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DutchAmsterdam.nl -- April in Amsterdam brings good news and bad news when it comes to the weather.
The good news: this is normally the driest month of the year. It does rain, but the spring showers are usually short-lived and not too wet.
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Canalside terrace, Singel, Amsterdam[/caption]
The bad news: April is a month with sharp contrasts.
April doet wat hij wil, the Dutch say. It means that 'April does whatever it wishes to do,' which can include anything from abundant sunshine and almost summertime temperatures to, well, snow on the ground.
Erratic weather, from day to day and sometimes hour to hour.
Sunday (24) Quite cloudy, with off-and-on drizzle or light rain showers throughout the day. One moment it is sunny and bright with blue skies in between the clouds. The next moment it rains. It is also too cold for the time of year. It is around 6° Celsius (42.8° Fahrenheit) throughout the day, and it feels like -1° Celsius (30.2° Fahrenheit)
Monday (25) Very cloudy. Scattered drizzle or light rain showers throughout the day, and the noontime high of 8° Celsius (46.4° Fahrenheit) will feel some seven degrees colder.
Tuesday (26) Cloudy, with scattered drizzle or rain showers throughout the day. You may see a spot of sun every now and then in the afternoon. Today's average high of 7° Celsius (44.6° Fahrenheit) will feel like -1° Celsius (30.2.4° Fahrenheit).
Wednesday - King's Day (27) Everyone hopes for good weather on this national feast day, but right now it looks like it will be cloudy to very cloudy with drizzly or rain showers throughout the day. Many of the large-scale music and dance events have already announced alternative, in-doors locations. About 6-7° Celsius (42.8-44.6° Fahrenheit) throughout the day, but the wind chill factor makes it feel about 6 degrees colder.
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Scattered showers[/caption]
Thursday (28) Scattered clouds in the morning. On-again, off-again drizzle and light showers throughout the day. One forecaster foresees says you'll also see the sun from time to time. Count on about 7-8° Celsius (44.6-46.4° Fahrenheit).
Friday (29) Variably cloudy, with scattered drizzle or light rain showers, along with an afternoon high temperature of 8° Celsius (46.4° Fahrenheit).
Saturday (30) Variably cloudy, with now and then some light rain or drizzle. Afteroon high: 10° Celsius (50° Fahrenheit).
Long term forecast, Sunday May 1 through Sunday May 8: The changeable weather pattern persists, with maximum temperatures well below what is normal for this time of the year.
All things considered it is a good thing Amsterdam has so many museums and pubs to enjoy.
Remember that April 27 is King's Day (see below). If you're only just now thinking about booking a hotel around that date, good luck!
This is the ideal time to see Holland's famous tulip and flower fields and gardens
Normal highs and lows in April:
1-10: 3.8 - 11.6° Celsius (38.84 - 52.88° Fahrenheit)
11:20: 4.2 - 12.6° Celsius (39.56 - 54.68° Fahrenheit)
21-30: 6 - 15.2° Celsius (42.8 - 59.36° Fahrenheit)
This information will be updated throughout the month of April
Queen's Day King's Day Weather
But what everyone wants to know this time of year is: What will the weather be like on King's Day (formerly: Queen's Day)?
We're talking about the world's biggest street party -- when millions of Dutch people (wearing something orange, of course) take to the streets and canals to celebrate the King's birthday.
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Clik here to view. Queen's Day 2013. Nowadays it's King's Day.[/caption]
King's Day will take place on April 27, the King's birthday.
We've often had good weather. But at times there have been grey skies as well -- which tends to make for a somewhat less abundant party atmosphere. ('Somewhat less' is relevant. You haven't seen a party this big anywhere else).
See Holland's Tulip & Flower Fields and Gardens
If you like tulips and other flowers, April is an ideal month in which to visit Amsterdam.
Excursions to the nearby tulip and bulb fields, as well as the world-renowned Keukenhof (known as the Garden of Europe, one of the world's largest flower gardens) are popular with tourists and locals alike.
And you can't miss a visit to the the Aalsmeer Flower Exchange -- the world's largest flower auction.
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Clik here to view. See Holland's world famous tulip and flower fields [Click for details][/caption]
Sunshine!
Note that on average in April the sun shines on Amsterdam 177 hours.
That works out to 43 per cent of the time that it could possible shine -- a marked improvement over the 33 per cent we normally get in March.
Amsterdam Weather Facts: April
Temperatures
• Average lows: 3.3° C (38° F)
• Average highs: 12.8° C (55° F)
Sunrise & Sunset
• April 1 - 7:16 a.m. / 8:13 p.m
• April 30 - 6:13 a.m. / 9:02 p.m.
Rainfall
• Average: 47 mm (1.8 inches) in 72 hours
What to wear in Amsterdam in April
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Two men take advantage of the sun to get some work done at the intersection of two car-free streets in the center of Amsterdam[/caption]
You'll want to come prepared for bright, sunny weather and warm spring-time temperatures. Or bright, sunny weather and low temperatures. Or the type of storms that make you think it's fall.
In other words, try and determine what kind of weather the day brings and dress accordingly. Dress in layers so you can add or subtract something if and when the weather changes.
A light jacket is a good idea.
You can pick up inexpensive umbrellas just about anywhere, but if you do encounter a spot of rain simply make a beeline into the nearest café -- just like the Dutch do.
Tips
- On warm, sunny days Amsterdammers come out in droves in order to shop, relax in a park, or people watch at outdoor cafés. It's a good idea to join them. You'll hear Dutch people say something like, "Zullen we een terrasje pakken?" which means "Shall we sit on a terrace?" (literally, 'shall we take a terrace'). By all means, do the same. Here's how to order a beer in Amsterdam.
- Take advantage of the lengthening days -- courtesy of nature and helped a bit by the 'Summer Time' (Daylight Saving Time) that started the last Sunday of March. At the beginning of April sunset is around 8pm, and by the end of the month it stays light out till about 9pm.
See also
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General information about the weather in Amsterdam, including month-by-month details