November in Amsterdam: Weather, What to Pack, and What to Do

It feels like the holiday season arrives earlier each year; in the Netherlands, however, the holiday season does indeed start earlier than in the United States. The traditional arrival of Sinterklaas, the Dutch Santa Claus, in mid-November lends a festive air to the city and officially begins the Christmas season. Sint's name day is celebrated on December 5. The day is marked by an abundance of indoor activities, from museum exhibits to live performances that abound midway into the cultural season.

While in the region, visitors can also revel in the quintessential coziness of a hot drink amid the warm patina of an Amsterdam brown cafe. The days in November get quite short by the end of the month, with the sun setting by 4:30 p.m. The weather can also be blustery, with frequent showers and high wind speeds.

Nobody goes to Amsterdam in November for the beautiful weather. Afternoon highs average 48 degrees Fahrenheit, with the temperature falling to 37 degrees on average at night. Remember these are averages, so the end of the month is likely to be cooler than these temperatures would indicate.

It also rains quite a bit in Amsterdam in November, with 32 inches being an average amount for the month. The month is also short on daylight even when there are no clouds. On November 1, the sun rises at approximately 7:36 a.m. and sets at 5:11 p.m. By November 30, you won't see the sun come up until 8:26 a.m., and it sets at approximately 4:31 p.m.

First and foremost, you'll need a warm raincoat and a sturdy umbrella that can withstand the wind. If you find a large umbrella is too difficult to pack, buy one when you arrive and leave it at the hotel when you depart. You can consider it a travel expense. A trench coat with a zip-out lining would be optimal so you can adjust it depending on the weather. In addition, pack comfortable ankle boots for all the walking you'll do, and sweaters and tops to layer over jeans or pants.

With sub-optimal weather during November in Amsterdam, the tourist crowds have vanished so visitors have the run of Amsterdam's popular attractions and restaurants. Travel and stay rates are also cheaper because it is the off-season, which means your visit is less expensive.

• The Arrival of Sinterklaas: Upon his yearly return to Amsterdam in mid-November, Sinterklaas circles the capital and stops in several squares and other public spaces to address his fans. Afterward, he embarks on a secret tour of the Netherlands and delivers treats to children all over the country until December 5.
• Amsterdam Unity Cup: Coffee shop lovers should time their Amsterdam holiday to take in the Cannabis Cup, the world's premier marijuana and hemp festival, where participants sample and vote for the year's best cannabis strains. Timing-wise, the event usually coincides with Thanksgiving in the U.S.
• International Documentary Film Festival: The world's premier documentary film festival returns to Amsterdam in mid-November with hundreds of films on a wide variety of topics.
• Museumnacht: The yearly Museumnacht, or Museum Night, in Amsterdam offers visitors a chance to museum-hop into the wee hours of the morning and sample a variety of Amsterdam's cultural institutions, plus each one has cooked up a special night event for the occasion.
• PAN Amsterdam: The Netherlands' top annual arts and antiques fair, renowned for its quality and diversity, offers wares for all tastes from rare books and manuscripts to authentic Old Masters.