Amsterdam in August: A perfect guide to this sparkling city

Amsterdam is always a dream spot to visit. This destination looks even more marvellous with the sun sparkling across the city. Amsterdam in August marks the summer season with mild and pleasant weather, making it the most ideally suited time to visit. The beauty of the city, paired with the amazing weather, attracts tourists like moths to a flame. August generally tends to be a peak tourist season, with the streets and attractions buzzing with both locals and tourists. Experience an exquisite trip alongside everyone else and plan your Amsterdam holiday packages now in advance!

Temperature in Amsterdam in August

Amsterdam in August is in the middle of the summer season, with pleasant temperatures. The average temperature in Amsterdam in August ranges from 12°C to 21°C and is typically warm and sunny. The climate is neither too hot nor too cold, with the occasional unpredictable light showers for approximately 8-11 days. The city gets 6 hours of sunlight on average. The Amsterdam climate in August is ideally suited for outdoor activities and touring the city in a warm and calm atmosphere, except for the busy crowds.

Places to visit in Amsterdam in August

1. Rijksmuseum
2. Dam Square
3. Vondelpark
4. Amsterdam Dungeon
5. Heinken Brewery

1. Rijksmuseum

If you are taking a trip to Amsterdam in August, then you have to visit the Rijksmusem. This is one of the best and largest art museums in the world, featuring eight thousand collections out of a total of one million collections. So if you are an art lover, then drop everything and visit this beauty. It includes the works of several talented and famous artists like Rembrandt, Vermeer, and Van Gogh among other masterpieces. The museum has 4 floors in total, along with a restaurant, cafe, garden, and even a library. This is also the only museum that has a road in it. So this place really does have it all; why miss it?

The entry is free for people under and of the 18 years and costs 22.50 euros for adults and is open between 9 am-5 pm. The Shop and The Café are open from 9 am to 6 pm. These are only accessible with an entrance ticket to the museum until 5 pm. Between 5 and 6 pm you can enter without an entrance ticket. The restaurant and the shop are open from 9 am to 6 pm and you can get access to the area using your ticket. The restaurant is open from Wednesday to Sunday for lunch and Tuesday to Sunday for dinner. Go and book your tickets now for an out-of-the-world experience in your trip to Amsterdam in August.

2. Dam Square

The right way to enjoy a trip to Amsterdam is at the heart of the city. The Dam Square in Amsterdam hosts every events, fun hairs and a bunch of other gatherings. It also holds important sites such as the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, Nieuwe Kerk, the National Monument memorialising the Dutch victims of World War II, the upscale department store De Bijenkorf, and the Beurs van Berlage concert hall. Dam Square would be a great stop to add to your trip in Amsterdam in August. This one-place multiple destination has a range of activities to offer, such as a variety of restaurants, bars, and cafés that you can enjoy. Make sure to check the timings and costs of all the individual spots before you go to Dam Sqare as the peak tourist season may affect the prices.

3. Vondelpark

The Vondelpark is the city’s main park. Amsterdam in August fills the park full of vibrant life and occupies a fun atmosphere. This place is ideal for picnics for family and friends and even as a date. Apart from that, you can also spot cyclists and athletes practicing their sport. Lastly, you can also catch several open air free concerts or cinema projections for you to enjoy. Thus, the Vondelpark has an abundance to offer and must definitely be added to your trip to Amsterdam. 

4. Amsterdam Dungeon

If you are a history buff and wish you could travel back in time to the past, then this is one spot you should never miss. The Amsterdam Dungeon is the closest to a time machine we would get. With a little bit of a creepy factor in it, this place helps us know how it was like back in the dark ages, making it a fun experience to enjoy. 

Buy the ticket at a discounted price in advance online for 23.50 euros than the higher door price. Also, booking in advance can help you avoid the disappointment of running out of tickets or high costs since Amsterdam in August is a peak season. 

5. Heinken Brewery

Did you know that Amsterdam is one of the beer capitals of the world? This city is home to one of the most popular and prestigious breweries, Heinken Beer. This is an interactive experience where you get to sample the beer made, which by itself makes this the best stop to make on your Amsterdam in August tour for all the avid beer lovers. Due to the peak season, make sure to book your tickets in advance for 20-23 euros. Please note that people under the age of 18 are not allowed to visit this place.

Things to do in Amsterdam in August

1. Bike ride in the city
2. Open air canal cruise
3. Visit the urban beaches
4. Browse through the outdoor markets

1. Bike ride in the city

Amsterdam in August  or just Amsterdam in general is a great city to cycle in. Most people tend to get around using bicycles. The city often offers bike tours of Amsterdam to visit famous tourist attractions. You can also save a lot of money by renting bikes and travelling throughout the city, which costs 12 euros whereas taking a tour might cost around 29-30 euros. 

2. Open air canal cruise

The city is known for its canal cruises, a wonderful experience that is unique in this region which is one of the best things to do in Amsterdam in August is one of the best times to go on this open air canal cruise due to its pleasant and warm weather. You can also take dinner cruises, tour cruise, private cruise and much more that suit your liking. Make sure to check the prices for which specific cruise you want to take and book in advance to avoid peak booking during this tourist season.

3. Visit the urban beaches

No summer trip anywhere is complete without making a stop at the beach. And Amsterdam in August is decked with urban beaches, making it an ideal time to visit as the summer is not too hot and harsh. You can take a leisure trip to the beach, enjoy a peaceful walk on the sand or dip your toes in the water. Enjoy a chill day at the beach with your family or just hang out by the shore with a book in hand and some food in the other. In the evenings, the beach is accompanied with DJs, live music and a most fun atmosphere. One of the best are StranZuid, Blijburg aan Zeen, Pllek, Dok and Bloemendaal aan Zee.

Also read: 10 Best Beaches In Amsterdam For a Perfect Beach Vacay!

4. Browse through the outdoor markets

Shopping in Amsterdam is best done in the outdoor markets. And the best place to do that is the Albert Cuyp Market which is the crowd favourite shopping spot for locals and tourists alike. The market is open 6 days a week between 9 am to 5.30 pm and contains 260 stalls, being Europe’s biggest market. You can find a variety of fresh vegetables, fruits, accessories, clothes, flowers and beautiful fabrics. Make sure to visit this busy market in Amsterdam in August and take back souvenirs to remember your trip. 

Events and Festivals in Amsterdam in August

1. Amsterdam Pride Festival
2. Grachtenfestival
3. Uitmarkt
4. De Parade Theatre Festival

1. Amsterdam Pride Festival

Did you know that Amsterdam is the first capital to legalize same-sex marriage? That ought to be celebrated, right? This is a multi-day festival that takes place in the first week of Amsterdam in August. There are a lot of street parties, concerts and club events with over 500,000 attendees, making it one of the biggest and most anticipated festivals to attend in Amsterdam. 

2. Grachtenfestival

Grachtenfestival, also known as the Canal Festival is a festival of music, life and charm by bringing in the most talented classical musicians from across the country and the world. This is a 10 day event in Amsterdam in August that is spread across different spots such as private gardens, rooftop terraces, canal houses, cruise ships, hotel suites and tube tunnels. Tourists can enjoy the calming classical music, jazz music, and international genres at low costs and even for free.

3. Uitmarkt

Uitmarkt is one of the largest cultural festivals that occurs towards the end of August. This cultural festival features a huge selection of performances with over 2000 performers, musicians, actors, orchestras, filmmakers and even dance performances. These performances are spread throughout the 30 different venues in Amsterdam in August. This is a must visit event as it displays the charming culture of this capital city for free of cost. Why miss such a chance? 

4. De Parade Theatre Festival

Amsterdam is generally known to be a cultural hub, even so in August. This is an open air travelling festival that fills the venues with a lot of colourful carnival tents that have a whole bunch of family activities, a carousel, live entertainment acts and food stalls. This is a must visit event in Amsterdam in August if one wants to experience the charming culture with a whole lot of fun. Enjoy this carnival whether you are just there for the vibes or want to blend in with the locals and enjoy delicious delicacies and the live events happening.

Nightlife in Amsterdam in August

Amsterdam is known for many things. And one among the popular ones is the nightlife. Because of the everflowing crowd in the peak season, all the clubs and bars are brimming with life in Amsterdam in August. There is an abundance of clubs in the city for everyone to enjoy, particularly clubs in the old area of Jordaan, which is commonly loved by young people for its trendy bars. Paradiso is a popular music venue that was formerly a church, now a music venue which was one of the largest concert clubs in Amsterdam. Melkweg is a music venue and cultural centre that hosts concerts, club nights and art exhibitions. Shelter is a famous underground club known for its techno music and Club NYX is an LGBTQIA+ friendly club. 

However, Amsterdam’s nightlife is not just restricted to clubs. Canal Booze Cruises. There is no better time to go on a relaxed leisure night cruise than Amsterdam in August. You can enjoy the magnificent view while also enjoying your drink. If drinking is not your pastime, you can also just take a casual cruise through the city and even enjoy a dinner cruise.

Also read: 10 Interesting Things to do in Amsterdam at Night

Crowd and Costs in Amsterdam in August

Amsterdam in August is a peak tourist season, thus it is said to have high costs and crowds during this time. The accommodation costs and flight costs are generally high at this time, so it is advisable to book in advance to get cheaper or discounted prices. In order to reduce your expense, rent a bike or bicycle to get around the city, as it is commonly available and opted to do so, which costs much less than the traditional modes of transport.

As it is a peak season and in the best part of summer, it is said to swarm with tourists and locals alike. If you want to secure places in popular tourist attractions, it is highly recommended to book in advance. However, for the same reasons, August is also said to have a variety of events and festivals happening at the time, making your trip worth every penny spent.

Also read: Top 10 Free Things to Do in Amsterdam for a Fun Time!

What to wear in Amsterdam in August?

Since Amsterdam in August is predominantly summer, you do not have to worry much about packing heavy clothing as it is said to be pleasant and warm. However, Amsterdam climate in August is said to have a slight unpredictability to it, so it is important to stay prepared for anything.

• Make sure to pack light layers like t-shirts, shirts, dresses, trousers, shorts or any other outfit you know you would look amazing in!
• Pack sunglasses or hats in case it gets too warm and you want to look cool while protecting yourself against the sun.
• An umbrella or a lightweight raincoat, since August is known to have unpredictable weather with light showers here and there. So pack an umbrella; we don’t want your cute outfit getting ruined. 
• A jacket to protect yourself from the colder evenings and mornings.
• Comfortable walking shoes or sandals as there is a lot to explore in Amsterdam.
• A bag full of fun and excitement!

Frequently Asked Questions about Amsterdam in August

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Read more on Amsterdam through the other months

Amsterdam in January | Amsterdam in February | Amsterdam in March | Amsterdam in April | Amsterdam in May | Amsterdam in June | Amsterdam in July | Amsterdam in September | Amsterdam in October | Amsterdam in November |  Amsterdam in December