Little City Trips

What to Pack for Amsterdam

Here we help you prepare what to pack for Amsterdam based on our insider knowledge of the city.

Amsterdam is a great walking city, and so be sure to bring a comfortable pair of walking shoes. If you are visiting with a baby or toddler, it is also easy to get around with a stroller, although we always recommend including a baby carrier on a family city break packing list.

Clothes-wise, your travel clothes for Europe will depend on what time of year you are visiting. The seasons in Amsterdam are very distinct and so your Amsterdam packing list will be very different in summer and winter.

Before travelling to Amsterdam, check out official travel rules and regulations that may affect your trip.

Amsterdam packing list

No matter what time of year you visit Amsterdam, you should be prepared for rain. The weather is notoriously unpredictable and so bringing an umbrella and/or waterproof jacket with you is always a good idea.

Click here to read more about the best time to visit Amsterdam.

We have more suggestions on what to bring to Amsterdam during the different seasons below.

Some of our favourite Amsterdam essentials are highlighted here. We have included links to Amazon to make your pre-travel shopping super easy and have all your travel essentials delivered to your door.

What to pack for Europe

You can download a full printable packing list at the bottom of the page, with checkboxes to tick off all your travel essentials for Amsterdam as you put them in your suitcase.

Travel accessories for Amsterdam

Baby Carrier

If you are traveling with a baby or small toddler, we always recommend bringing a baby carrier for city breaks. They are great for getting on and off public transport and for times when you want to be hands-free.

Stroller

Amsterdam is an easy walking city and so sightseeing with a stroller is easily manageable. Look for a lightweight stroller that is easy to fold, and also look for things like good storage and the ability to recline for naps.

Portable booster seat

You will probably use the trams for most of your Amsterdam sightseeing. However, a portable booster seat is a great investment to keep your little ones safe for airport transfers and any taxi rides around town.

Money belt

Amsterdam is a safe city but pickpocketing does happen. It is always a good idea to take precautions to keep all your money and important documents safe when you travel. A money belt is a great option for this.


Daypack

Having a day pack is always a good idea for city trips with kids, so that you can carry all the wet wipes, snacks, tissues, sun cream etc and still keep your hands free to keep hold of the kids. Look for a lightweight backpack that can be easily packed in your suitcase when not needed.

Collapsible water bottle

Do your bit to save the environment and add refillable water bottles to your packing list for Europe, instead of relying on buying plastic bottles of water. We love a collapsible water bottle that can easily be packed in the suitcase when not needed.

Umbrella

Amsterdam’s weather is notoriously fickle, so it is always a good idea to have an umbrella on your Holland packing list. Go for a compact umbrella that can easily be tucked into your daypack.

Travel gadgets

Multiple charger

When you are traveling as a family, it is inevitable that you will end up with multiple accessories needing charged: phones, tablets, cameras, kindles etc. Don’t ruin the holiday by fighting over the charger; opt for a multiple charging station instead.

Travel adaptor

The standard electrical voltage in Amsterdam is 230V. Standard sockets are for a two-prong European plug. If you are traveling from anywhere outside of Europe, you may need to add a travel adapter to your Europe travel checklist.


Portable Charger Power Bank

Have you ever been caught out sightseeing with a low-battery phone and not been able to take photos? Or found your child’s iPad has run out of battery half way through a long haul flight? Don’t let it happen again! Go prepared with a portable charger power bank, a great tool to have in your travel arsenal.

Waterproof/shockproof camera

Of course you have to record all your happy holiday memories, and having an easy-to-use waterproof and shockproof camera means everybody in the family can share in the photo taking, without having to worry about the camera getting damaged.

Toiletries Checklist

Bug Spray

You may not expect it in Europe but mosquitos are common in Amsterdam during the summer months. Be sure to add bug spray to your packing for Europe list in the summer. Mosquito patches for the kids clothes are a good idea too.

Hand Sanitizer

It’s always good to have some hand sanitizer in your bag when you are travelling, for times when you can’t wash your hands before having a snack, or have been traveling on public transport.


Sun Cream

With those long summer days and alfresco dining in the Amsterdam summer, be sure to include sun cream when packing for Amsterdam in Summer.

Tangle Teezer

Kids hair always seems to get more tangled when traveling. We love the tangle teezer as an easy to pack, robust hairbrush that takes away the tears at hair brushing time.

Books and Games

Amsterdam Travel Guide Book

No matter how much research you do online before you travel, it can still be handy to have a travel guidebook in your bag.

Activity book

It’s always handy to have a few activity books in your bag for your kids, for airports, flights, or when they just need some downtime after a hard day of sightseeing.


Travel Games

The family that plays together stays together! Pack a few fun travel games for fun family evenings, rainy days or airport layovers.

What to wear in Amsterdam

Although the Dutch are very stylish and fashion conscious, Amsterdam style is fairly relaxed compared to many of the European neighbours. Jeans, boots and casual tops are the norm and there is no need to dress up too much to go out at night.

As Amsterdam is such a great city for walking, you will want to include comfortable shoes on your things to take to Amsterdam list. Also if you are planning on cycling around the city, remember to pack appropriate clothing for this.

Getting around Amsterdam

Remember that the weather in Amsterdam is very unpredictable throughout the year, so always be prepared for rain. Include a raincoat and umbrella when packing for Europe, Amsterdam in particular. Easily packable rain ponchos for your daypack can be handy too.

When choosing what to wear in Amsterdam at night – think accessories! The Amsterdam dress code doesn’t call for anything too fancy, but maybe consider switching up your sneakers for heeled boots, and adding some jewellery and a jacket.

What to wear in Amsterdam in Summer

If you are trying to work out what to wear in Amsterdam in summer, focus on layering. Light summer dresses teamed with a cardigan and denim jacket will work well for day into evening.

If you’re planning to cycle around town, you may prefer to swap your summer dress for a pair of cropped jeans or shorts, and stick a blazer in your bag for the cooler evenings.

There is usually plenty of sunshine in the summer in Amsterdam, so don’t forget your sunhat and sunglasses, but still don’t forget to carry an umbrella or rain poncho with you as you never know when that weather will turn!


We recommend including the following for your summer in Amsterdam outfits:

  • Sundresses
  • Cropped jeans
  • T-shirts or lightweight shirt/blouse
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Heeled boots for evening
  • Sunhat
  • Sunglasses
  • Lightweight jacket

What to wear in Amsterdam in Winter

Amsterdam gets pretty chilly in the winter so you will need to wrap up warm. When planning your Amsterdam winter fashion outfits, you will need to include a warm coat, waterproof boots, scarf and hat.

Don’t forget a good pair of gloves. These are particularly important if you are planning to cycle around town, your hands will get cold on the handlebars! Also include jeans, warm sweaters, and a thick pair of tights to your winter travel packing list.


We recommend including the following for your Amsterdam winter outfit:

  • Jeans
  • Long-sleeved tops
  • Warm sweaters
  • Waterproof boots
  • Warm scarf
  • Warm hat
  • Gloves
  • Winter coat

Travel accessories for the plane

Multiple Passport holder

A multiple passport holder is invaluable for keeping all the family’s passports together in one place. Look for one that makes it easy to remove the passports, and that has space to store luggage tags, frequent flier cards etc.

Travel Pillow (neck)

We all know how uncomfortable it is trying to sleep on the plane. While we can’t promise you a good sleep, we can recommend using a travel neck pillow to help ease your aches and pains once you get to your destination.


Travel Pillow (leg support)

Travel leg rest pillows have been a bit of a game changer for long haul flights with small kids. These inflatable pillows allow you to fill the leg gap between the seats, allowing small children to stretch out or even lie down flat. Note that some airlines have banned the use of these travel leg rest pillows. Check with your airline before you go to the airport.

Headphones

We highly recommend headphones for everyone in the family. Noise cancelling headphones for mums and dads are great for cutting out the ambient sound of the plane. We also recommend kid-sized headphones with volume limits to ensure that the kids can watch their iPads without disturbing their fellow passengers, and without damaging their eardrums.

Packing Accessories

Suitcase

If you’re looking for a new suitcase for your Amsterdam trip, we love the foldable luggage from Biaggi – these can be folded down into a small pouch for easy storage and saves you from having to step over your suitcases in your hotel room. We love the easy-glide spinner wheels on them too.

Packing Cubes

Packing cubes are so useful when you are traveling with kids. You can save so much time on searching through your suitcase by segregating clothes into their own cubes. Look for cubes with a peekaboo window so you can easily see what is inside.


Electronics Organiser

How many times have you found yourself rummaging around in your suitcase looking for a phone charger? An electronics organizer can save you plenty of time and frustration by keeping all your chargers, cables, memory cards, headphones and adapters in one handy pack.

Ziploc Bags

Ziploc bags are a parent’s secret weapon when traveling. You can use them to store snacks, dirty clothes, nappy changing kits, puzzle pieces, small toys, crayons and leaky shampoo bottles. Be sure to add a few to your case!

Take me back to the Amsterdam City Guide.

FREE DOWNLOAD!

Be super organized for your next city trip. Download our fully comprehensive printable packing list, with checkboxes to ensure you don’t forget anything.

Click here to download the packing list now.

Travelling to Amsterdam? City travel experts Little City Trips talk you through all the most important items you need to pack for Amsterdam. Print off our Amsterdam packing list for your next city trip.

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