10 Things to Do in Amsterdam in Spring

Spring is the best time to visit Amsterdam. It is a season when good weather, flowers, gastronomy and cultural events come together.

The Dutch capital's main events, celebrations and attractions are available in spring. In addition, during this season you will be greeted by an explosion of tulip fields, unique festivals and one of the most famous Dutch celebrations: King's Day.

With the arrival of spring, one of the most popular plans is a cruise on Amsterdam's canals. There are numerous options:

• Amsterdam canal cruise on a glass-roofed boat, from CAD 24, from which you can see the city's most popular monuments and sites such as the Anne Frank House, the rich Golden Curve, the Red Light District or the bridge strait, and you'll have an audio guide at your disposal.
• Grachtengordel' cruise, from CAD 31, also one hour long and with audio guide, where you can cruise along the canal belt, one of the most famous areas of the city.
• Night cruise along Amsterdam's canals, from CAD 37, where you can see the city's most emblematic sites such as the Moulin Rouge, the Rijksmuseum and the Blauwbrug Bridge under the starlight on a one-and-a-half hour tour.

In addition, you can buy a combined ticket including the cruise and another activity such as:

• Madame Tussauds ticket, from CAD 59
• The Amsterdam Ice Bar experience, from CAD 59.
• Heineken Experience in Amsterdam, from CAD 52.
• The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, from ** CAD 64**.

From flower markets to lush city gardens, there are plenty of places to find tulips in Amsterdam. More than 1 million tourists come to Amsterdam in spring to see these tulip fields and enjoy their beauty.

The best way to experience the tulip fields of Lisse is to book a bicycle tour of Amsterdam and ride along the various marked trails, which will take you through vast seas of flowers. Just west of Lisse is Noordwijkerhout, home to the Dutch Flower Belt (Bollenstreek). I recommend you drive through this stretch of tulip fields as you travel between Haarlem and Leidan. However, it is also possible to visit part of the strip if you travel west from Lisse and then south along Leidsevaart.

You also have the option of taking a bus through Amsterdam. Buses leave every hour from Schipol Airport to Lisse, it's all about getting around Amsterdam.

Another way to see the tulip fields and springtime atmosphere while enjoying one of the city's most touristy villages is to book a day trip from Amsterdam to Zaanse Schans, the famous windmill village, which features one of the most admired Dutch landscapes.

There are many ways to get to Zaanse Schans from Amsterdam, including an organised tour. Entry to the Zaanse Schans is free with the Amsterdam City Card, one of Amsterdam's best tourist passes.

However, if you don't have much time and don't want to spend a day out of Amsterdam, don't worry! Amsterdam is home to eight windmills and some of them are very easy to access, such as the windmill at Brouwerij 't IJ.

Keukenhof is one of the largest gardens in the world and the main reason people visit Amsterdam in spring. If nature is something you appreciate, you've probably seen photos online of its flower gardens, a unique landscape.

To get there, you can opt for a Keukenhof tour with a windmill cruise. These trips are very common in spring. However, as this is one of the most popular spring attractions, you should get tickets to Keukenhofl well in advance** to make sure you can visit on the day you want.

In general, it's best to avoid the afternoons if you want a less crowded experience. Also, I strongly recommend avoiding the Easter weekend, as Keukenhof is very crowded at that time of year.

It's true that cycling in Amsterdam is a year-round activity; however, if there is a prime time to book an Amsterdam bike tour, it would be in spring. This is because there are fewer tourists than in summer, but it is also a more reliable time of year to cycle than winter where the slippery ground and cold weather make cycling a health risk.

I recommend Amsterdam bike tours, which are a great way to get to know Amsterdam and avoid the traffic jams. Here are some options for you to consider:

• Amsterdam Bike Tour, from CAD 50, where you won't miss any of Amsterdam's must-see sites in a two-and-a-half hour tour.
• Historic Amsterdam Bike Tour, from ** CAD 44**, where you'll discover must-see places such as the Vondelpark and the Jordaan district.
• Hidden Amsterdam Bike Tour, from ** CAD 58**, which will take you into the hidden and less frequented places of the Dutch capital.

Above all, though, I recommend cycling through Amsterdam's parks.

The people of Amsterdam, along with the rest of the country, take to the streets on 27 April to celebrate Koningsdag (King's Day). The residents of Amsterdam transform the city into a sea of orange with colourful costumes, hats and wigs- a must-see experience if you want to visit Amsterdam in April or in the spring season.

For family activities, Vondelpark is the place to be. While, if you're looking for a bit of nightlife, the King's Night celebrations (on the eve of King's Day) are for you; these take place in the Jordaan district. You'll see how the whole district is flooded with nightly street parties accompanied by music and celebrations.

Join the locals as they celebrate Easter in Amsterdam, particularly on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Sample delicious cakes and biscuits from Amsterdam 's bakeries and enjoy traditional Dutch Easter foods at the city's markets.

While the date of Easter varies from year to year, some of it always happens in spring, so make the most of the holiday to find some of the best chocolate shops in the city. One of the best shops for the occasion is Van Soest on Utrechtsestraat, where you can find the prettiest and tastiest Easter eggs.

The highlight of the Easter celebration in Holland is the rich brunch, a mix of breakfast and lunch, which you can enjoy at various restaurants and eateries around the city.

One of the favourite exhibitions of the year starts in spring, usually from April to June, and takes place in one of Amsterdam's oldest churches, the Nieuwe Kerk.

The World Press Photo Exhibit is an exhibition showcasing stunning photos of Amsterdam and chronicling some of the most important events of the year. An incredible way to learn about what happened through the art of photography.

Amsterdam is also lucky enough to host the related World Press Photo Festival in April. Here the atmosphere is more sociable and there are plenty of micro-events of some renown. Both are not to be missed if you're interested in photography or events in the city.

One of the most typical springtime events in Amsterdam is the feeding of baby animals, a time-honoured tradition that has become a tourist attraction. Spring is traditionally the time of year when baby animals are born.

And you don't need to leave the city to witness this adorable spectacle. Just head to one of Amsterdam's many zoos or pet ting farms to be surrounded by baby goats, lambs, rabbits, piglets and more. The city of Amsterdam has dozens of animal care facilities.

Whether you have children or not, going to see the baby farm animals is a beautiful springtime activity and a great way to escape the cityscape for a few hours. I recommend the goat farm in Amsterdamse Bos, and the pet farms in Amstelpark and Westerpark. There's even a small urban farm in De Pijp.

During springtime in Amsterdam, all the street markets are filled with vendors selling fresh flowers, various types of food and small trinkets. There are several interesting street markets at this time of year, so it is worth exploring some of them.

The Albert Cuyp market and the Westerstraat market are the most atmospheric; however, the Bloemenmarkt is a must-see in spring. This historic flower market is the best place to buy tulip bulbs in Amsterdam or garden-themed souvenirs. If, on the other hand, you're looking for variety, the Saturday markets on Kinkerstraat, Noordermarkt and Lindengracht are the place to go.

While the daily market on Albert Cuyp is the top market, it tends to be too crowded in spring, so don't focus all your visit on this one.

If you travel to Amsterdam in the month of May, tattoo the date 5 May, as on this day Amsterdam and the Netherlands pause to celebrate the country's liberation from German troops. To celebrate the country's social freedoms, the city comes alive with a selection of festivals, concerts and special events, including public banquets known as Freedom Festivals and a large floating concert on the Amstel River, attended by the King and Queen.

Not only that, but it is also one of the best days to visit Amsterdam's Jewish Quarter, as it is very atmospheric and in tune with the celebrations.

For more information on Remembrance and Liberation Day in Amsterdam visit this website.

During the spring months, the weather in Amsterdam undergoes a remarkable change. While winter is filled with rainy days that are cold and somewhat miserable, the spring months bring cool weather and bright skies.

From mid-March to the end of May, Amsterdam is filled with clear blue skies, sunshine and mild temperatures. Daytime temperatures range from a low of 10°C to around 20°C on a good day.

You may have a few rainy days in spring; however, this only makes the grass look greener and the flowers bloom more.

Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons to enjoy the city; however, it is also the second most visited season in Amsterdam. The interesting thing is that the number of visitors in spring follows a linear upward trend, with March being the least crowded spring month and May the most crowded.

So if you're concerned about the number of tourists, I'd recommend visiting the city in mid-March when, despite the heavy rainfall, you can still see some glimpses of spring.

Although spring lasts a few months and each month is a different world, if I had to choose just one month, it would be April without a doubt. April in Amsterdam is when the tulips are in their best bloom, and it is also the month with the most events.

Also, the number of visitors is significantly lower than Amsterdam in summer or in May. To be honest, though, it depends a bit on what you're looking forward to seeing, so I recommend finding out what's special in each of the spring months (March, April and May) to get a much better idea.