January weather: cold, damp and very short on daylight
| January normals (Schiphol) | January |
|---|---|
| Average maximum temperature | 6°C |
| Average minimum temperature | 1°C |
| Rainfall | 67 mm |
| Sunshine | 69 hours over the month |
| Days of frost | about ten |
Source: 1991-2020 normals from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), Schiphol station. On 1 January 2027 the sun rises at 8:47 am and sets at 4:39 pm: plan outdoor walks and photos between 10 am and 3 pm, and keep museums for late afternoon. Snow is rare and rarely settles; the wind makes the cold bite harder by the water and on a bike. For the whole season, see Amsterdam in winter.
Crowds and prices in January
Once the holidays are over the city empties: museum queues are short and accommodation prices are, along with February, the lowest of the year. The exception is the first few days of the month, still busy with New Year visitors (see New Year in Amsterdam). Winter sales liven up the shopping streets. To choose a neighbourhood, see where to stay in Amsterdam, and to estimate costs see the Amsterdam trip budget.
What's on in January 2027
The last evenings of the Amsterdam Light Festival
The Amsterdam Light Festival runs until Sunday 17 January 2027. The light artworks are lit every evening from 4:30 pm to 11 pm along the central canals. The walking route is free; festival cruises start at €29.75 per adult. In early January the quays and boats are far less crowded than in December: pick a weekday evening, just after dark.
National Tulip Day, 16 January
On Saturday 16 January 2027, Dutch growers open the season with the Nationale Tulpendag: a temporary garden of 200,000 tulips is set up on the Museumplein, where everyone can pick a free bouquet of up to ten stems. The garden opens at 1 pm and closes when all the flowers are gone; expect a wait of about an hour and arrive before opening. The real fields bloom in spring: see seeing tulips in Amsterdam.
Ice rinks
The Museumplein ice rink, at the foot of the Rijksmuseum, stays until Saturday 16 January 2027. The Jaap Eden IJsbaan (Radioweg 64), a 400-metre artificial track in the east of the city, is open to the public until 21 March 2027; sessions vary daily and are booked online.
1 January
New Year's Day is a public holiday: some museums open late or close (the Van Loon Museum is closed, the Willet-Holthuysen Museum opens at noon). Check each venue's hours before you go.
What to wear in January
- Layers: a waterproof coat with a hood, more practical than an umbrella in strong wind, plus a hat, gloves and a scarf.
- Closed shoes that cope with rain and wet cobbles.
- Warm clothes for a cruise on an open boat, such as the festival cruise.
- Take care on a bike: cycle paths, bridges and tram rails get slippery in frost.
The best ideas for January
- The big museums: the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum are easier to visit than in season; still book a time slot, see booking tickets in Amsterdam.
- Canal houses: the Van Loon Museum and the Willet-Holthuysen Museum offer a warm visit.
- Greenhouses: the Hortus Botanicus has heated glasshouses.
- A film: see the cinemas of Amsterdam.
- Brown cafés: the place to warm up, see Amsterdam's brown cafés.
- Rainy days: our selection what to do in Amsterdam when it rains.
January 2027 at a glance
| Date | Event | Info |
|---|---|---|
| Friday 1 January | New Year's Day (public holiday) | Reduced hours or closed venues |
| Saturday 16 January, from 1 pm | National Tulip Day | Museumplein, free, 10 tulips maximum |
| Until 16 January | Museumplein ice rink | Paid |
| Until Sunday 17 January | Amsterdam Light Festival | 4:30-11 pm, free on foot |
| Until 21 March | Jaap Eden IJsbaan | Paid, book online |
| All month | 6°C in the afternoon, 67 mm of rain | Among the cheapest hotels of the year |
Going further
January comes before what to do in Amsterdam in February. For the end of the previous year, read Christmas in Amsterdam, and to compare all seasons, the best time to visit Amsterdam.
