Amsterdam in Autumn: Weather, Colours and Events

Autumn in Amsterdam means a still-mild September, trees turning yellow along the canals, then short, rainy days that make museums and cafés especially appealing. There is plenty going on: Amsterdam Dance Event, Museumnacht, Sinterklaas's arrival, the opening of the Light Festival. This guide gives the weather to expect from September to November, the crowds, the events of autumn 2026 and what to know for 2027. Dates and prices checked in October 2026.

Autumn weather in Amsterdam

The Waterlooplein flea market on a sunny autumn day

According to the 1991-2020 KNMI normals at Schiphol, September is still mild (19 °C in the afternoon, 11 °C at night), October drops to 15 / 8 °C and November to 10 / 5 °C. Rain increases: 84 mm in September, 87 mm in October, 85 mm in November. Sunshine falls quickly, from 154 hours in September to 117 in October and only 67 in November. The wind picks up and the days shorten markedly.

Month	High / low	Rain	Sun	Crowds
September	19 / 11 °C	84 mm	154 h	Medium to high
October	15 / 8 °C	87 mm	117 h	Medium
November	10 / 5 °C	85 mm	67 h	Low

KNMI normals 1991-2020 (Schiphol). Take a waterproof coat with a hood, shoes that can take rain and several layers.

Autumn 2026 highlights

Date	Event	Good to know
21 - 25 October 2026	Amsterdam Dance Event	Electronic music festival, hotels full
7 November 2026	Museumnacht	Museums open in the evening, single ticket
14 - 15 November 2026	Sinterklaas	Arrival in Amsterdam on Sunday 15 November
From 26 November 2026	Amsterdam Light Festival	Until 17 January 2027, every evening 4:30pm-11pm

The dates of the 2027 Amsterdam Dance Event and Museumnacht are not yet published: check the official sites before booking. ADE fills hotels and pushes prices up that week; book early, or pick another week if you want peace and quiet.

A light artwork on the water of the Entrepotdok during the Amsterdam Light Festival

September: the late season

This is often the best compromise of the year: it is still mild, crowds thin out after the school return and terraces stay open. Make the most of the parks, a canal cruise and cycling. The Vondelpark and the Oosterpark start to take on their colours.

October and November: museums, cafés and light

When the rain sets in, it is museum season: queues shorten, especially in November. See our guide to the best museums in Amsterdam and the one on the museum pass. Brown cafés warm up late afternoons, Dutch food becomes heartier, and our guide to Amsterdam at night helps you pick an evening. For rainy days, see what to do in Amsterdam when it rains.

Budget and crowds

September stays expensive at the start of the month and at weekends; October is average, except during ADE week; November is one of the quietest and cheapest months, until the end of the month and the opening of the Light Festival. Check whether the displayed price includes the tourist tax. Our guide where to stay in Amsterdam helps you pick a neighbourhood, and the budget for a trip to Amsterdam to estimate the cost of your stay.