Sunny Terraces in Amsterdam: A Neighborhood-by-Neighborhood Guide

Why Amsterdam terrace culture is special

Amsterdam sits at 52 degrees north latitude, which means the sun never climbs particularly high in winter, but summer days are extraordinarily long. In late June, you can sit outside in daylight until nearly 22:30. This makes Amsterdam terrace culture intensely seasonal — when the first warm spring day arrives, the city transforms overnight. Every available square meter of pavement sprouts chairs and tables, and the Dutch concept of "het terrasje pakken" (grabbing a terrace) becomes the dominant social activity.

The city's layout along canals running roughly east-west and north-south creates a patchwork of sun and shadow. The typical Amsterdam canal house is tall and narrow — usually four to five stories — which means canal-side streets can be quite shaded depending on which side you sit. Understanding which bank of which canal gets sun, and when, is the key to terrace happiness in this city.

A general rule: the north side of east-west canals (like Herengracht and Keizersgracht) gets the most sun, because the buildings are on your north side and the sun shines from the south. The south bank often sits in shadow for much of the day. For north-south canals (like Prinsengracht in certain stretches), the west side gets morning sun and the east side gets afternoon sun.

The Jordaan and the western canals

The Jordaan is one of Amsterdam's most beloved terrace neighborhoods. Its relatively narrow streets and small squares create intimate settings, but sun can be limited. The best sunny spots are on the wider intersections where canals meet. The corner of Prinsengracht and Elandsgracht is one such spot — terraces here benefit from the open water and the intersection creating a wider gap between buildings. Cafe 't Smalle on Egelantiersgracht has a legendary waterside terrace that catches afternoon sun beautifully, sitting on the north bank of this small canal.

Noordermarkt square, at the head of Prinsengracht, is another gem. The square opens to the south, and the Noorderkerk sits in the center rather than blocking the southern horizon, so terraces along the western and northern edges get generous sun from late morning onward. On Saturdays, the organic farmers market fills the square, but on other days, it is a peaceful spot with reliable afternoon sun. Nearby, Lindengracht — once a canal, now a wide street — offers terraces that benefit from the extra width, getting more sun than the narrow side streets.

De Pijp and the south

De Pijp, Amsterdam's former working-class neighborhood turned foodie paradise, has some of the city's best terrace conditions. The streets here run in a grid pattern, and many of them are oriented roughly north-south, which means the east-west cross streets get good sun exposure. The jewel of the area is Marie Heinekenplein, a large open square surrounded by cafes. Because the square is spacious and relatively free of tall buildings on its south side, terraces here enjoy sun from late morning through the afternoon. It is arguably the most reliable sunny terrace square in central Amsterdam.

Gerard Douplein is a smaller square nearby where several popular cafes cluster. The square has a southern exposure that makes it a sun trap in the afternoons. Along Albert Cuypstraat, the famous market street, you will find terraces that work best after the market packs up around 17:00 — the stalls block sun during the day, but evenings can be lovely. For earlier sun, head to the side streets. Sarphatipark, the neighborhood's green lung, has a south-facing edge along the north side where you can sit on a bench with coffee from a nearby cafe and enjoy unobstructed sun.

Further south, the Zuidas business district and Amstelpark area offer a completely different terrace experience. Amstelpark's Rosarium cafe has a terrace surrounded by rose gardens with virtually no tall buildings nearby — one of the sunniest spots in Amsterdam, though it feels more suburban than urban.

Nieuwmarkt, Rembrandtplein, and the city center

The historic center of Amsterdam is dense, and sunlight can be scarce on narrow streets. However, the city's squares are designed for gathering and many work well as sun spots. Nieuwmarkt is a large, open square dominated by the medieval Waag building. Terraces on the south and west sides of the square get the best sun, with direct sunlight from midday through the afternoon. The square is wide enough that even in spring and autumn, when the sun is lower, you can find sunny seats.

Rembrandtplein is another major terrace destination, though its orientation is less ideal. The tall buildings on the south side cast shadows over parts of the square. The best sun is found on the northern edge and the northeast corner, where you face south across the open square. In summer, when the sun is high, almost the entire square is sunny at midday. Leidseplein follows a similar pattern — the terraces on the north side, facing south across the square, get the most sun.

For a hidden gem in the center, try the courtyard of the Amsterdam Museum or the Begijnhof — the latter is not a cafe terrace but a peaceful courtyard that demonstrates how enclosed south-facing spaces can trap warmth and sun even in the middle of a dense city.

Waterfront terraces and seasonal tips

Amsterdam's newest terrace areas are along the IJ waterfront, north of Central Station. NDSM Wharf and the cafes along the northern IJ bank offer something rare in Amsterdam: completely unobstructed southern exposure. With no tall buildings to the south (just the wide IJ river), these terraces get sun all day long. The trade-off is wind — the open waterfront can be breezy, especially in spring. Pllek, a beach bar built from shipping containers, and the cafes at the NDSM cultural hub are favorites. The free ferry from Central Station takes just five minutes.

On the south side of the IJ, the Eastern Docklands (KNSM Island, Java Island, Borneo Island) have modern architecture with wide quays and waterfront terraces. The buildings here are more spaced out than in the historic center, and many terraces face south over the water. Hannekes Boom, right next to the Nemo Science Museum, is a ramshackle waterside bar with a sprawling terrace that catches sun from every direction.

As for timing: Amsterdam's terrace season truly begins in April and stretches through September. March and October can work on exceptionally warm days, but the sun is low and shadows are long. The city's position means that midsummer sun does not set until very late — you can enjoy golden-hour terrace light from about 20:00 to 22:00 in June. For the most reliable sun in the city center, aim for the window between 12:00 and 16:00 from May through August. Coffee in the Sun can show you exactly which terraces are sunny at any given moment, which is especially useful in a city like Amsterdam where sun conditions change dramatically from one side of a canal to the other.