Your Trip to the Netherlands: The Complete Guide SEE FULL GUIDE prev next Your Trip to the Netherlands: The Complete Guide Best Time to Visit Weather & Climate Airports in the Netherlands Getting Around the Netherlands Cities to Visit Complete Guide to Amsterdam Best Hotels in Amsterdam Amsterdam's Public Transportation Essential Dutch Phrases One Week in the Netherlands 48 Hours in Amsterdam Getaways From Amsterdam Top Things to Do in the Netherlands Castles to Visit in the Netherlands Best Things to Do in Amsterdam Things to Do With Kids in Amsterdam Shopping in Amsterdam Amsterdam's Top Markets Live Music in Amsterdam Amsterdam's Must-Visit Museums Guide to the Keukenhof Flower Gardens Must-Try Food in the Netherlands Craft Beer in the Netherlands Heineken Experience Amsterdam's Top Restaurants Nightlife in Amsterdam Your Trip to the Netherlands: The Complete Guide close Overview Europe Netherlands Amsterdam in Spring By Shannon McAllister Shannon McAllister LinkedIn Shannon Wilson McAllister is a travel writer and American expat living in Amsterdam. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 06/22/19 Fact checked by Erin Medlicott Fact checked by Erin Medlicott LinkedIn Twitter New York University Rutgers University Erin Medlicott is a fact checker and researcher with a background in lifestyle and finance. Prior to her work at TripSavvy, she did financial research for the American Express Departures Magazine as well as the Wall Street Journal. She earned a TripSavvy's fact-checking Share Pin Email Eric Hood/Getty Images Amsterdam in spring feels a bit like the beginning of a crescendo that lasts through summer. Locals begin to choose café terraces, their private canal-cruising vessels and city parks over being inside -- even when it's still a bit cool -- as if willing the new season to arrive. We're all happy to sacrifice an hour of sleep on the last Sunday in March, as the time change means sunsets are already as late as 8 p.m. and the days will only get longer.The longer spring days paint a colorful canvas in Amsterdam and the Netherlands. Trees appear as if they've been outlined with a lime-green highlighter as they finally start to leaf out. Crocus, hyacinth and narcissus blooms debut as an opening act to their bigger bulb counterparts, the famous Dutch tulips. And everyone tries to predict when the peak time will be to see them in full glory at Keukenhof Gardens or in the nearby bulb farm fields.Amsterdam flights and accommodations prices are still relatively low in March; they start to climb as the temperatures do, usually around April 1. Visitor crowds follow a similar pattern, with groups of tulip-tourists arriving in April, giving way to a steady flow of European weekend-breakers and North American college students in May. Spring is also when the Dutch celebrate some of their biggest and most important holidays: King's Day, Remembrance Day and Liberation Day. Amsterdam Events in Spring Part of the reason why spring is a favorite time of the year to visit Amsterdam is the seasonal event calendar, which starts to populate with exciting activities in spring -- but not so many that it's overwhelming for visitors. Of course, the jewel in the crown of the spring event calendar is King's Day (April 27), the royal birthday (and successor to the much-touted Queen's Day), but the raucous street celebration isn't for everyone. Not to worry; there are plenty of other events to enjoy. Beer lovers can't miss the PINT Meibockfestival, a beer festival celebrating the season's best bock beer, which takes places in a historic church on one of the city's liveliest streets. Cultural events round out the city's spring offerings. In March, Dutch Book Week aims to promote Dutch-language literature, but also offers anyone who purchases a Dutch book free travel on the last day of the festival week. The World Press Photo Exhibit in April highlights the world's best photojournalism at the Oude Kerk (Old Church), right in the heart of the Red Light District. Even windmills that are closed all year round open for National Mill Day, an event for windmill enthusiasts and the merely curious. And one of the year's most delicious events takes place less than an hour from Amsterdam in the city of The Hague, which hosts the Tong Tong Fair in late May - a celebration of Indonesian and wider Southeast Asian culture on an unprecedented scale in Europe, full of art, music, theater, dance, and a truly impressive array of food. Month-by-Month Guides to Amsterdam in Spring In these guides you'll find detailed event listings, weather information and other advice for Amsterdam in spring months. March in Amsterdam April in Amsterdam May in Amsterdam Pictures of Amsterdam in Spring See for yourself why Amsterdam makes an ideal spring travel destination. Pictures of Keukenhof Flower Gardens near Amsterdam Edited by Kristen de Joseph. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit