Amsterdam
Amsterdam (Dutch: [ˌɑmstərˈdɑm] ; lit. "Dam in the Amstel") is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the urban area and 2,480,394 in the metropolitan area. Located in the Dutch province of North Holland, Amsterdam is colloquially referred to as the "Venice of the North", for its large number of canals, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Typical weather
1981–presentCity Rhythm
measuredOpening hours, by kind of place
median across mapped venuesVital absurdities
measured · the Anti-AwardsSame time system
by rhythmWhat to do each season
2winter
cool, damp, cloudy, prevailing westerlies; mean 3.3-12.4 °C across the range; nights rarely below −5 °C (urban heat island + three-side water surround); 133 days/yr with >1 mm precipitation, light rain and brief showers dominate
- canal life contracts; the outdoor café culture retreats behind glass
- museum-and-concert-hall season at full strength (Rijksmuseum, Concertgebouw)
- occasional easterly/northeasterly spells bring the only sharp frosts
summer
moderately warm, humid, occasionally hot; mean 15-18 °C, August daily high ~22.1 °C; only 2.5 days/yr reach 30 °C (AHS Heat Zone 2); record extremes −19.7 °C to 36.3 °C
- canal cruises, waterside terraces and the Natura Artis Magistra zoo fill
- festival season (Holland Festival, Pride Amsterdam, open-air concerts in the Vondelpark)
- the city's tourist pressure peaks — 5.34M international visitors/yr concentrated in these months
What it is known for
Important moments in a year
Kings Day
- citywide street market
- orange crowds
- canal boat crowds
Pride Amsterdam
- canal parade
- street crowds
Sankt Hans / Longest Day
- midsummer beach exodus rather than city event
Uitmarkt
- cultural-season opening
- free performances
Remembrance 4may
- silent gathering on Dam Square at 20:00
On the record
source-trackedCycling is key to the city's modern character, and there are numerous biking paths and lanes spread throughout.
Amsterdam is colloquially referred to as the "Venice of the North", for its large number of canals, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The city has a long tradition of openness, liberalism, and tolerance.
The city is known for its nightlife and festival activity, with several nightclubs among the world's most famous.
Amsterdam is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe, receiving more than 5.34 million international visitors annually; this is excluding the 16 million day-trippers visiting the city every year.
Two-thirds of the hotels are located in the city's centre.
The room occupation rate was 85% in 2017, up from 78% in 2006.
In 2023, the city began running the Stay Away ad campaign to dissuade British men [from visiting].
Days with more than 1 mm (0.04 in) of precipitation are common, on average 133 days per year.
Amsterdam's average annual precipitation is 838 mm (33 in). A large part of this precipitation falls as light rain or brief showers.
Four fare-free GVB ferries carry pedestrians and cyclists across the IJ lake to the borough of Amsterdam-Noord.
There are also privately operated water taxis, a water bus, a boat-sharing operation, electric rental boats, and canal cruises, that transport people along Amsterdam's waterways.
The method behind this atlas — 196 pp. Not published yet.