Packing lists

What to pack for Amsterdam in April

April in Amsterdam is tulip season, and the fields and gardens outside the city are at their peak. The weather is cool, breezy and changeable: a bright afternoon on a canal terrace can be followed by a sharp shower and a cold wind off the water. King's Day on the 27th turns the whole city orange.

So the list is built around a warm, water-resistant jacket and layers underneath. The wind is the thing to plan for, especially if you rent a bike, so skip the umbrella and bring a hood. The city is casual and practical, and jeans and sneakers go everywhere.

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The weather

Daytime high
56°F
13°C, warming through the month.
Overnight low
40°F
4°C. Mornings are cold.
Wet days
~9
Mostly passing showers, often with wind.
Daylight
14 h
Sunset after 8:30pm by the end of the month.

The capsule

A week, one traveler, Harbor palette. Navy, ivory and rust layers for the wind off the canals. A capsule is a few clothes in one palette (a base color, a neutral and an accent) that all go together. The full list below adds what sits outside it.

Harbor palette · 10 pieces · 18 outfits

Layers

  • Hooded rain jacketHooded rain jacket
  • Wool peacoatWool peacoat
  • Chunky cardiganChunky cardigan

Tops

  • Striped cotton topStriped cotton top
  • Merino crewneckMerino crewneck
  • Cotton turtleneckCotton turtleneck

Bottoms

  • Dark jeansDark jeans
  • ChinosChinos

Shoes

  • Leather sneakersLeather sneakers
  • Ankle bootsAnkle boots

Three days from this capsule

Biking along the canals
Tulip fields day trip
Museum afternoon

Shown for one traveler. Packlier packs a capsule like this for each person on the trip.

The full list

Clothes

  • Warm, water-resistant jacket with a hood
  • Sweater or cardigan
  • Three or four tops
  • Jeans and one other pair of pants
  • Something orange, if you are there for King's Day
  • Warm socks

Shoes

  • Comfortable sneakers
  • Boots that handle a wet day

Day bag

  • Scarf and a hat for the wind
  • Crossbody bag that zips shut
  • Refillable water bottle
  • Sunglasses

Documents and tech

  • Passport
  • Travel insurance details
  • Card for tap-to-pay; many places do not take cash
  • Museum and tulip garden tickets, booked ahead
  • Type C/F plug adapter (230V)
  • Power bank

Toiletries

  • Hand cream and lip balm
  • Allergy tablets, if pollen affects you
  • Any prescriptions, in your carry-on

Gear worth the space

  • A hooded rain jacket

    Windproof and water-resistant, long enough to cover your hips on a bike, and warm enough with a sweater underneath.

  • Leather sneakers

    Comfortable on cobbles, fine in the museums and a better bet in a shower than canvas.

  • A warm scarf

    The wind off the canals is the coldest part of an Amsterdam spring. A scarf keeps it out of your collar.

  • A crossbody bag

    Hands free for cycling and secure in the crowds around the central station.

Tulips, King’s Day and a cold wind off the water. Packlier packs your April around the hood, not the umbrella.

Tell it where, when, why, which bag and which palette, and it packs the capsule, checks it against the bag and adds everything that is not clothing. Launching this year on Android, with iOS to follow.

One email at launch, nothing else.