Amsterdam in December

Cold; light festival, Christmas closures.

All twelve months in one grid — weather, crowds and prices, with gaps left as unknown.

December is rated mixed. These months rate higher:

• MayGreatMild and long days; book everything ahead.
• JuneGreatWarm; long evenings.
• MarchGoodCool; first tulips late in the month.
• AprilGoodTulip season; King's Day on Apr 27 packs the city.

• AmsterdamHighs around 7 °C (45 °F), lows around 2 °C (36 °F), rain on about 19 daysHighs around 45 °F (7 °C), lows around 36 °F (2 °C), rain on about 19 days
• Coast and Randstad, Netherlands · Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden, The Hague, Rotterdamcool

  Windy and changeable; showers rather than all-day rain. Summers 20–25 °C (68–77 °F), occasional heatwaves; tulips late March – mid May.Windy and changeable; showers rather than all-day rain. Summers 68–77 °F (20–25 °C), occasional heatwaves; tulips late March – mid May.

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

• Light festival

  Dec–January

  Boat tours and canal-side crowds in the evenings.

Crowds · Netherlands overall

Medium

Prices · Netherlands overall

Medium

Netherlands overall: Amsterdam Light Festival and Christmas markets; Sinterklaas on 5 December.

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Amsterdam, side by side.

• A warm coat, hat and gloves for mornings and evenings
• A rain jacket or umbrella and shoes that dry fast
• Layers: a fleece or light jacket

Build the full packing list for your trip →