11 Things to Do in Amsterdam in August

August in Amsterdam is a festival of color and atmosphere. The good temperatures make people take to the streets and the canals and parks of the city are full of life. It is a month marked by festivals and outdoor activities.

To go into more detail and if you want to find out what are the best things to do in the Dutch city in August just read on.

One of the things about Amsterdam that most impresses tourists is the number of bicycles in the city. Not surprisingly, it is considered the best city for cycling in the world, which has become a real tradition. A bike tour in Amsterdam is the best activity you can do to feel like a real local.

Besides, August is a perfect month to rent a bike, as you will rarely have better weather for it. You won't be short of options to get some bikes. My recommendation is to find out about the best tourist passes in Amsterdam, some include the possibility of using the public bikes that are all over the city.

Cruising the canals of Amsterdam is a must-do experience all year round. But it is in the month of August that we can enjoy it the most, especially on Amsterdam's night canal cruises. The cold temperatures of the rest of the year make it almost impossible to enjoy a night cruise along the canals in the open air, while in August we can not only do it, but we can also accompany it with an outdoor dinner on board.

It is especially recommended in August, as the city breathes a special festive atmosphere thanks to the many festivals and celebrations of this month that make the banks of the canals are filled with light and color.

Amsterdam is one of the world capitals of beer, among other things because it is home to one of the breweries of one of the most prestigious brands in the world, Heineken. The Dutch city is home to the original brewery where this brand started making beer. In this post, I tell you how to enjoy the so-called Heineken Experience.

This interactive exhibition is dedicated to the history of the brand and how they brew their beers. And of course it includes a beer tasting. For lovers of this drink is an essential visit and an option certainly very appropriate for the month of August in Amsterdam.

It is not usual, but it is likely that in August you will catch a hot day with temperatures in the 30s. On those days there is one place you should visit almost obligatorily, the Xtracold. This is a bar made of... Ice! Is there a better place to escape the heat? In this place the temperature is kept constantly at 10 degrees below zero. But don't worry if you go in shorts.

With the entrance to the bar you get thermal clothing to cope with the cold and includes three cold drinks. Don't worry because there will be plenty of ice. The Xtracold is one of the most visited tourist attractions in Amsterdam, especially in summer, so I recommend you to get your tickets in advance.

In August takes place one of the most important cultural and festive events of the year. It is the Grachtenfestival, better known as the festival of the canals. The second weekend of every August and for ten days the canals are filled with boats full of musicians and more than 150 concerts of classical music, jazz and other genres are held throughout the city.

In parallel, the Junior Grachtenfestival is held, the same festival but with concerts for children, ideal if you visit Amsterdam with children. If you are a music lover and want to travel to Amsterdam, August is your month.

It's mission impossible to get bored in August in Amsterdam. Although the Grachtenfestival is the most important festival and deserves a separate mention, in August there are numerous festivals of various kinds and for all tastes. For a reason it is known as the month of festivals.

One of the most recognized is the Uitmarkt. This is a family festival designed for family enjoyment with concerts and theatrical performances suitable for children as well. For comedy lovers there is the Comedytrain International Summer Festival and for urban dance fans there is the Summer Dance Forever. They are not the only ones, as the August cultural agenda in Amsterdam seems to be endless. You can check the events at this link.

The Vondelpark is Amsterdam's main city park and in August it becomes the hub of city life. This park is full of green areas where picnics are held, cyclists and athletes flock, there are open-air theaters where free concerts are held and even open-air film screenings.

If you are traveling with children it is also a great option, as there are many activities focused for them and in the park there are hundreds of children's playgrounds. As you can see, within Amsterdam the Vondelpark is one of the best places to enjoy the summer and a must visit if you travel to the Dutch city in August.

August and summer are synonymous with beaches. And don't think that Amsterdam is not a valid destination to enjoy the sun and sand. The Dutch city has a large number of urban beaches perfectly equipped to enjoy the summer in August. The best ones are StranZuid, Blijburg aan Zeen, Pllek, Dok and Bloemendaal aan Zee.

All of them are perfect to enjoy with the family in the mornings and when the evening falls they are filled with DJs and live music and party atmosphere. So don't forget your swimsuit at home, in Amsterdam you can put it to good use.

Amsterdam is known for being one of the most tolerable and free cities in the world. And that's why the gay pride festival is such a big event, attended by thousands of people. It is held the first weekend of August and its main attraction is its colorful parade through the main canals of the city.

It is not only a party for the LGTBI+ community, but also a celebration of the freedom that is breathed in Amsterdam. Concerts, talks and canal boat parties also play a starring role in the Pride celebration.

Having a drink on a terrace is far from exclusive to Amsterdam. But in the city of canals they do have some of the most special terraces to get to know. In August and thanks to the good weather, bars set up many terraces inside boats on the banks of the canal. Many of the city's panoramic terraces are also well known.

Floor 17, located on the 17th floor of the Ramada Apollo hotel, or the Skylounge, located on the terrace of the Hilton Doubletree are some of the best known. August offers a unique opportunity to have a drink on Amsterdam's spectacular terraces that can only be enjoyed in the summer months.

One of Amsterdammers' favorite summer activities is picnics. These are allowed in many of the city's parks and are a highly recommended experience to do in August in the city of canals.

The best green areas in Amsterdam are, in addition to the Vondelpark, the Museumplein park, located next to the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk, the Sarphati park in the Pijp district, and the Oosterpark in the Oost district. All of these have street food stalls and large shady grassy areas to enjoy a summer picnic.

There are many things to see and do all year round in Amsterdam. However, August is one of the best months of the year to visit. In August we have the best temperatures of the whole year in the capital of the Netherlands. The summers in this city are not particularly hot and in August the maximum temperatures range around 20 degrees. On occasional days they approach 30 degrees, but rarely reach or exceed them. As for the minimum temperatures, they usually hover in a range of between 12 and 14 degrees. In short, it is a cool and pleasant summer where heat does not play a major role.

However, it is not unusual for the skies to be cloudy in August. More or less 45% of the days of this month the skies are overcast. As for rain, there is a 30% probability of rain during the month of August.

Summer is the peak season in Amsterdam par excellence. Thanks to the holiday periods and especially the good temperatures, the city is full of tourists. In addition, there are several festivals that attract thousands of people.

As a result, it is the month in which it is more difficult to get a hotel room or a reservation in a restaurant. The queues for museums and tourist attractions are more common so in August it is almost mandatory to book everything in advance. Here is the link to buy tickets for the main museums in Amsterdam:

• Book your ticket for the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam (and cruise).
• Book your ticket for the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.
• Book your ticket forthe Ripley Museum in Amsterdam.
• Book your ticket forthe Red Light Secrets Museum in Amsterdam.
• Book your ticket forthe Moco Museum Amsterdam.
• Book your ticket forThe Upside Down Museum Amsterdam.
• Book your ticket forthe NEMO Science Museum Amsterdam.
• Book your ticket forthe Dutch Resistance Museum in Amsterdam.

As is typical of the high season months, prices rise considerably. In fact, August is, next to July, the most expensive month to visit Amsterdam. The high demand makes the prices of hotels and tourist apartments go up considerably. It is also usually more expensive to eat in restaurants, especially those located near the main tourist attractions.

Summer in Amsterdam is somewhat different from what we are used to in Spain. Temperatures are milder and the nights are colder so you have to prepare your luggage with a different chip. The essentials you should pack in your suitcase if you travel to Amsterdam in August are:

• Typical summer pants and short t-shirts.
• Comfortable and coolshoes to visit the city.
• Light jacket and warmer clothes for cooler days and nights.
• Swimsuit and flip-flops for visiting Amsterdam's artificial beaches.
• Better a raincoat than an umbrella, as winds are often strong in Amsterdam.