Spring: This season is full of energy and enthusiasm in Amsterdam. During this season, the festival season starts and the first open-air events of the year are planned because the weather is improving. King’s day is celebrated on April 27th. A lot of young people travel to Amsterdam for this two-day festival. The streets are full of flea markets and street parties. If you plan to visit this celebration, you need to wear something orange. On the fifth day of May, the Dutch celebrate Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day). It marks the end of World War II in the Netherlands.
Summer: During this season, tourists from all over the world come to visit Amsterdam. There are many open-air festivals, concerts, and theatre events taking place during this season. The musicians hold their concerts on stages specially made for the water and people take boats out to watch them perform. Some people also watch them from nearby bridges and canal banks because the water echoes the music. Another festival that takes place during the summer is Gay Pride during which a carnival-like parade of boats sail through the canal to celebrate gay pride and love.
Autumn: Autumn is full of cultural events in Amsterdam. These events include book and antique markets, concerts, film festivals, and museum events. The most important event of this season is the International Documentary Film Festival that begins in mid-November. Documentaries can be seen in theatres all over town. Museum night also takes place in November. For one evening, museums open their doors for music, special exhibitions, and food. Also during mid-November, Sinterklaas makes his arrival with a festival parade in the canals. Sinterklaas is the Dutch version of Santa Claus who brings gifts and treats for kids.
Winter: This season is not very cold at all in Amsterdam due to the fact that the sea climate is mild. On the rare occasions when it does freeze, a lot of people love to ice skate on the canal. When the days are cold and short, this is the best time to visit the museums, watch a movie in the cinema, or go to a concert at the Concertgebouw. These attractions are often not as busy in the winter. After the sun goes down, many people go see the Amsterdam Light Festival. It can be toured on foot or by a canal cruise.
In the month of December, there are three important holidays: New Year’s Eve, Christmas, and Sinterklaas. It is interesting to know that the Dutch do not give out gifts on Christmas day, but on Sinterklaas (December 5th). Except for the New Year’s Eve events at the Dam Square and the Prinsengracht, Winter is the most non-eventful season of the year in Amsterdam. On New Year’s Eve, many people get together to celebrate the start of the new year with champagne, fireworks, and music.
