There is something festive about Amsterdam on hot days. The parks fill up, everyone carries a cooler bag and there is always wind on the NDSM wharf. Whether you want to swim, plop down somewhere with a glass or just escape the city on a sloop: below are fourteen tips for when the mercury hits the 30s.
IJburg Beach
The nearest real city beach of Amsterdam, accessible by streetcar 26 or metro 51. Sand, shallow boarding water and a terrace on the edge at De Japanner Strandeiland. On a 30-degree day, the streetcar fills up and there is a line at the little beach, but the beach is large enough to find room. Official swimming location with periodic water quality checks. Free admission. - Pampuslaan 501, IJburg. Free
Flevoparkbad
Best outdoor pool of Amsterdam: a heated 50-meter pool, a shallow recreational pool with play island, a toddler pool and a large sunbathing area shaded from the Flevopark. Open on hot days from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and busy, but big enough to find a spot. Come early or send someone ahead. Admission €6.20. - Insulindeweg 1002, East. €6.20 p.p.
Bogor Garden, Java Island
One of the city's most popular tolerated swimming spots: a spacious lawn on Java Island, right on the water, with a dock to jump off of. On hot days, local residents and passersby walk there with a towel slung over their shoulder. No supervision, no controlled water quality. Easily accessible by bike from downtown. - Borneokade, Java Island, East. Tolerated, free
New Lake
On the southeast side of the Amsterdamse Bos is a vast swimming pier on the Nieuwe Meer, with surprisingly clear water for a city lake. Fanatical swimmers come here year-round, but on a hot day the shore fills up with everyone wanting to escape the city. Downside: passing planes from Schiphol Airport take away some of the tranquility. No entrance, no supervision, official swimming location. - New Lake, Amsterdam Forest. Free
Marin area inner harbor
The most central place to get into the water quickly: the inner harbor of the Navy Yard, officially designated a swimming location in 2025. No beach, no sunbathing area, but well-monitored water and within walking distance of downtown. Good for an in-between splash after work or for a morning swim before the crowds start. - Kattenburgerstraat 7, Center. Official, free
Pllek terrace
The terrace of Pllek on the NDSM wharf has sand, views of the IJ and a fireplace for when the evening cools down. On hot days, it's one of the city's best places to perch: the breeze off the water just makes it bearable. Open from 11 a.m., no reservations for the terrace. The ferry leaves for free every 15 minutes from Central Station. - TT Neveritaweg 59, North
Beach of East
On the roof of Orchid House at Oosterpark: a 400-seat rooftop terrace with beach chairs, loungers and sand. Open daily in summer, Friday through Sunday in spring. Happy hour from 5 to 6 p.m. Quickly booked up on a 30-degree day: make reservations or go early. - Linnaeusstraat 2C, East. Fri to Sun in spring, daily in summer
“Strand van Oost is Amsterdam's newest beach spot: 400 seats on the roof of Orchid House, with real beach chairs and sand under your feet.” - Amsterdam Now (April 2026)
Park Frankendael
Frankendael is the city's quietest large park, within walking distance of Oosterpark. No tourists, no crowds, but shady avenues, a botanical garden and two terraces: Café Merkelbach in the coach house of the mansion for coffee and lunch, and restaurant De Kas in the former nursery for those who want to eat. On hot weekdays almost always quiet enough to find a spot under the trees. - Middenweg 72, Watergraafsmeer. Free
Sloop rental
The most Amsterdam way to spend a hot day: rent a sloop and take to the canals and the Amstel River. At Mokum Boat or Canal Motorboats, you leave without a boating license. Bring a cooler bag with food and drinks and sail toward the Amsterdamse Bos or the Amstel River. On a thirty-degree day, it is always a few degrees cooler on the water than on land. - Canal Motorboats, Zandhoek 10A, Jordaan. Mokum Boat, multiple locations
Pancake Boat
75 minutes across the IJ, wind in your hair and unlimited pancakes. Sounds improbably appropriate for a hot day, but the IJ always has wind. Good for families Or for those who don't want to think about what they are going to eat. Leaves several times a day, reservations on time. - NDSM Wharf, North. Daily
EYE Film Museum
When it is unbearably hot outside, the large movie theaters of EYE chilled and dark. Two hours of watching a movie while the city bakes outside. Then there's the terrace on the IJ for those who want to be outside again. The permanent collection and ongoing exhibitions are also worthwhile as a buffer between morning and evening. - IJpromenade 1, North
Stedelijk Museum or Rijksmuseum
The coolest halls in Amsterdam on a hot day are those of the major museums. The Urban has tall, marble rooms that feel like another world even at 35 degrees outside. The Rijksmuseum idem. Good for the hottest part of the day, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., after which you can spend the evening outside. Book tickets in advance to avoid queues. - Stedelijk Museum, Museum Street 10 / Rijksmuseum, Museum Street 1, Museum Quarter
Vondelpark with cooler bag
Not news, but inevitable on this list. The Vondelpark is Amsterdam's living room on hot days: lie in the sun, duck in the shade, coffee at the Blue Tea House, wine at the Vondel Garden. Come early for a spot, bring your own food and drink, and leave before the evening rush hour. - Vondelpark, Old South. Free
Micropia and ARTIS
When the sun is at its highest, the Micropia the refrigerated escape par excellence. The world's only microbe museum sits next to ARTIS, has air-cooled halls and makes you feel like you're doing something useful while it's baking outside. Then into the zoo when it cools down a bit. Combination ticket available. - Plantation Church Avenue 38-40, Plantation
After swimming and terraces: for the best ice cream go to IJscuypje on Utrechtsestraat or Gelateria Enzo on Jan Pieter Heijestraat. And when evening falls and the mercury finally drops, the Vondelpark, Oosterpark or Park Frankendael is again the best place to be.