Netherlands Amsterdam Weather in May — Climate Guide
May in Amsterdam is Excellent
Amsterdam Weather in May — Quick Answer
As of 2026- Avg temp
- 17° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 49mm · 12 days
- Crowds
- Busy
As of 2026, Amsterdam in May averages a high of 17°C and low of 8°C with 49mm of rain over about 12 days. T-shirts + light cardigan. Long pants over shorts. Light jacket for evenings. Sunglasses + light scarf for cooler evenings.
May is Excellent for Amsterdam.
May is full spring — 17°C daytime, 8°C nights, 14-15 hours daylight. Last 2 weeks of Keukenhof (until around May 14, exact date varies). Hotel rates at peak after King's Day.
Liberation Day (May 5) commemorates the 1945 end of Nazi occupation — Amsterdam celebrates with outdoor festivals at Museumplein + Vondelpark + open-air concerts. Free admission. Cultural day worth attending.
Travel score
Year's #1 spring + Keukenhof tail + Liberation Day
May Weather at a Glance
May averages 64°F / 18°C highs and 46°F / 8°C lows — year's most comfortable spring. 9 rainy days, 55mm. Humidity 70% + 7 hours of sunshine. Spring flowers + street cafes + canal boats peak.
May Travel Advice
Long sleeves + cardigan + walking shoes. May 4 Dodenherdenking (Remembrance Day, 20:00 2-min silence) + May 5 Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day, public holiday, 1945 end of war commemoration). Keukenhof ends mid-May. Holland Festival (late May - late June, arts festival).
Flying In from Overseas
Korean Children's Day + Buddha's Day + spring #1 — Asia-Amsterdam $980-1,540 round-trip.
May Pricing Trends
Peak entry — Centrum 3-star $210-385/night.
Amsterdam May Weather Stats
Avg High
17°C
Avg Low
8°C
Rainy Days
12
49mm total
Sunshine
7h
Daily avg
Humidity
70%
Comfortable
UV Index
5
Moderate
Wind
14 km/h
Gusts 30
Sea Temp
12°C
Avg water temp
Crowds
Busy
At attractions
May Sunrise & Sunset
Air Quality
PM2.5
13 μg/m³
PM10
26 μg/m³
Status
Good
Feels-Like Temperature & Wind
Feels like
Daytime
16°C
Nighttime
7°C
Humidity and wind affect how the actual temperature feels.
Wind
14 km/h
Max gust 30 km/h
Activities Recommended for May
May Travel Pros & Cons
Pros
- Spring weather + long daylight (15 hours)
- Liberation Day cultural events
- Tulip season ending tail (crowd-thinning)
Cons
- Hotel rates at peak
- Last 2 weeks Keukenhof gets thinner blooms
- Variable spring weather (cold snaps possible)
May Events & Festivals
- Keukenhof closes mid-May (tulip season ends)
- Liberation Day (May 5 — outdoor festivals across city)
- Hotel rates at peak
Amsterdam in May — Full Picture
May is full spring — 17°C daytime, 8°C nights, 14-15 hours daylight. Last 2 weeks of Keukenhof (until around May 14, exact date varies). Hotel rates at peak after King's Day.
Liberation Day (May 5) commemorates the 1945 end of Nazi occupation — Amsterdam celebrates with outdoor festivals at Museumplein + Vondelpark + open-air concerts. Free admission. Cultural day worth attending.
Mid-May is the Goldilocks period — tulip season ending (Keukenhof crowds thinning), proper spring weather, longer daylight than April. The bike-tour + canal-cruise + outdoor-terrace season starts in earnest.
What to Wear & What to Pack
T-shirts + light cardigan. Long pants over shorts. Light jacket for evenings. Sunglasses + light scarf for cooler evenings.
Packing Checklist
Seasonal Weather Overview
Spring (Mar·Apr·May)
Current13.3°C
5°C
13/mo
Summer (Jun·Jul·Aug)
21.3°C
12.3°C
12.7/mo
Autumn (Sep·Oct·Nov)
14°C
7.3°C
15.3/mo
Winter (Dec·Jan·Feb)
6.3°C
1.3°C
17.3/mo
Amsterdam Monthly Weather Comparison
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun | Humid | UV | Crowd | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6° | 1° | 19d·68mm | 1.7h | 85% | 1 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 7° | 1° | 14d·49mm | 2.7h | 81% | 1 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 10° | 3° | 14d·65mm | 4h | 79% | 2 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| April (Best) | 13° | 4° | 13d·41mm | 5.5h | 73% | 4 | Busy | Peak |
| May (Best) | 17° | 8° | 12d·49mm | 7h | 70% | 5 | Busy | Peak |
| June (Best) | 20° | 11° | 12d·67mm | 7h | 72% | 6 | Very busy | Peak |
| July (Best) | 22° | 13° | 13d·76mm | 6.5h | 72% | 6 | Very busy | Peak |
| August (Best) | 22° | 13° | 13d·70mm | 6h | 75% | 5 | Very busy | Peak |
| 19° | 11° | 13d·67mm | 5.5h | 78% | 4 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 14° | 7° | 16d·88mm | 3.5h | 83% | 2 | Moderate | Shoulder | |
| 9° | 4° | 17d·80mm | 2h | 86% | 1 | Quiet | Low season | |
| 6° | 2° | 19d·79mm | 1.5h | 87% | 1 | Moderate | Peak |
View Other Months
Amsterdam May Hotel Picks
Frequently Asked Questions
Is May a good time to visit Amsterdam?
Amsterdam in May is Excellent. Tourist crowds are busy and flight/hotel prices are peak.
What's the average temperature in Amsterdam in May?
Amsterdam May averages a high of 17°C and a low of 8°C.
Does it rain much in Amsterdam in May?
Amsterdam May averages 49mm of rainfall over about 12 rainy days.
What should I wear in Amsterdam in May?
T-shirts + light cardigan. Long pants over shorts. Light jacket for evenings. Sunglasses + light scarf for cooler evenings.
What time are sunrise and sunset in Amsterdam in May?
Amsterdam May sunrise is 05:57 and sunset is 21:25, with 15h 28m of daylight.
What's the air quality like in Amsterdam in May?
Amsterdam May air quality (AQI) averages 38, rated Good. PM2.5 averages 13μg/m³.
What activities are recommended in Amsterdam in May?
In May, Amsterdam is great for Keukenhof closing weeks, Liberation Day festivals, Canal cruise.
Is May peak season in Amsterdam?
Amsterdam May crowds are busy and prices are peak. Advance reservations are strongly recommended.
Best Months to Visit Amsterdam
View Other Months
Planning a May trip to Amsterdam?
You've checked the weather — next come the budget and the route.
Why you can trust weather guide
Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.