November is the month when Autumn transitions to winter with colder breezy weather the norm in Amsterdam.
It's still a good time of year to spend considerable amounts of your time outdoors in the city.
As a retired meteorologist turned tour guide, I didn't expect that I would use my experience as a forecaster in my new career in tourism.
But here I am, finding myself answering more weather questions as a blogger than I ever did as a weatherman.
So, here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the weather in Amsterdam in November.
How Cold is Amsterdam in November?
Afternoon high temperatures tend to be around 10-12 C (50-53 F) early in November, falling to 7-8 C (45-47 F) near the end of the month.
A few of the warmer afternoons, especially early in November, can reach up near 15 C (59 F).
The record high temperature in Amsterdam during November is 18.9 C (66 F).
Late night and early morning low temperatures during early November tend to be around 5-6 C (41-43 F) falling to around 3 C (37-38 F) by the end of the month.
You can expect, on average, about 5 mornings, especially late in the month, when the lows dip down to around 0 C (32 F) or below.
The record low temperature in Amsterdam during November is -8.3 C (17 F).
Sun and Rain
During November you can expect about 6 sunny, 5 partly sunny, and 19 mostly cloudy days and about 7-10 days will record at least 1 mm (0.04 inches) or more rainfall.
Snow is rare; however, light dusting does occur once about every 2-3 years, on average.
Daylight
The number of daylight hours decreases this month from about 9.6 hours on the 1st to about 8.1 hours by the 30th.
Windspeed
During November, wind speeds will be mostly gentle to moderate at 12-28 kph (8-18 mph), but occasionally can be fresh at 39-38 kph (19-24 mph).
Ocean Temperatures
Ocean temperatures during November are cold, dropping from about 12 C (54 F) early in the month to about 9 C (48 F) near the end of the month.
What to Wear?
November in Amsterdam transitions from fall to winter and tends to be cold and breezy.
So, you will want to pack warm clothes, including sweaters, long-sleeved sweats, and a winter-proof coat or jacket plus some warm socks.
For rainy days, pack an umbrella or rain jacket, and don’t forget to bring comfortable but water-tight walking shoes.
Some lighter Fall attire will come in handy during the warmer afternoons early in the month.
Things to Do in Amsterdam in November
Although there will be mostly cloudy days throughout November, you might want to consider taking a pay-what-you-wish walking tour in Amsterdam this month.
Given that there will probably be a lot of rain, you might want to head into a museum to avoid the weather.
If you're a fan of art, consider the Rijksmuseum. Families might prefer Madame Tussauds or the Nemo Science Museum.
With the holidays right around the corner, this will be an excellent time to visit the open-air markets of Amsterdam.
We recommend locations such as Bloemenmarkt (floating flower market) and Waterlooplein.
There are usually also at least one or two AFC Ajax games to see this month, so if you're a fan of the team, this is a great time to visit the city.
For more ideas, make sure to read our full post covering things to do in Amsterdam in November.
Fred Pickhardt
