Amsterdam in the rain | I am often asked what to do in Amsterdam when it rains! The Dutch capital is known for its bad weather. The flight is booked, the train ticket paid, the hotel can not be canceled, and the weather forecast is cruel. What are you doing in Amsterdam now?
✅ But do not worry, everything is not so wrong. Here are my ten tips and suggestions for rainy days in Amsterdam.
The Museums of Amsterdam: Museumsplein
Here you stay dry because all the museums are close together. First, we go to the famous Rijksmuseum with the world-famous paintings of Dutch artists from the 17th century, the golden age. Everything you need to know about opening hours, entrance fees, and how to get there can be found in the extensive section of Rijksmuseum. In case of bad weather, you should have a ticket in advance, because the waiting times at the ticket office can be unusually long now.
For the world-famous Van Gogh Museum, you must buy a ticket online in advance and reserve a time slot to access the exhibition. This should be done as early as possible. Otherwise, you will be out in the rain. It should take a little longer for Van Gogh fans, but 1 to 1.5 hours should be enough.
The Moco Museum and the Stedelijk Museum are top-rated on Museum Square, both modern and contemporary art exhibition halls. There are detailed explanations in the section Top attractions in museums. You can get tickets for these two attractions by clicking on the museum names.
✅ Tip: Towards evening, you can get another drink in Museum Square at the House of Bols Cocktail & Genever Experience. Only for people 18 years and older, one cocktail of your choice included, open daily, Sunday to Thursday until 18:30 and on Friday and Saturday until 21:00. Also, the right place who has previously attended the diamond engagement ring workshop?
Linger comfortably in a cafe
Amsterdam has many small, cozy cafes with local and fancy specialties! Of course, this all has its charm when you sit in the dry and the rain pattering against the window panes!
► Especially recommended is the Bocca coffee, near the Prinsengracht, Kerkstraat 96HS! It is one of the top-rated cafes on TripAdvisor with a known good Dutch coffee.
► Also recommended is the ‘Screaming Beans Coffee Roasters’ Café, Singel 276, not too far from Madame Tussauds Museum – Very authentic.
► From the Heineken Experience pier, it’s a 2-minute walk to the café De taart van m’n tante at Ferdinand Bolstraat 10. It is a unique, flashy café with the most unusual cakes.
If you like it more Dutch, participate in one of the famous cheese tastings, for example, at Henry Willig’s.
The canal boats sail even in the rain
Imagine a canal cruise while it’s raining. It’s a very romantic experience! Of course, you must find a dry way to the pier, buy a ticket in advance, and wait until it starts. But once you’re in the boat and the rain splashes on the panoramic roof, there’s still plenty to see during the traditional canal trip.
Now you also have plenty of time to learn all about the history and present of the canals in the Museum of the Canals at 386, Herengracht.
✅ Canal trip in the evening – If, due to bad weather, you need to cancel your plans, then there is always a canal trip in the evening. All other suggestions for canal trips in the evening are in the article Canal trips. For departures from Prins Hendrikkade 25, opposite Central Station, here are tips for the Romantic Boat Trip by Candlelight or the Classic Evening Canal Cruise with Snacks.
Accommodation, transportation, and discount card
Of course, it would now be an advantage to have booked a room in the canal belt. The distance to all attractions is short, and you can end the evening comfortably in one of the numerous restaurants, bars, or pubs around the corner. If you have booked a room with a view of the canal from my list of the top 10 hotels in Amsterdam at The Toren, Mr Jordaan, MISC Eatdrinksleep, or Max Brown Hotel Canal District, you are already somewhat compensated for the bad weather. Staying on a houseboat can also be romantic in the rain.
When it rains, you do not walk, stroll, or walk along the canals but have enough time to visit attractions and museums. Now it is worth buying a suitable discount card, preferably one with public transport included for free. Ideal under these conditions is the I Amsterdam Card.
At €90.00 for two days or €11.00 for three days, the discount card is quickly profitable after just two museum visits per day, a canal trip, and accessible public transportation.
✅ If you are only interested in public transport, book your tickets here.
Those arriving by car will find more information in my Parking in Amsterdam article.
A tour of the Heineken brewery
Since you can get a few beers for free here, you should reserve a suitable time slot for the afternoon to enter the Heineken Experience, one of Amsterdam’s top attractions. You can find all the details in the Heineken Experience section.
Staying here while it’s raining is a good suggestion, as the tour lasts about two hours, followed by free food. The visit also includes many interactive games. It is interesting also if you are with friends or as a family. So what more could you want in bad weather?
Indoor shopping at Magna Plaza
Amsterdam has many department stores, but you do not necessarily have to travel to the Dutch metropolis to see the same as in other countries. Except for the shopping center Magna Plaza, next to King’s Square. The shopping center is an architectural highlight of Amsterdam, both outside and inside.
Even if you don’t want to buy anything, you can stroll a little through the grand building and look at the chic and elegant stores. For an extended break, you can also find food and drinks here.
Delicious dining in “De Hallen”
Taking the tram line 7 to the stop Ten Katestraat for the lunch break is best. From here, it is only a few meters to De Hallen, a former depot of the Amsterdam streetcars. Today, it is a meeting place for connoisseurs and shopping fans. It is a fascinating piece of Amsterdam, with the food halls a spectacle!
There are countless possibilities to find your favorite dish or to try something new! Of course, the Dutch specialties, such as small pancakes and meat croquettes (Poffertjes and Bitterballen) or the famous Dutch fries, are also available here. So bon appétit!
✅ Tip: Stay at Vintage Hotel De Hallen from my list of Top 10 Hotels for Amsterdam.
The NEMO Science Museum
I would also like to include the Nemo Science Museum in my bad weather list. The same rules apply here as in the Heineken Experience. With various interactive activities and a lot of fun for the whole family, the stay can last 2 to 3 hours. Big or small, there’s something for everyone here!
✅ Tip: Only 500 meters away is Het Scheepvaartmuseum – Amsterdam’s maritime museum for seafaring history. Already visible from afar is the walk-on three-master Dutch East Indiaman, as a symbol of the colonial era of the Dutch. Tickets.
Enjoy a Mini Golf Session in the Dark
An experience I’ve never seen or heard of elsewhere is playing mini golf in the dark in Amsterdam! The event takes place indoors. The entire playing surface appears in neon colors and thus in an unusual and exciting concept. Minigolf with a difference!
This attraction is located just next to the Nemo Museum. So visits can be easily combined.
✓ Tip: Click here for online tickets for mini golf in the dark. In the same building, Laser Tag Amsterdam and Aloha Bowling Amsterdam.
Dark is also at the Dining in the Dark Experience, a culinary experience of a different kind.
The Amsterdam Museum
Lastly, this is one of my favorite activities when it rains in Amsterdam: The Amsterdam Museum. It is not an insider tip, as it is one of the city’s better-known museums, but the Historical Museum of Amsterdam is a bit underrated! This is especially true if you are in the Dutch metropolis for the first time and want to learn more about the city’s history!
You get an audio guide directly with the ticket purchase, which is practical and helpful for the museum tour. Centrally located in the city center, Kalverstraat 92, and therefore very easy to reach.
More tips when it rains in Amsterdam
► Madame Tussauds Amsterdam – Perhaps not the most spectacular wax museum of Madame Tussauds, but still worth a visit. In addition to many well-known celebrities, you can expect wax figures of personalities associated with the Netherlands, such as famous soccer players, the Dutch royal couple, or the famous painters Rembrandt van Rijn and Vincent van Gogh.
It is easily accessible in the rain due to its downtown location and a top-rated attraction. It is often crowded. It is open from 10:00 to 21:30, and the last admission is at 20:00. The tour lasts about 1 hour. Ticket holders can avoid the queues!
► Dungeon Amsterdam – This spooky experience is located just 300 meters away from Madame Tussauds Amsterdam. The spectacle opens at 11:00 and lasts a little over 1 hour. The frightening experience takes place in English. If it rains, it can also be very crowded here. So it is best to get tickets in advance.
► Amaze Amsterdam – When it rains, experience an audiovisual fascination between the central train station and the Maritime Museum at AMAZE. Something different than the conventional museums. Tickets can be booked online here. AMAZE.
► Fabrique des Lumières – There is a similar light spectacle at the largest museum for digital art in the Netherlands. Classical, modern, and contemporary art from a completely different perspective. Pazzanistraat 37, 1014 DB Amsterdam. Online-Tickets.
► Body Worlds Amsterdam – If you’re looking for a change from the typical museums Amsterdam offers, this is the place for you! This exhibition features over 200 anatomical specimens of natural human bodies and is a project of The Happiness Project to raise public awareness of health issues. It is also located right downtown, Damrak 66. Online-Tickets.
Even those traveling in Amsterdam with children in the rain do not have to worry about boredom because there are additional suggestions in Amsterdam with children.
