kitchens, Keti Koti and Kwaku, the city lives by one policy: there's never enough tasty food to try. Keep an eye on our cultural agenda and weekend guide for food festivals and summer pop-ups galore. Or, for a local touch, visit Amsterdam’s best markets for aged cheeses, fresh seafood and signature poffertjes that will leave you fed up… in a good way.
Be whoever you want to be
A statement that applies to every day in Amsterdam, in the summer, things ramp up a notch as the city turns rainbow-coloured in honour of LGBTQ+ rights. Taking over the streets, canals, bars, clubs, restaurants and everywhere in between, Amsterdam Queer & Pride is one of the most famous Pride celebrations in the world. Find out more about what to expect during Amsterdam Queer & Pride.
Visit museums in every weather
Summer is the perfect time of year to stroll through the Hortus Botanicus gardens or visit the outdoor exhibitions at the Rijksmuseum. And be sure to check out our guides to the city's museums with secret gardens and the best museum cafes to cool off in. For the best arty summer day trips, catch a train to the Zaanse Schans or the sculpture garden of Singer Laren. With the City Card in hand, you can bounce from one museum to the next hassle-free.
Head out on the water
Whether renting a boat or a SUP, there’s no better moment to enjoy the canals and rediscover the city from the water than the summer months. Borrow a kayak or two, sail under the bridges, or cruise the canals at sunset as the summer breeze carries you down the Amstel. Alternatively, you can enjoy an impressive view of Amsterdam's architecture while you cruise along quaint canals. We recommend choosing a small vessel so you can dock at one of the many waterside bars and restaurants. Hannekes Boom and Waterkant are just a few pit stops you could make.
Hop your way through local breweries
With over 67 breweries in the city alone, Amsterdam is a true paradise for beer lovers. There’s no reason to choose one with so many craft beers waiting on every turn! Make an adventure and venture through the city to discover its unique locations, from windmills to nunneries and old bathhouses. Oh, and don’t forget a trip to the industrial waterfront in Noord and NDSM, where creativity flows as freely as amber from the tap.
Listen to live music alfresco
The Grachtenfestival is one of the jewels of the summer season and definitely worth sticking around for! Ten days of classical music and jazz concerts welcome the audience right on the water in August. From May to September, the Vondelpark Open-Air Theatre hosts performances of dance, music, cabaret, comedy and children’s events every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And keep an eye on our guide to free classical concerts and outdoor music stages for afternoon recitals, summer festivals and much more.
Tip: For a night out with big cats and jungle dwellers, head to ARTIS Royal Zoo's late-night event Zoomeravonden (summer nights) on Saturdays in June, July and August. Have a picnic, watch performances and take a twilight zoo tour.
Lose track of time in the Amsterdam Forest
Amsterdam even has its own city forest, the Amsterdamse Bos. This green oasis is three times the size of New York’s Central Park and is home to wild deer, grazing highland cows and many species of birds. Should you want to stock up on organic goat milk and cheese or put your zen to the ultimate test during a goat yoga session, there's a goat farm. Aside from walking and cycling through the green expanse, there's also the Bostheater for outdoor musical spectacles and theatre. Outdoor activities include kayaking on the lakes, whizzing along zip lines in the Fun Forest climbing park or captaining an electric boat.
Soak up the terrace culture
For a city that isn't particularly known for its warm climate, Amsterdam really does do a good line in alfresco drinking and dining. As soon as the sun comes out (and often when it doesn’t), Amsterdam’s bars and restaurants take things outdoors, and locals and visitors alike flock to enjoy a drink in the sunshine. From bohemian beaches to swish rooftops, Amsterdam is brimming with fantastic terraces – take a look at some of our favourites or spots where you can catch the sun at different times of the day.
Swim in the open-air
The Dutch are very proud of their clean water, and come summertime you'll find locals stripping off and jumping in at every opportunity for an alfresco dip. Many of the city's recreational areas like Amsterdamse Bos, Gaasperplas and Het Twiske have ample spots for swimming (some with showers and changing rooms too), or head to one of the city's many urban beaches on a hot day. Read our guide to outdoor swimming spots in Amsterdam for more ideas!
Watch movies on the roof (or beach)
Beginning in July and typically running through to September, a selection of Amsterdam institutions take the world of celluloid outdoors, mixing up film classics with new releases and setting them against a backdrop of some of Amsterdam’s top scenic sights. So choose a deckchair, snuggle up with a blanket and get ready to enjoy some great cinema in the great outdoors. Find open-air cinemas in Amsterdam.
