One of the things Amsterdam is known for besides the canal houses, bicycles, and Red Light district, is the rain. It seems like it’s raining 90% of the time here. And the weather changes so quickly. You can wake up to a sunny day, only to get rained on in the afternoon. Which means it’s always good to be prepared with some back pocket rainy day activities. And a raincoat.
When visiting Amsterdam, I always recommend packing for all four seasons. Even in the summer, you don’t know what you’re going to get. The good news is that the locals are used to the rain, and it doesn’t stop them from biking around town. They’re also used to seeing people looking like drowned rats, so you don’t need to worry about your hair will look. Although there are a lot of activities that are worth putting up with the rain, there are some things that just won’t work, like a picnic in Vondelpark.
Below are some suggestions for rainy day activities in the Dam. But hopefully you’ll luck out and get some sun instead!
Xx, Kelsey
RAINY DAY ACTIVITIES IN AMSTERDAM
Visit a Museum – The easiest answer is to check out any of the many museums in the city. The Museumplein area is home to Rijksmuseum (dedicated to Dutch art and history), Stedelijk (modern, contemporary, and design), the MOCO (Dali and Banksy), and the famous Van Gogh museum. It’s super easy to walk from museum to museum, and you can easily spend a whole day exploring them. I recommend booking Van Gogh ahead of time because they often require a specific time reservation, since it’s very popular.
Grab a Strong Cup of Coffee – Amsterdam has some great coffee, and they like it strong. Visit one of the many coffee bars, enjoy a cup, and people watch. Amsterdam is a very diverse city with expats from all over Europe, tourists from all over the world, and of course the Dutch. It can be very entertaining to watch for all the cultural (and fashion) differences.
Catch the Latest Flick – There are a surprising number of movie theaters here in Amsterdam, showing new and old films alike. Hit up Pathe Tuschinski and watch the latest movie in an old art deco theater. Check out The Movies, the oldest cinema in Amsterdam. Or catch a movie at Filmhallen and then grab a bite to eat at the food hall. Most movies are in English with Dutch subtitles, so you shouldn’t have to worry much about translations!
Eat & Drink Your Fill – The Amsterdam Foodhallen is an indoor food market with a ton of vendors serving food from local restaurants. Grab a massive gin & tonic from G&T Bar and sip as you wander around and decide what to eat first. Foodhallen also has a great vibe on weekend evenings, although it can be nearly impossible to find a seat. Be prepared to stalk someone’s table or eat standing up!
Get in Some Shopping – Amsterdam has some awesome shopping, and a rainy day is the perfect time to get inspired by Dutch fashion and pick up some leopard pants. Kalverstraat is the main shopping street with all the big box stores. The 9 Straatjes is full of amazing boutiques and cafes to grab a warm drink between stores. If it’s raining really hard, check out De Bijenkorf (the Beehive in Dutch), Amsterdam’s big department store. There is a great cafe up on the top floor, for lunch or a glass of wine.
Enjoy a Craft Cocktail – Vesper Bar and the pop-up bar, De Vlieg, are two of my favorite places to experience a great craft cocktail here in Amsterdam. Get something with gin, since the Netherlands are famous for Dutch gin.
Delight in Some Culture – Amsterdam is home to the Royal Concertgebouw, one of the top concert halls in the world with incredible acoustics. Check out a concert at the hall and experience the acoustics for yourself. Or, if you’re less of a concert person, see an opera or ballet at the National Opera & Ballet.
OUTFIT DETAILS:
Loavies white leather jacket (picked this one up at a sample sale, so a similar option without the stars is here) | J. Crew Factory toothpick jeans | Superga platform sneakers | Bag is old Henri Bendel, but I’ve linked a similar bag in the same color that’s currently 50% off here!
