My husband and I are considering a trip to Amsterdam and the surrounding Dutch countryside during the first week in October. I have read the weather reports, but could anyone share personal anecdotes about the pros and cons of traveling to Holland at that time?
Posted by
Orange Park, Fl
985 posts
It is a beautiful time to visit but remember that the weather can be variable. I have been there in October, December/January and loved my time in both seasons. The weather was mild (60's) in October except for when a cold front came through and it dropped to the 40's with brisk wind. That wasn't much fun but we made the best of it and it did warm up a little bit during the day. I would suggest packing a fleece jacket or maybe just a fleece undershirt (like Cuddlduds - come in white or black) and a waterproof rain jacket.
I will be in Amsterdam late October and November this year.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you for the reply! We will definitely pack a rain jacket and be prepared for a chill in the air. We were in Iceland last October and it rained every single day, so if we have even one day in Amsterdam without a deluge, we'll be thrilled!
Posted by
Orange Park, Fl
985 posts
You are most welcome. We really lucked out with the weather when we were there in October on our own- one little sprinkle the whole week and the rest were sunshine filled days. I did not have a fleece with me on that trip and ended up having to hunt down a sweatshirt while on tour. Much of our December/Jan trip this year was nice too, but some days were brutally cold. We were prepared this year and that is the key. Just one good layer of fleece or a sweatshirt can make the difference of whether you are sightseeing or shopping to survive lol. Have fun on your trip.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you so much for the tips. 😊 I will definitely keep these in mind. Have a wonderful trip yourself!
Posted by
20 posts
The first week of October is a decent time to come. Still some sunlight to enjoy or at least hours of daylight before the truly dark time of year. It can often be rainy quite rainy and a bit chilly but usually that's before the real cold sets in. These past few years less cold weather has held out a bit longer.
I recommend shoes you can get wet or boots that are good for walking on wet cobblestones, a rain jacket and an umbrella that won't collapse from a little bit of wind especially if going to the countryside. Are you staying to the North, South, East, West? Dressing in layers is recommendable because at night and the early mornings it will be chillier and you'll want a sweater with a hood or a sweater and hat and there may be a night or 2 that you'll like a scarf. Gloves are usually not necessary at this time of year. There will probably be a day or 2 that you can wear a skirt but comfortable pants or jeans will prepare you for any weather and surprise storms. Having t-shirts on underneath is always good because it warms up in the daytime and you'll have sunny days mixed into the rain too.
Amsterdam is still full of tourists at this time of year but rates of hotels and such are lower than they are at the height of summer and this is good. Plane tickets from certain places to Amsterdam are also a little cheaper at this time of year.
Besides being a decent time to come because the cold rain and dark aren't at their peak yet and the fact that you're very very unlikely to see any snow or ice then it is also good because you still have daylight time but it's not like May through August where there are so many hours of sunlight that it can be hard to sleep if you're not used to it and by the first week of October mosquitos have stopped being everywhere.
Enjoy your trip!