Bottom line: one day is enough to taste Amsterdam's highlights — perfect for a day trip or layover. Getting there: Schiphol airport has direct trains to Amsterdam Central Station, or take a FlixBus (about 3 hours from Brussels). The best season depends on your interests: spring (late March to mid-May) brings Keukenhof tulips and King's Day on 27 April, with temperatures of 8-17°C; summer (13-22°C) is festival season — the Holland Festival and early-August Pride canal parade, with up to 16 hours of daylight; autumn (8-15°C) hosts the ADE electronic-music festival in October with fewer crowds and lovely colours; winter (0-7°C) features the December-January Amsterdam Light Festival and Christmas markets. Pick spring for flowers, summer for festivals, autumn for music, winter for lights.