As a city known for its colourful vibrancy, Amsterdam truly comes to life during the springtime. Tulip season helps to convert the Dutch capital into a floral canvas of bright tones and awe-inspiring canalside walks.

Although Amsterdam is known as a cycling city, the warmer weather and plethora of nearby attractions make the Venice of the North the perfect destination to discover on foot.

With plenty of Amsterdam free walking tour guides on hand to help you explore the capital in bloom, you can get much more than your tulip fix and immerse yourself in the rich culture of one of the world’s most beautiful cities.

With this in mind, let’s explore seven unmissable experiences to enjoy during Amsterdam’s tulip season, which runs between April and May and helps the Dutch capital spring into life:

1. Amsterdam Tulip Festival
What better way is there to enjoy the tulip season in all its glory than to pay a visit to the Amsterdam Tulip Festival?

The Tulip Festival traditionally takes place at the start of spring in Holland, and features millions of flowers showing off their colors to visitors from all around the world. Running between late March and mid-May, the festival consists of many events around the country in flower gardens like Keukenhof, which is situated around 30 minutes outside of Amsterdam.

Keukenhof also hosts its own flower parade in April as part of the Tulip Festival, which features stunning displays designed with the help of the brightly colored flowers.

If you want to see the very best of tulip season, timing your visit to see the flower parade at Keukenhof should be at the very top of your itinerary.

2. Cruise the City’s Canals
Another great way to enjoy the warmer spring weather in Amsterdam is to take a cruise on the city’s sprawling canal network.

Lovingly known as the Venice of the North, Amsterdam is a city to be enjoyed on the water, and bright days can bring plenty of tranquility to its network of waterways.

With canal cruises starting at £14, you’ll be able to see some of the city’s best sights, including Anne Frank House, the Golden Curve, Red Light District, or the bridge strait, all with an audio guide to help you pinpoint Amsterdam’s landmarks.

If you’d prefer to make the most of those warmer nights, an evening canal cruise costs £22 and you’ll be able to see the Dutch capital illuminated and abuzz with nightlife.

3. Van Gogh Museum
It may seem a little wasteful to spend those bright spring afternoons inside a museum, but no artist encapsulated the vibrancy of spring life than Vincent Van Gogh.

The artist, known for his colourful post-impressionist creations, created some of the world’s best-known paintings that came to life with bright contrasts and bold brush strokes. This makes Van Gogh’s art the perfect complement to tulip season and well worth a visit as color begins to flow back onto Amsterdam’s springtime canvas.

Housing the artist’s most famous creations like Sunflowers, The Bedroom, Almond Blossom, and The Potato Eaters, tickets for the Van Gogh Museum start at €27.50.

4. Go Windmill Spotting on Two Wheels
The spring makes for the perfect backdrop for a bike ride from Amsterdam into its surrounding regions populated by beautiful windmills and expansive tulip fields.

If you’re partial to travelling on two wheels, there’s no better place in the world than Amsterdam to get on your bike. The city is exceptionally accommodating to cyclists, and with some stunning vistas and flat landscapes to explore, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t hire a bicycle and spend an afternoon taking in the scenery.

Visits outside of the city to the windmill-laden nature reserve of Twiske, Muiden, or the tranquil Weesp to the east, or the leafy Amstelveen to the south, all make for a rewarding experience as part of a sunny spring expedition.

5. Anne Frank House
Some Amsterdam tourism experiences remain poignant all year round, and if you’ve never been, including a trip to Anne Frank House in the heart of the city should be a key part of your itinerary.

Your trip to Anne Frank House will be accompanied by quotations, photos, films, and original artefacts from the life of Anne Frank, who became one of the world’s most important diarists and a central figure in one of the most heartbreaking accounts of the Second World War.

Inside the museum, care has been made to create an authentically subdued atmosphere. With tickets starting at €16.00 for adults, Anne Frank House is one of Amsterdam’s most important landmarks.

6. Cherry Blossom in Westerpark
Springtime in Amsterdam doesn’t have to be all about tulips, and the cherry blossoms in Westerpark, situated close to the heart of the city, can provide a stunning backdrop to an afternoon stroll in peaceful surroundings.

Populated by the local green parrots, Westerpark is an eye-catching oasis of wildlife and botanical beauty within the hustle and bustle of central Amsterdam.

Along with cherry blossoms in spring, the park features magnolias blooming at the same time to create a rich array of color to enjoy throughout the afternoons.

7. The Floating Flower Market
Tulip mania may have long since passed, but you can still feed your passion for the brightly colored flowers at Bloemenmarkt, the floating flower market on the banks of the canal in central Amsterdam.

Bloemenmarkt is a market like no other, featuring tulips in every conceivable color and a rich array of bulbs that you can buy and take home for your own garden (provided your travel restrictions allow it).

The popular location can get a little busy in the afternoons, but an early morning visit can reward you with a tranquil stroll through the brightly colored stalls.

Amsterdam in Bloom
Amsterdam has plenty to offer visitors during springtime, and tulip season means that the city becomes awash with vibrant colors and plenty of life as the days become longer and the weather warms up.

Whether you’re ready to explore the city on foot, by bike, or by canal boat, there’s plenty to discover in a city that has plenty to offer, no matter your favorite mode of transportation.

Tulips may be the star character when it comes to springtime in Amsterdam, but the city is full of surprises that are waiting to be discovered.