What to pack for Amsterdam/the Netherlands in every season!

As someone who’s lived in the Netherlands for over a decade, I’ve seen every shade of Dutch weather – from sideways rain in June to unexpectedly warm October days. If you’re planning a trip to Amsterdam (or anywhere in the country), knowing what to pack isn’t just about checking the forecast. The weather here is famously unpredictable, and dressing right can make the difference between enjoying the canals or being cold, wet, and annoyed.

This guide breaks down exactly what to pack for every season – for both men and women – based on my personal experiences. I’ll walk you through the essentials, smart layering tricks, and a few local habits that might surprise you (like how Dutch people deal with rain without ever really using umbrellas). Whether you’re coming in winter boots or summer sandals, I’ve got you covered!

Netherlands Packing Lists per season

For each of these packing lists I’ve used the 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 method just because it’s a nice, easy way to organise clothing that can be mixed and matched, especially if you want to travel light. Most of the time, using this method means you can travel carry-on only, as you have enough clothes for about a week and once that week is up, if you’re travelling for longer, then you can do some washing so that you don’t need to be lugging around huge bags full of clothes.

The items and colours I’ve used are by no means hard and fast rules, I just used these to show how some nice basics can be paired together to make a variety of outfits, for both casual and more dressy occasions. I’ve also included images after the lists to show you the different outfits you can create, in case you like visual information like me.

Of course, if you want to pack a few extra items that is completely up to you, these are just my guidelines based on a packing light philosophy and knowing what sort of layers you should need for each season in Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands.

I haven’t included non-clothing items such as passports, laptops, phone chargers, etc., as I am sure you know what you need/want to bring with you when you travel. This guide is just about clothing, shoes and must-have accessories for Amsterdam/the Netherlands specifically, as that is the part you are probably here looking for help with.

And at the end of this post, you can even download a basic checklist for each season to use when you’re packing for your trip!

Packing list for Amsterdam in spring 

Spring in Amsterdam (and the rest of the Netherlands) can best be described as changeable. Sure, you will get some glorious warm and sunny days (especially towards the end of the season) but you should also be prepared for some colder days and definitely a few rain-showers!

I suggest bringing clothing items that can easily be layered so that you can take things off and on during the day as the weather changes, which it often will. If you’re a woman planning to head to Keukenhof or the flower fields then you might want to pack a pretty dress, but make sure you keep an eye on the weather forecast as you may want to wear leggings and a jacket with said dress if it’s going to be cold and/or wet!

Women

• 5 tops (mix of short sleeve and long sleeve)
• 4 bottoms (one skirt, mix of jeans and slacks)
• 3 dresses (one long-sleeve, one short-sleeve)
• 3 shoes (comfy walking shoes, sandals and dressy ankle boots)
• 2 warmer layers (one hooded rain-proof coat, one cardigan/denim jacket)
• 1-2 pairs tights/leggings
• 1 pair sunglasses
• 1 hat
• 1 handbag/day bag
• Socks
• Underwear 
• Toiletries (include sunscreen!)

Men

• 5 tops (mix of short sleeve and long sleeve)
• 4 bottoms (one pair shorts, mix of jeans, slacks, track pants)
• 3 hoodies (mix of casual and slightly dressier)
• 3 shoes (comfy walking shoes, sandals and some that are nice enough to go with a ‘dressier’ outfit)
• 2 warmer layers (one hooded rain-proof coat, one smart jacket)
• 1 pair sunglasses 
• 1 hat
• 1 day bag
• Socks
• Underwear
• Toiletries (include sunscreen!)

Packing list for Amsterdam in summer 

Summer in the Netherlands can be gorgeous and hot, but once again, that isn’t guaranteed! Make sure you do pack clothing for hot weather, but also bring a couple of light jackets or cardigans and some pants for when the weather isn’t as warm.

For women, it’s a good idea to bring a few dresses that can be dressed up or down, for sightseeing or going to the beach as well as going out for dinner or drinks. In general, locals in Amsterdam don’t get too dressed up for going out unless it’s somewhere really fancy, so just a smart casual dress code is a good rule of thumb. For men, some dressier shoes and slacks with a shirt is considered dressy, but most places will be fine with just jeans and sneakers so long as they’re clean.

And while I’ve put high heels in the shoes section for women, I wouldn’t necessarily advise wearing them a lot (maybe some kitten heels or cute flats would be better for dressier occasions) as the streets in Amsterdam are often uneven and you don’t want to twist an ankle!

Women

• 5 tops (one light long-sleeve blouse, four short sleeves or sleeveless)
• 4 bottoms (1 jeans/black pants, one skirt, one pair shorts, one light linen pair of pants)
• 3 dresses (that can be dressed up or down)
• 3 shoes (comfy walking shoes, sandals and dressy shoes)
• 2 warmer layers (one light cardigan or jacket and one warmer dressy top)
• 1 pair sunglasses
• 1 hat
• 1 handbag/day bag
• Socks
• Underwear 
• Toiletries (include sunscreen!)

Men

• 5 short sleeve tops/tees
• 4 shorts
• 3 pants
• 3 shoes (comfy walking shoes, sandals, dressier shoes)
• 2 warmer layers (one light hoodie and one dressier jacket)
• 1 pair sunglasses
• 1 hat
• 1 day bag
• Socks
• Underwear 
• Toiletries (include sunscreen!)

Packing list for Amsterdam in autumn

Autumn in the Netherlands and Amsterdam is similar to spring in weather, although instead of pretty flowers everywhere you’ll get to enjoy pretty leaves changing on the trees. There can still be warmer days but also cold and wet days, so be prepared for both. I would suggest bringing some warmer coats/jackets and women can also wear dresses with tights and boots if that’s their style.

Women

• 5 tops (two short sleeve and three long-sleeve)
• 4 bottoms (one skirt and mix of jeans/smart pants/comfy sweats or leggings)
• 3 warmer layers (one hooded rain-proof coat, one smart casual jacket, one dressy trench coat)
• 3 shoes (comfy walking shoes, ankle boots and dressy shoes)
• 2 dresses (one long sleeve and one short sleeve)
• 1-2 pairs tights/leggings
• 1 pair sunglasses
• 1 scarf
• 1 handbag/day bag
• Socks
• Underwear 
• Toiletries 

Men

• 5 tops (mix of short-sleeve and long-sleeve)
• 4 bottoms (mix of jeans/dressy slacks/comfy track pants
• 3 coats (one hooded water-proof, one dressy trench coat, one smart jacket)
• 3 shoes (comfy walking shoes, dressy shoes and waterproof boots)
• 2 light sweaters (one casual, one a bit dressier)
• 1 pair sunglasses
• 1 scarf
• 1 day bag
• Socks
• Underwear 
• Toiletries 

Packing list for Amsterdam in winter 

Winter can be quite grim in the Netherlands, if it’s not snowy then it’s usually just grey, cold and often rainy. Make sure you have warm layers, waterproof shoes and a proper water-proof coat with a hood rather than bothering with an umbrella. Amsterdam streets can be narrow and even in winter it’s busy, so you don’t want to be constantly trying not to poke people in the eye with an umbrella.

The wind can also be fierce, so gloves and a scarf are a must, and perhaps a beanie, earmuffs or other warm hat if you find your head or ears get cold. I usually wear my earmuffs or headphones as the cold wind makes my ears hurt!

Although as usual, you may want lighter layers on underneath your big warm coats, because as soon as you go inside a shop, restaurant/café or even a train, you will be sweltering due to the heating being on full-blast. I’ve never felt the need to wear thermal layers under my clothes in the Netherlands, just thicker pants than the rest of the year and warm layers up top.

Women

• 5 tops (3 long-sleeve, 2 short-sleeve)
• 4 bottoms (mix of jeans, comfy pants, dressy slacks, leggings)
• 3 warmer layers (one hooded rain-proof coat, one classy trench, one warm puffer jacket)
• 2 shoes (comfy walking shoes and dressy ankle boots)
• 2 dresses (one long sleeve and one short-sleeve)
• 1-2 pairs tights/leggings
• 1 pair gloves
• 1 scarf
• 1 handbag/day bag
• Socks
• Underwear 
• Toiletries 

Men

• 5 tops (3 long-sleeve, 2 short-sleeve)
• 4 bottoms (mix of jeans, comfy pants, dressy slacks)
• 3 warmer layers (one hooded rain-proof coat, one classy trench, one warm puffer jacket)
• 3 shoes (comfy walking shoes, dressier shoes, waterproof boots)
• 2 sweaters
• 1 pair gloves
• 1 scarf
• 1 day bag
• Socks
• Underwear 
• Toiletries 

Pin Me!

Do you agree with my packing lists? Let me know in the comments if you would make any changes or pin one of these if you’re planning your own trip to Amsterdam and/or the rest of the Netherlands!

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