Amsterdam Weather: It Will Rain!

Before I moved to Amsterdam I lived in Toronto with a Belgian roommate. On the warm evening of a beautiful sunny day, we were going out to a concert and decided to walk. As we walked, I noticed my roommate was carrying an umbrella, and in retrospect, I understand why.
Weather in Amsterdam, and in the lowlands in general, is very fickle and it frequently rains. So, if you’re in Amsterdam on a beautiful sunny day, you can’t rule out that within the next few hours it’s going to rain. As a result, it’s essential to remember a few things when packing for a visit to Amsterdam:

1) Bring lots of layers. As soon as the clouds roll in and the rain begins, it can get chilly even on a warm day. A light waterproof jacket that you can carry around in a bag is an excellent idea.

2) Umbrellas aren’t always the best option. You can buy them at every souvenir shop, but the small collapsible umbrellas are rarely strong enough to withstand the accompanying wind. The best thing you can do umbrella wise is to stop at one of the Blokker stores (it’s a chain of which there are many locations including on the Kalverstraat and Damrak). They have large umbrellas that are inexpensive and very strong so they can withstand the wind. Unfortunately, they are also fairly large even when they are closed, so they can be a hassle to carry around when the rain passes. Finally, biking with an umbrella is very difficult, so a light rain jacket is the way to go.

3) Duck inside when you need to. Luckily, the Amsterdam city center is relatively small, with many points of interest within walking distance of each other, so it’s easy to duck in and out of the rain. And if you really get caught in the rain, there’s always a cafe, restaurant or shop near by.