Hello from Amsterdam!

Back in 2016, I came to Amsterdam with a couple of girlfriends. I remember having absolutely no idea what to expect. I had only heard the stereotypes many do about the city, like the decriminalization of marijuana use and shameless presence of prostitution in the Red Light District. Neither of those were of interest to me so I thought there was a strong chance Amsterdam would be a place in Europe that I simply wouldn’t get on with. I chuckle thinking of my naivety now because it’s actually in my top 5 places I’d recommend visiting in Europe! While those stereotypes are certainly accurate and present here in Amsterdam, I was blown away by its architectural originality, unique city structure, and undeniable charm! I left almost angry that it wasn’t known for those instead but, things that are a bit more scandalous is always going to garner more attention, don’t they?

If you’ve followed me for awhile, you know my friend Victoria, who is a London-based photographer, and I travel together a couple of times a year. We throw out dream destinations that would be fun to cover together all the time but one of the longest standing dream trips is Amsterdam in the Spring so, being that it’s just one destination and Victoria’s plate is pretty full between her bachelorette party in May and her wedding in August [both of which I’ll be attending, as well], we figured this would be a good year to tick off a quick trip but it had to be in March, even though the ideal time to come for Spring blooms is April! We got lucky in October when we hit Vermont at peak foliage, which is hard to do as it’s different every year, so we figured we could get lucky again!

If you find yourself in Amsterdam in the Spring, which is a great time of year to come, there is certainly things you need to know about what to wear to ensure you’ll be comfortable and enjoy all that there is to see and do here in Amsterdam. Mind you, the earlier in the Spring, the more relevant these might be so, do your research before departing by checking the weather forecast. For reference, this week, high’s in the 50’s and low’s in the high 30’s / low 40’s. Here are my recommendations:

• Amsterdam has been called the ‘Venice of the North’ as it is located a little over 20 feet above sea level and sectioned off into 90 islands and 100 canals all connected to each other by over 2,000 bridges. It’s so unique and beautiful, however, because of its close proximity to water, I’d highly suggest wearing warm layers.

For bike riding one day, I wore my dusty Mackage down jacket, which has been a lifesaver on this trip, as well as my trusty light beige Patagonia Los Gatos pullover. If you throw these on over basic layers [love this basic tee that’s currently 30% off!] and a pair of sneakers, you should be set! My favorite place to grab warm layers, and layers suitable for Spring outdoor activities and Spring travel destinations, is Backcountry! They have the largest selection from top quality brands and competitive prices!

When I was shopping for this trip, I picked out this cute vest and this pullover! In the end, I felt like Amsterdam was a little too chilly for these to make sense but, if you’re going later in the Spring, as opposed to March, when we went, they might work wonderfully. Be sure to check out their new arrivals section for things that might work best! They even have swimwear! Oh, and don’t forget to enjoy 15% off your purchase with my code ALYSONH15!

• Personally, I find a backpack to be the best way to carry all of your belongings. Renting a bike is the funnest and easiest way to cover a good majority of the city, although it’s also very walkable, and backpacks really allow you to do that comfortably and hands free!

Backcountry has a great selection of backpacks, as well, from brands like Baggu, Herschel, Fjallraven & The North Face!

• In terms of footwear, as I mentioned above, comfortable slides or running shoes is what I would stick with. In the summer, I’m sure you’d want to opt for something different but, for Spring, it’ll still be cool enough to warrant covering your feet completely.

I tried out these Altra HIIT XT Mid Shoe for the first time and they were comfortable. Honestly, they’re a bit wider than I prefer but they run true to size. I have a narrow foot so, actually, they provided enough room for a warm sock, which I definitely needed in Amsterdam. Here are some other options that I think would work for a trip around Amsterdam this time of year:

So, if you’re coming to Amsterdam in the Spring, be prepared to layer! It’s chilly but so charming, unique and beautiful here! I can’t recommend it enough, especially for first time travelers! More to come on this beautiful destination soon here on AlysonHaley.com!

Thanks for stopping by today, lovelies! And thank you to Backcountry for sponsoring today’s post! As always, all opinions and recommendations are my own. Xo.