01Weather
Amsterdam weather in January
Afternoons in January average 6.8 °C (44 °F) and nights cool to 2.2 °C (36 °F). The month brings about 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain spread over roughly 12 days. Compared with December it is 1.1 °C cooler; February is 1.3 °C warmer again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical January | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 11 °C / 52 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 2 °C / 36 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | -2 °C / 28 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 0.0 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 8.4 | frost mornings per month |
| Days with snow cover | 2.9 | snow depth ≥ 1 cm, per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 39 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest January day 2016–2025 | 14.3 °C / -6.8 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | 08:50 | 16:37 | 7.8 h |
| 15 January | 08:43 | 16:56 | 8.2 h |
| 31 January | 08:22 | 17:24 | 9.0 h |
Daylight grows by about 72 minutes over the month. Times are local (Europe/Amsterdam).
03Crowds
How busy Amsterdam is in January
quiet The main sights are quiet in January. What drives it:
- Amsterdam Light Festival continues
- National Tulip Day mid-January
- dark, cold days
04Public holidays
Public holidays in January 2027
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 Jan 2027 | New Year's Day |
On public holidays many shops close and museums run on Sunday hours; check opening times for the day before and after as well.
05Events
What's on in Amsterdam in January
Every year in January
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| National Tulip Day | third Saturday of January, Museumplein | festival |
07Packing
What to pack for Amsterdam in January
- a winter coat, gloves and a hat
- thermal layer for early mornings
- waterproof shoes
- a compact umbrella or hooded rain jacket, rain falls on roughly one day in three
- gloves: frost on about 8 mornings
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
January is cold, wet and dark, with the sun setting before five in the first week, but the Light Festival keeps the canals glowing until mid-month, best seen from a canal boat after dark, and National Tulip Day fills Dam Square with free flowers on the third Saturday. It is the cheapest month for hotels and the quietest at the Rijksmuseum and Van Gogh Museum.
Afternoon temperatures hover around 6 °C, with frost on about a third of mornings and occasionally enough ice on the canals for Amsterdammers to skate, a rare event that stops the city. Winter sales run all month. The Anne Frank House still needs advance booking, but slots are easy to find. Museum Night and the Christmas markets are over by 6 January. Cycling is possible but the wind off the IJ is biting; trams and the museums are the comfortable alternative.
09Compare
Amsterdam month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7 °C | 2 °C | 12 | – | quiet | Mixed |
| February | 8 °C | 3 °C | 12 | – | quiet | Mixed |
| March | 11 °C | 4 °C | 10 | – | moderate | Good |
| April | 14 °C | 6 °C | 7 | – | very busy | Mixed |
| May | 18 °C | 10 °C | 9 | – | busy | Good |
| June | 22 °C | 13 °C | 10 | – | busy | Good |
| July | 22 °C | 15 °C | 10 | – | very busy | Good |
| August | 23 °C | 15 °C | 12 | – | very busy | Good |
| September | 20 °C | 12 °C | 10 | – | busy | Good |
| October | 15 °C | 10 °C | 11 | – | moderate | Good |
| November | 10 °C | 5 °C | 13 | – | quiet | Good |
| December | 8 °C | 3 °C | 14 | – | moderate | Mixed |
Not sure about January? See the best time to visit Amsterdam.
10Elsewhere
January in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| London in January | 7 °C | 11 |
| Paris in January | 7 °C | 13 |
| Copenhagen in January | 4 °C | – |
| Prague in January | 4 °C | 10 |
| Dublin in January | 8 °C | 12 |
| Venice in January | 8 °C | 5 |
11FAQ
Amsterdam in January: your questions
Is January a good time to visit Amsterdam?
January is a reasonable month with trade-offs to visit Amsterdam. Daytime highs average 7 °C (44 °F), rain falls on about 12 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are quiet.
What is the weather like in Amsterdam in January?
Expect cold days around 7 °C (44 °F) and nights near 2 °C (36 °F). One January in ten brings afternoons above 11 °C, and one in ten stays below 2 °C.
Does it rain a lot in Amsterdam in January?
January brings about 72 mm (2.8 in) of rain over roughly 12 days, which is showery by Amsterdam standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 39 percent.
What should I wear in Amsterdam in January?
Pack a winter coat, gloves and a hat, thermal layer for early mornings, waterproof shoes.
Is Amsterdam crowded in January?
The main sights are quiet in January. Main drivers: Amsterdam Light Festival continues; National Tulip Day mid-January; dark, cold days.
What time does it get dark in Amsterdam in January?
Around the middle of January the sun sets at about 16:56 and rises at 08:43, giving 8.2 hours of daylight.