Summer in Amsterdam
When summer comes, Amsterdammers move outdoors. They populate outdoor cafés, lounge in the parks or bask in the sun before their own front door.
When locals leave the city for holiday paradises in France, Spain or Greece, the tourist crowd moves in. Long days, pleasant temperatures and hundreds of outdoor festivals make summer the ideal time for a trip to Amsterdam. Outdoor terraces on every block and long summer evenings make people-watching and eating alfresco a true delight.
Thirty parks and five city beaches are the perfect picnic and lounge spots. These green and sunny places turn into almost private garden for the locals. They bring food, books, games, computers and sunbathe in the grass as long as the weather is sunny. Others stay in the city centre and sit along the canals to watch the pleasure boats move past.
Vondelpark gets jammed with skaters, joggers and sunworshippers. The open-air theatre in the park stages performances free of charge. Rembrandtplein and Leidseplein in the city centre buzz with activity. Summer is the perfect time to rent a bike for a spin of a few hours or several days. Feel the wind in your hair while cruising along the canals or in the countryside.
Queues at the major museums such as Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum and Anne Frank House will be long. If you do not want to spend your time waiting, buy tickets online or go early or late in the day.
Summer is the height of the tourist season. Airfare and accommodation are at their highest. Shopaholics can save money and find great deals in the July sales.
If the city gets too stuffy or too hot, a thirty-minute train ride takes you to Zandvoort aan Zee, Amsterdam’s seaside town and only 12 km away. Miles of sandy beaches stretch north and south, and to the west a very cold North Sea. Even in the height of summer the sea water is 20° at most. Wooden pavilions line the seashore. Restaurants and outdoor terraces with sun beds and umbrellas wait in line for sun lovers. Admission is free as long as you buy drinks and food.
Restaurants in Zandvoort centre near Raadhuisplein are more upmarket than those on the beach. Kerkstraat and Haltestraat are two streets packed with small cafés, restaurants and shops. They are excellent places to while away time, if the weather is disappointing.
QUICK FACTS:
CITY BEACHES
WHAT: Strand West
WHERE: Stavangerweg 900 (map)
HOW TO GET THERE: bus 22 from Centraal Station to Spaarndammer buurt
WHEN: April – September, Monday – Sunday 10:00 – 23:00
WHAT: Strand Zuid City Beach
WHERE: Europaplein 22 (map)
HOW TO GET THERE: Bus 4 or Metro line 51 from Centraal Sation
WHEN: summer season, daily 10:00 – 24:00
WHAT: Blijburg aan Zee
WHERE: Bert Haanstrakade 2004 (map)
HOW TO GET THERE: Tram 26 from Centraal Station to IJburg
WHEN: summer season, daily 10.am – 1 am
photo credit: personal collection
