What should I pack for Amsterdam?

Amsterdam's weather doesn't rain the way most cities rain. It comes at you sideways, pushed by North Sea wind that funnels down the canal streets in De Pijp and the Jordaan like a cold, damp slap. A compact waterproof shell — not a poncho, not a flimsy packable — is the single most important thing in your bag. The wind will invert a standard umbrella within minutes along Prinsengracht. You'll see locals cycling through it in unzipped jackets like it's nothing. That said, they've had decades of practice. Get something with sealed seams and a hood that cinches down tight. You'll wear it more days than not, even in July.

Shoes matter here more than in most European cities. Amsterdam's center is almost entirely cobblestoned — uneven, often slick with rain, and interrupted by tram tracks that catch thin soles and heels alike. The walk from Centraal Station down Damrak to Dam Square alone will tell you whether your footwear was a mistake. Flat soles with decent grip. That's the rule. Fashion sneakers with smooth bottoms slide on wet stone, and anything with a heel is a liability on the narrow bridges over Herengracht and Keizersgracht. You'll likely walk 15,000 to 20,000 steps a day — the city is compact but you'll cross more bridges than you expect, and each one has a slightly different angle of cobblestone to negotiate.

The temperature range catches people off guard. A late May morning might start at 12°C with fog sitting on the Amstel, climb to 22°C by early afternoon when the sun breaks through over Vondelpark, then drop back to 14°C by the time you're having dinner along Utrechtsestraat. Three layers is the formula: a moisture-wicking base, a light fleece or merino mid-layer, and that shell jacket on top. Winter visitors — November through March — need a proper warm coat, wool hat, and gloves. The damp cold at 3°C near the IJ waterfront feels worse than a dry minus-five elsewhere. Summer evenings along the canals still carry a breeze that makes bare arms uncomfortable after about nine o'clock.

The Netherlands uses Type C and F plugs at 230V — a US hair dryer plugged in with just an adapter will burn out immediately. Worth noting: most phone chargers and laptop bricks are already dual-voltage (check the fine print on the brick; it should read 100-240V), so those need only the plug shape. Pack a portable charger too. Google Maps navigation plus the 9292 transit app plus camera use will drain your phone by mid-afternoon, and finding an outlet in a café along Spiegelgracht means ordering another €4.50 koffie verkeerd. One thing to leave at home: bulky toiletries. Kruidvat and Etos drugstores are on every other block, prices are reasonable, and the Dutch brands are honestly quite good.

Some things are better bought after you land. An OV-chipkaart from the yellow machines at Schiphol or Centraal costs €7.50 and works on every tram, bus, metro, and train in the country — don't pre-buy transit passes online at a markup. HEMA, the Dutch department store chain, sells decent compact umbrellas for €4-6 and surprisingly solid basics like socks and scarves if you forget something. Mind you, mosquito repellent isn't really needed — Amsterdam isn't a mosquito city the way Mediterranean coastal towns are, though the canals bring a few out in July and August. If you're heading to the Waterland countryside north of the city on a day trip, you might want some then.