11 Things to Do in Amsterdam in September

September is a changing month. In the first days of the month the good weather is still present but as it progresses it gives way to the arrival of cold and with it the city is cleared of tourists. Taking advantage of the last days of sunshine and pleasant temperatures, in September outdoor events are held and many of the museums and monuments open their doors in a special way.

The eleventh month of the year in is marked by the festival of open monuments, the theater festival and art galleries among many other things that I invite you to discover below:

The weather in Amsterdam in September is quite changeable so bad weather can make an appearance especially at the end of the month. For these days there is nothing better than taking shelter and visiting the **city'**s museums. Amsterdam is home to more than 50 museums of various kinds and some of them are known worldwide.

As a must are the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum and the Stedelijk Museum. These three are also together where the famous museum market is held. Well known and frequented by locals, it takes place in September and is composed of numerous stalls selling textiles, jewelry, and very particular stationery.

Another must-see museum on your trip to Amsterdam is the Anne Frank House Museum. And if you want to escape from the more typical, I recommend:

• The Dutch Resistance Museum in Amsterdam, where you will delve into Dutch life during the period of World War II.
• The Upside Down Museum in Amsterdam, the largest European museum dedicated to Instagram.
• The Ripley Museum in Amsterdam, which has a world's outstanding collection of natural, scientific, artistic and human oddities.
• The Modern Contemporary Museum in the capital of the Netherlands, also known as the Amsterdam Snot.
• The Amsterdam Diamond Museum, which has one of the most important jewelry collections in Europe.
• The Amsterdam Jewish Museum, where you will explore the history of the Jewish community in Holland.

If you want to take the best pictures of your trip, you have to book a canal cruise in Amsterdam in September, you won't be disappointed! With the characteristic light of this time of the year, you will get pictures that will have nothing to envy to the most beautiful postcards.

On this tour, which lasts about an hour, you will get to know these canals, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. In addition, you will see some of the most characteristic sites of the city:

• Magere Brug: a double bascule bridge of Dutch architecture, typical of the 17th century.
• Anne Frank House: the place where Anne Frank lived during World War II.
• The rich Golden Curve: a curved stretch of the Herengracht canal, which is surrounded by spectacular buildings of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
• The popular Red Light District.

In addition, you won't miss any detail of the architecture and history along the tour thanks to the audio guide- don't hesitate! The experience will not disappoint you.

Since in September we have the last days of the year completely clear is a good time to see the city of Amsterdam from above. There are many viewpoints for this, but I recommend two that are also free.

• The first, and considered the one with the best views, is the National Library. It is the largest public library in the country and from the terrace of its cafes on the top floor we get the best views of Amsterdam.
• The other best option is the terrace of the Museum of Science and Technology NEMO, with free access and with chairs and benches to enjoy the panoramic view in a relaxed way. To not miss this experience, do not hesitate to book your ticket for the NEMO science museum in Amsterdam.

September, especially in the beginning and middle of the month when the weather is still good, is an ideal time to make an excursion to Bruges and discover this beautiful city characterized by its canals and declared World Heritage Site by Unesco in 2000.

Together with a professional guide, you will discover this city known under the nickname of "Venice of the North" and you will contemplate some of its main points of interest and most characteristic enclaves such as:

• The Plaza Mayor.
• The Hospital of San Juan.
• The Belfort bell tower.
• The Burg Square.
• The Church of Our Lady.
• The Rosary Pier.
• Minnewater Park.

A 12-hour tour, which includes round-trip transportation, where you will also enjoy a chocolate tasting. Remember: Belgium is the land of chocolate.

The last redoubts of summer and good weather are experienced in the first days of September. It is the ideal time to stroll and enjoy the many green spaces of Amsterdam. In July and August the parks are full to overflowing, but in September you can enjoy them with more tranquility and even with pleasant temperatures.

The best known is the Vondelpark that offers pleasant walks, lawns for picnics, theaters and outdoor concerts that only take place in summer. Other parks in the city are the Rembrandtpark, the Oosterpark or the Museumplein.

The main event of the Dutch city in September happens on the second weekend of the month and it is the Open Monument Weekend. During this time buildings and monuments that are inaccessible during the rest of the year open their doors. This holiday is celebrated all over the country but Amsterdam is where you can enjoy the most because of its high number of buildings and landmarks.

Several private palaces with their spectacular gardens on the banks of the canals, castles and old factories are some examples of the places of interest that can be visited this weekend.

In addition to seeing the inside of some buildings that are not usually open to the public, there are exclusive events and tours that can only be done on these dates. If your visit to Amsterdam coincides with this weekend do not miss the opportunity to learn the secrets of the city.

The flower market is one of Amsterdam's must-see sights. Since 1862 this market has been a favorite for Amsterdammers to buy the flowers and plants so typical of the country. In fact, one of the best souvenirs and gifts you can buy in Amsterdam is a tulip bulb. Just in September begins the planting season of this plant and therefore the market is filled with endless varieties of tulips.

If you want one of these flowers as a souvenir or gift it is the perfect time to buy them and plant them to bloom in spring as recommended by experts in the field. Visiting the flower market is a feast for the eyes and nose.

Going to the theater in Amsterdam is a tip I can give you all year round, but especially in the month of September. In this month the Dutch theater festival is celebrated and the city is filled with performing arts shows in the many theaters of Amsterdam. This theater festival also takes to the streets and some squares such as Amstelveld square offer free dance, music and theatrical performances.

At the same time, other festivals are held in September, such as the festival of the Strip or the Klassiek op het Amstelveld. Both are free and open-air and present a program full of music, especially classical, with established and emerging artists, bands, choirs and orchestras that enliven the streets and squares of Amsterdam.

September is also a month of sporting events. Two of the most important in the city take place in this month. The first one is the Amsterdam City Swim. A swimming race that brings together some 3,000 swimmers who participate to raise funds for associations for those affected by neurological diseases. The race takes place in the central canals of Amsterdam and it is always a spectacle to watch the swimmers go through the canals that are usually only used by boats.

Running enthusiasts also have their event. The Dam tot Damloop race brings together some 35,000 runners who follow a winding 16-kilometer route from Amsterdam to the center of Zaandam. If you can't just watch it from the sidelines, you can join in and combine tourism with sport.

Amsterdam is full of art galleries. Many of them are free to visit and September is one of the best times to do so. Thanks to another festival (Amsterdam is the capital of festivals for a reason) known as the Unseen Amsterdam, a festival of contemporary photography, the art galleries are filled with exhibitions.

It is an attraction for many international photographers and is used to make talks and photography days around the city. If you are a lover of photography Amsterdam gives you in September its best face. One of the most original plans you can do in Amsterdam.

Thanks to the clear skies on some days and its sunsets, the month of September is one of the most recommended for spectacular photographs in the beautiful canals of the city. The most recommended spot to get one of the most characteristic and beautiful pictures of Amsterdam is at the corner of Reguliersgracht and Herengracht streets.

At this point is the bridge of the 15 bridges. Climbing the Reguliersgracht bridge we have several arched bridges in three different directions for a total of 15 bridges. The sunset gives us a spectacular photo from this point and at night they are also illuminated to offer us the ideal photograph.

If there is a word that defines the weather in Amsterdam in September, it is changeable. In this transitional month between summer and autumn there are sunny, clear days and cooler, windy, cloudy days. Maximum temperatures are lower than in July and August and average around 20 degrees Celsius. Minimum temperatures drop as the days go by and approach 10 degrees.

Rainfall is still a common occurrence in Amsterdam and it is not uncommon for 30% of the days to be rainy. However, September is generally a good month to visit the city of canals considering that the cold weather arrives later and stays well into spring.

Note that September is still considered a high season month but the difference compared to June, July and August is remarkable. The tourist flow drops a lot in this month partly because of the drop in temperatures and partly because the summer vacations are over for many people, so it is an ideal month to enjoy all there is to see and do in Amsterdam.

Although the number of tourists drops, you can still find queues at Amsterdam' s best museums and most popular monuments, as well as difficulties in finding accommodation especially during the first fortnight. But these problems are much less common than in the peak summer months.

As for the prices, they go down as the demand of tourists goes down and the month progresses. In the first days of the month the demand is still high so they are maintained, but as we go deeper we notice a drop in the rate of hotels, accommodation and flights. Of course prices are still far from their minimum which occurs in the winter months when the temperature drops almost as much as the influx of tourists.

Since September is a month of changeable weather we have to be well prepared and put in our suitcase clothes for different scenarios. Here is what you should not miss in your luggage if you travel to Amsterdam in September:

• Light clothing and even shorts and summer T-shirts because, especially if you travel at the beginning of the month, there are still days of good temperature.
• Jackets and warmer clothes are always a must.
• Comfortable shoes for long days of walking through the streets of Amsterdam. If it is waterproof better in case it rains.
• It is very likely to rain, but in these cases the umbrella is not the best as it is usually very windy in Amsterdam. The most advisable is the raincoat.