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Best Things to Do in Amsterdam in April

Updated: January 1, 2024

This post covers the best things to do in Amsterdam in April, including family-friendly, nighttime, as well as free activities, festivals, and events, all updated for 2024. 

Amsterdam is still cool in April with temps in the 50s. Read our April weather post for more details on what you can expect weather-wise.

Here are a few other popular posts where you can learn about year-round attractions in Amsterdam:

For even more ideas, check out our post covering the best things to do in Amsterdam.


TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN APRIL

The following list will provide a variety of fun activities in Amsterdam for April 2024.

We include several concerts, sporting events, festivals, and other interesting things happening in the city this month.


1. Go to a Concert

No matter when you visit Amsterdam, there are usually at least a few notable musicians performing each month.

Here are some of the best concerts you can attend this month:


Concerts

Music Festival

Check out this list of even more concerts in Amsterdam in April.


2. Attend a Sporting Event

The month of April will bring multiple games and matches to Amsterdam.

Their popular home team, the AFC Ajax, will have 3 home games.

Football (Soccer)

If the game dates don’t fit into your schedule, the whole family might enjoy going on an ArenA stadium tour to see where the famous home team spends most of its time. 

Darts

For even more great games to attend, check out this list of sporting events in Amsterdam.


3. Take in the Tulip Festival

The Netherlands is known the world over for its bright tulip fields, organized in neat rows.

While you won’t find full fields in Amsterdam’s city centre, you’ll be able to see blooming flowers in more than 80 spots of the city for the entire month of April. 

This includes around buildings, in museum gardens, in streetside planters, and anywhere else flowers can conceivably be planted! The entire city helps plant bulbs each autumn. 

The Tulip Festival website lists all participating locations and has an interactive map to make the tulips easy to find. The festival will run from March 21st - May 12th.

Check here for even more details.

If you’re just interested to see the tulip fields, April is the best month to go! You can find several half-day or full-day trips to Keukenhof, the most famous flower field.

Of course, you can also rent a bike and make your own way! 

You might also want to consider a trip to the Amsterdam Tulip Museum, and you can find out more about this attraction on our post covering 60+ Museums in Amsterdam.

NOTE: The Tulip Festival Pass includes admission to the gardens, a transfer from Amsterdam, and an audio guide to the area at a discounted rate!


4. Take a Sightseeing Tour

With the weather beginning to warm up, this is the perfect time to go on a sightseeing tour in Amsterdam, and there are a variety of different outings to choose from.

Here are just a few options you may want to consider this spring:

While a lot of tours will require a ticket, there are some free tours and audio guides you can take which will make it easier to save some money.

We have a list of pay-what-you-like tours you can take here


5. Save Money With a Tourist Pass

If you’re planning to visit multiple popular attractions while in Amsterdam, you could save 50% or more off admission prices by using a tourist pass.

There are three different types of passes to choose from, each one serving a different purpose.

While the all-inclusive pass is excellent for anyone planning at least 4-5 activities per day, a preset package might be better for visitors with limited time.

There is also a museum pass you can use which will grant access to all of the best museums in Amsterdam!

Here are a few of the more notable attractions included with Amsterdam tourist passes:

For additional information on how to use these services and which one will save you the most money, please read our post covering Amsterdam tourist passes.

Or, passes can be purchased here: All Inclusive - Amsterdam GoCity | Explorer - Amsterdam Go City


6. Take the Family to Bredeweg Festival on King's Day

On April 27th you'll find celebrations throughout the country for King's Day, which celebrates the birth of King Willem-Alexander.

Amsterdam's city centre will be packed with locals and tourists alike to take part in the festivities.

Over the full weekend, you'll find live music, dancing in the streets, rides for kids, face painting, street food, a parade, and open-air markets.

If you want to blend in with the locals, wear orange!

Check the Amsterdam Bredeweg Festival website for more details.


7. See ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo

With spring right around the corner, this would be a great time to take the whole family to Amsterdam’s zoo to see a variety of different animals such as giraffes, zebras, ostriches, tigers, and more.

In addition to all the hooved animals, large cats, and reptiles, there is also a butterfly pavilion, an aquarium, and even a planetarium!

There are plenty of educational talks and easy viewing points at ARTIS Amsterdam Royal Zoo – which means there's something for everyone. You can even save some money on tickets by using a tourist pass!

We have more suggestions for entertaining the kids in our full family-friendly post


8. See the Cherry Blossoms

For even more springtime fun, consider heading to see the Cherry Blossoms up until around mid-April.

400 trees, given by Japan to the Dutch, can be found in Kersenbloesempark.

You can also find them at Blosempark in Amsterdamse Bos, Wasterpark, Museum Square, Hotel Akura, and throughout the Amsterdam area.

Walking amongst the Cherry Blossoms is truly a beautiful experience you won't want to miss.


9. See the Dutch Flower Parade

If you’re near Amsterdam on Saturday, April 20th, 2024, you’ll have the chance to see the 77th Dutch flower parade, Bloemencorso, the most famous flower parade in the country.

You’ll see floats covered entirely with tulips, hyacinths, and other spring flowers. It draws over one million spectators and thousands of volunteers each year. The route covers the same amount of ground as a marathon - 42 km (26 miles). 

The parade begins at the Noordwijk beach at 9:30 am, which is roughly an hour away from Amsterdam’s city centre by train.

It will pass through the charming flower town of Lisse If you’re looking to explore smaller Dutch towns, Lisse is perfect with its Parade Market and prime parade viewing spot in the town square. 

If you’re planning a visit to Keukenhof Tulip Gardens and are willing to deal with the crowds, the parade will pass through Keukenhof Boulevard too.

It ends in Haarlem, an easy 15-minute train ride from Amsterdam.

Looking for more budget-friendly activities? We have a full post about free things to do in Amsterdam.


10. Go to a Museum

It’s always a good time to visit one of the many breathtaking museums in Amsterdam, where you can learn about almost anything from art or history to the current local industry.

Here are a few of Amsterdam's most popular museums:

If you’re interested in visiting more than one of these museums, keep in mind that each one on this list is included at a discount with several available tourist passes


Honorable Mentions

There are a few other events taking place in April that you might enjoy.

Kaboom Animation Festival | April 4th-14th

Kaboom is home to all things animated, with "cutting-edge experimental arthouse to colorful stories for families and kids."

The show takes place at their headquarters at 25 De Wittenstraat.

Amsterdam Coffee Festival | April 4th-6th

The festival, which includes tastings, live music, and much more takes place at Westergas.

International Amsterdam Motor Show | March 28th-April 1st.

Car enthusiasts will enjoy seeing sports cars, classic cars, supercars, and more.


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About The Author

Stephen Pickhardt

Stephen is the CEO of Free Tours by Foot and has overseen the transformation of a local walking tour company into a global tour community and traveler’s advice platform. He has personally led thousands of group tours in the US and Europe, and is an expert in trip planning and sightseeing, with a focus on budget travelers. Stephen has been published and featured in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, BBC, Yahoo, Washington.org, and more.
Updated: January 1st, 2024
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