What to Do in Amsterdam in March: Weather, Events and Tips

March is when Amsterdam wakes up: afternoons climb towards 10°C, the sun shines 146 hours over the month, nearly twice as much as in February, and the first bulbs flower. The Keukenhof opens on 18 March 2027, Easter falls on the 28th and terraces fill up on the first fine days. It is a good compromise before April's high season: more light, prices still reasonable, but weather that stays cool and changeable. This guide covers the weather, crowds, dated events, what to pack and ideas for March 2027. Dates and prices checked in October 2026.

March weather: cool, drier and ever brighter

Tulips and a tree in the Keukenhof gardens

March normals (Schiphol)	March
Average maximum temperature	10°C
Average minimum temperature	3°C
Rainfall	52 mm
Sunshine	146 hours over the month

Source: 1991-2020 normals from the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI), Schiphol station. Nights can still freeze early in the month and the wind stays cool. In the night from Saturday 27 to Sunday 28 March 2027 the Netherlands moves to summer time: you lose an hour of sleep but gain an hour of evening light. For the whole season, see Amsterdam in spring.

Crowds and prices in March

March has medium crowds: busier than February, much quieter than April. Hotels stay affordable, except over the Easter weekend (26 to 29 March 2027) and around the Keukenhof opening, when prices rise. Easter Sunday and Easter Monday are public holidays in the Netherlands (28 and 29 March): some shops and venues have reduced hours. To choose a neighbourhood see where to stay in Amsterdam, and for costs the Amsterdam trip budget.

What's on in March 2027

The Keukenhof opens, 18 March

The Keukenhof, the big flower park in Lisse, opens on Thursday 18 March 2027 and stays open until 9 May, daily from 8 am to 7 pm (last entry 6:15 pm). In March it is mostly crocuses, daffodils and the first hyacinths in bloom; tulips come in April. Buy tickets online, preferably for a weekday. The bloom calendar is detailed in seeing tulips in Amsterdam.

Easter, 26 to 29 March

Easter falls on Sunday 28 March 2027, the same day the clocks go forward. The weekend is busy: parks, museums and trains are crowded, and the newly opened Keukenhof draws families. Book accommodation and tickets in advance.

One last skate

The Jaap Eden IJsbaan (Radioweg 64) stays open to the public until 21 March 2027. Sessions are booked online.

What to wear in March

Layers: a waterproof coat with a hood, a sweater, a light scarf.
Closed, waterproof shoes: showers are frequent.
Sunglasses: the lower sun dazzles off the water.
A windbreaker for boat trips or cycling.

The best ideas for March

The Keukenhof windmill above the flower fields

The Keukenhof: the 18 March opening, for the early bulbs; access from Amsterdam is in its page.
The tulip museum: the tulip museum is an indoor visit, useful to understand the history of the bulb.
The flower market: the flower market already sells bulbs and spring bouquets.
Parks: the Vondelpark wakes up in the first sunshine.
Day trips: Haarlem, Utrecht or the windmills around Amsterdam, quieter than in April.
Rainy days: what to do in Amsterdam when it rains.

March 2027 at a glance

Date	Event	Info
Until 21 March	Jaap Eden IJsbaan	Paid, book online
Thursday 18 March	Keukenhof opens	Until 9 May, 8 am-7 pm
26-29 March	Easter weekend	Sunday 28 and Monday 29 are public holidays
Night of 27-28 March	Clocks go forward	One hour less sleep
All month	10°C in the afternoon, 52 mm of rain	Prices still low, except Easter