Easter in Amsterdam 2024: Opening hours & useful information

Easter in Amsterdam | Easter is a typical family celebration throughout Europe. With the arrival of spring, relatives, acquaintances, and friends gather together for a beautiful celebration, which 2024 falls between Good Friday, 29 March, and Easter Monday, 1 April 2024.

Nevertheless, Easter is not the same in every country. If you want to celebrate Easter in Amsterdam, you will encounter new Easter customs. But Easter lovers will also be familiar with one or two customs from home.

How do people celebrate Easter in the Netherlands?

In theory, Easter in Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands is no different from Easter in Germany. Nevertheless, Easter is an extraordinary celebration in Holland. The variety of colours is typical of Easter in the Netherlands.

Numerous Easter markets open their doors exclusively around Easter time. Many families use the Easter markets to meet up and celebrate together. Easter in the Netherlands is not quiet either. Many music festivals are held throughout the country, and classical Easter concerts are played.

One of Amsterdam’s most significant Easter events is usually the three-day music festival Paaspop which is organised annually in Schijndel. On the other hand, the traditional Easter race in the seaside resort of Zandvoort is open to lovers of high-speed cars.

Opening hours of museums and attractions

The Easter period is a great time to visit Amsterdam. Easter is not very late this year, and you can already enjoy spring in the Dutch metropolis and perhaps have a coffee on the terraces of the countless restaurants and bars in addition to the numerous sights.

Here you can find all the information about the opening times of the most important attractions in this unique canal city.

Anne Frank House: The world-famous Anne Frank House is also open at Easter. Due to the enormous number of visitors, tickets have not been sold on-site since 2018. In this article, you will find everything you need to know about the Anne Frank House. Visitor tickets can only be booked online from the first Tuesday of the month for up to 6 weeks in advance. Click here for the booking link for tickets.

For those interested in art and culture, the 3 top museums, Het Rembrandt Huis (see the end of text), Amsterdam Museum, and Stedelijk Museum, are also open for a visit over Easter. Tickets can also be booked directly on the websites for the public holidays. This also applies to the famous Moco Museum.

Save money with discount cards

Easter in Amsterdam can be expensive. When planning your trip, consider what you want to do and see whether buying a suitable discount card makes sense. An example is the Amsterdam Pass from Tiqets. It is ideal for those new to Amsterdam, as the pass contains everything for beginners. There is also a corresponding article on this discount card.

Book your Amsterdam Pass from Tiqets online

The other discount cards can be found in the comparison for Amsterdam passes.

Easter traditions in the Netherlands

Although Easter is sometimes quite similar in Germany and the Netherlands, certain customs differ significantly. A typical custom is the breaking of hard-boiled eggs. However, the so-called Eitje tik is not only practised in the family for fun. Entire competitions in the Netherlands revolve around the hard-boiled egg. All competition participants take a hard-boiled egg in their hands and then hit their opponent’s egg with the pointed side. The loser of the competition is the participant whose eggshell breaks first.

✓ According to a survey, around 92 percent of all Dutch people follow this custom yearly at Easter. There are now dedicated websites and internet forums with tips that participants can use to increase their chances of winning.

However, the egg is not only destroyed in Amsterdam but also in the rest of the Netherlands. After a sumptuous Easter dinner, the Dutch set off on an Easter hunt. The search for small, colourful eggs is particularly popular with children. Although many hard-boiled eggs are hidden, the Dutch need to look for them more carefully. It can, therefore, happen that the Easter eggs remain hidden unnoticed well into the summer.

Before travelling

A lot is going on in Amsterdam right now. A visit to the city is a unique spectacle. The unique canal city is favoured by countless tourists at Easter, and the rush of visitors is far greater than usual. As a result, there are long queues and endless waiting times in front of the city’s major sights and attractions.

Visiting Amsterdam is also recommended during Easter week, but buying tickets in advance without queuing is highly recommended. In my article Online tickets for sights in Amsterdam, you will find recommendations for tickets to be purchased in advance according to the criteria urgent, recommended, and others.

Amsterdam is one of the leading destinations for city travellers at Easter. In addition to travelling by plane or train, hotels, hostels, flats, B&Bs, holiday flats, and other accommodations should be booked well in advance. Demand is enormous, and the Netherlands’ largest city could be more costly. Offers can be found on the numerous relevant internet portals.

If you travel by car, you should read up on parking in Amsterdam and reserve a parking space in advance. We recommend travelling by train, as the main train station is in the centre of Amsterdam. Flight tickets can be booked directly here:

Booking.com FLIGHTS

All further information can be found on the airport transfer page.

You can find my top 10 hotels in Amsterdam on this website. If you are travelling by car and are looking for accommodation with a free car park, you will also find suggestions in the same section.

Drivers should also remember to book a parking space in good time. The page also contains everything you need to know about Amsterdam’s parking situation.

Restaurant opening hours

Easter in Amsterdam offers the perfect opportunity for lovers of good food to learn Dutch Easter cuisine. In particular, breakfast is always extensive and enjoyed with friends and family. Unlike in Germany, the traditional Easter breakfast in the Netherlands does not include different types of meat.

Only when the traditional Easter Stolle, consisting of currant bread with almond filling, is served. Is it a typical Dutch Easter breakfast? The Osterstolle is supplemented with hard-boiled eggs, some of which have had their shells broken by the Eitje tik or end up on the breakfast table after the search.

Due to the general Easter tourist rush alone, restaurants, cafés, and pubs are open over the Easter holidays. Amsterdam is best known for its Indonesian cuisine.

Shop opening hours at Easter in Amsterdam

A completely different tradition, which may seem strange to holidaymakers in Holland, is visiting the furniture store. Although the annual visit to furniture shops only began in the 1980s, many Dutch people find themselves among upholstered furniture, fitted kitchens, and bedroom wardrobes around Easter.

The rush for new furnishings during Easter is sometimes so great that large furniture stores lure customers with unique discount campaigns and high price reductions. Due to the rush, however, the high traffic volume in large cities’ commercial areas can regularly cause traffic jams.

While in Germany, all public life is suspended on Good Friday, only public authorities and offices are closed in the Netherlands. Shops are open in most cities. In Amsterdam, for example, you can shop throughout the Easter weekend. On Good Friday, there is even the famous Albert Cuyp market in the De Pijp neighbourhood, as usual.

Opening hours in the Netherlands are generally more liberal than in Germany. Shops are also allowed to open on public holidays. Many shops will be open, especially in larger cities such as Amsterdam. This also applies to the famous Jordaan neighbourhood.

Public transport at Easter in Amsterdam

The entire public transport network operates during the Easter holidays, although Amsterdam is a city that can be easily explored on foot. The usual weekend and public holiday timetables apply. This may mean less frequent metro, tram, bus, and train services. If you are in a hurry, you can always find a taxi, although these are a little more expensive in the canal city. Tickets for public transport are also available directly here. Local transport is already restricted for holders of the I am Amsterdam discount card.

Buy GVB ticket Amsterdam online

Of course, the popular Hop-On & Hop-Off double-decker buses will be running throughout Easter. Tickets can also be purchased here in advance. The links to the provider can be found in the respective articles.

If you are travelling by car, there are a few things to bear in mind and you should read my article Parking in Amsterdam.

Church services in Amsterdam

Easter services are held in all of the Catholic churches in Amsterdam. Prins Hendrikkade 73 is also in English in the Basilica of St Nicholas. Further information can be found at www.nicolaas-parochie.nl.

Amsterdam with children

Easter is also holiday time. As children and teenagers are always bored with Rembrandt and Van Gogh, here are a few tips on what you can do with younger visitors to the city for a change.

► Zoo – also known as ARTIS for short- is a classic for children. A zoo that is also definitely worth a visit in Amsterdam is Plantage Kerklaan 38-40, 1018 CZ Amsterdam. Tickets are available here.

► Ripley’s Unbelievable But True + Body Worlds – Both exhibitions entertain children and young people. Bookable here as a combined ticket for Ripley’s Incredible But True + Body Worlds. Suppose you only want to visit one event. In that case, you can find the single ticket for Ripley’s Believe It or Not and a separate ticket for the Body Worlds exhibition in the article BodyWorlds in Amsterdam here.

► Nemo – The Nemo Science Museum is a fantastic playground, as you can take part in all the experiments from the world of biology, technology, physics and chemistry. Like a ship, the museum is clearly visible about 15 minutes’ walk from Centraal Station. Tickets for the Nemo Science Museum.

► Vondelpark – The best-known and most popular park in Amsterdam. Perfect for a break for adults and some relaxation for the kids. There is also an affordable accommodation option for families here – Hostal Stayokay Vondelpark.

► Canals – The popular canal cruises are popular with young and old. With a journey time of 60-75 minutes, even children and teenagers won’t get bored. My tip for children is a trip on the pancake boat, de Pannenkoekenboot. It also runs at Easter.

► AMAZE – Perhaps not for the little ones, but youngsters will love this audiovisual experience. AMAZE – open until late in the evening. They are located between the central railway station and the Maritime Museum.

► Mini golf in the dark – black light 3D mini golf is an exciting version of classic mini golf. Great fun for the whole family, e.g., when you don’t know what to do in bad weather. Black light mini golf tickets are available here, De Ruijterkade 153, 1011 AC Amsterdam. Otherwise, play at Glowgolf Amsterdam.

📍 Prins Hendrikkade 194,1011 AC Amsterdam Entrance through restaurant Noah’s Arq. Opposite the Maritime Museum.

ℹ️ Further suggestions also in Amsterdam with children.

Easter weather in Amsterdam

The lighting of the Easter bonfire is much better known and more traditional for German holidaymakers. This centuries-old tradition is celebrated in the Netherlands. The most enormous Easter bonfire in the country is lit yearly in Espelo in the province of Overijssel. Before the fire is lit, however, a lantern procession is organised. An orchestra always accompanies this. After the Easter bonfire has been lit, spectators enjoy a drink in the heated marquee.

Due to its coastal location, Amsterdam has a temperate climate, although it can be very changeable. At the end of April, daytime temperatures range from 13° to 15° Celsius, with occasional clear and sunny spells. However, an umbrella and windbreaker should not be missing from your luggage.

Easter in Amsterdam and tulips

Holidaymakers in the Netherlands like to take advantage of the Easter period to celebrate a traditional Dutch-style Easter near the flowers. When spring arrives, nature is even more colourful than the specially organised Easter markets. Every year, the tulip fields in Holland bloom around Easter. However, the variety of flowers is not limited to tulips. Daffodils, imperial crowns, and hyacinths complement the fields of flowers perfectly.

Dutch tulip growers like to present their most beautiful flowers and flower creations in their flower pavilions. The best place to admire the variety of flowers with your eyes is at the famous Keukenhof near Amsterdam. This year, Easter falls during the peak flowering period of the tulips, making it ideal for a trip to the unique flower park in Lisse.

Attention: Tickets can only be purchased online

Keukenhof is one of the most important sights in the Netherlands. On this website, you will find several articles with a general overview of Keukenhof and everything you need to know about the exact opening times, admission prices, how to get there, excursions, and accommodation at the park.

• Keukenhof: Overview
• Keukenhof: Opening Hours
• Keukenhof: Admission Prices

Suppose you are less familiar with the typical and traditional Netherlands and have a little time to spare at Easter. In that case, look at the two tours, Zaanse Schans, Edam & Marken day tour and from Alkmaar railway station – Alkmaar and cheese market.

What is King’s Day in Amsterdam?

On King’s Day (Koningsdag in Dutch) on Saturday, 27 April 2024, around three weeks after Easter this year, the Dutch will celebrate the birthday of their King Willem-Alexander. It is one of the most important public holidays and a bank holiday in the Netherlands. Amsterdam is the centre of the festivities on King’s Day. Millions of visitors travel to the city, and the Amsterdam canals are usually jammed with boats.

Everything is orange and decorated with Dutch flags. That’s why there are no canal cruises on this day, either. The opening hours for the most important museums and attractions (with few exceptions) are the same as during Easter.

Easter 2024 and King’s Day in Amsterdam

Museums and other attractions are also open during the Easter holidays and mainly on King’s Day. As there are access restrictions for a simultaneous number of visitors to many attractions, I strongly advise you to buy online tickets in advance.

Understandably, this advice applies particularly to the Easter period. Long waiting times in front of attractions are unnecessary; Amsterdam has too much to experience.