What to pack for Amsterdam in May

Wear one, dry one. Cotton stays wet all week here.

A UV index of 7.3 burns exposed skin in under an hour even on cloudy days.

Water reflects light off the canals and nearby coast, intensifying glare.

Check ankles and, if there's a dog, paws and ears every night.

Bike accidents happen on unfamiliar routes in busy urban traffic.

This country runs on Type C or F. Get one with USB-C so you're not fighting over the single outlet.

Set it up before you land. Signal drops for long stretches outside cities.

Fifteen days away fits in carry-on if you pack light and layer.

Canal-side walks and museum visits need a bag that stays with you.

Fits the overhead on every airline that matters. Skip the checked-bag line entirely.

For the passport, the chargers, and the one dry pair of socks.

UV hits 7.3 here. Long sleeves beat reapplying sunscreen every hour.

Fifteen hours of daylight means long exposure without shade on the streets.

Tap water is safe, so a bottle cuts the cost of daily purchases.

One brick charges the laptop, phone, and camera.

Hotel and cafe wifi is shared with everyone else in the building. A VPN keeps your banking and email to yourself.

International travel through airports means bags move through many hands.

Eleven rain days mean wet clothes pile up fast in small rooms.

Two weeks generates laundry that guesthouses may not wash in time.

Constant bike bells and tram noise on streets make quiet rare.

Wind at 20 km/h dries lips faster than you notice.

High humidity at 76 percent favors bacteria on hands and surfaces.

Museums and galleries keep you indoors charging devices between visits.

A few phrases go a long way. Ten minutes a day before you leave is plenty.

Border crossings and hotel check-ins require your passport constantly.

Luggage passes through international transit points and shared spaces.

Canal-side noise and early sunrise at 5 a.m. disrupt sleep.