Amsterdam Time Zone: CET and CEST

Amsterdam runs on Central European Time, or CET, for most of the year, which is UTC+1. But like much of Europe, the city switches to daylight saving time—Central European Summer Time (CEST)—from late March through late October, bumping the offset to UTC+2. So yes, they spring forward and fall back, just like many of us, but on different dates than the US or UK.

2026 DST Change Dates

In 2026, clocks spring forward on Sunday, March 29, at 2:00 AM local time (so 2 AM becomes 3 AM). You’ll lose an hour of sleep, but gain longer evenings. They fall back on Sunday, October 25, at 3:00 AM (which becomes 2 AM). Mark your calendar—or set a reminder, because missing it means showing up an hour early for your 9 AM meeting.

Best Times for International Calls

Here’s a quick cheat sheet for calling friends or colleagues in major cities, assuming you’re in Amsterdam and want a reasonable hour for everyone:

  • London: London is one hour behind Amsterdam in winter, and the same during summer (they both change DST on the same weekend). So, 10 AM here is 9 AM in London in winter, or 10 AM in summer. Best overlap: 9 AM–5 PM Amsterdam time, which is 8 AM–4 PM London in winter, or the same hours in summer.
  • New York: New York is 6 hours behind Amsterdam in winter (so 10 AM here is 4 AM there—ouch) and 6 hours behind in summer too (since US changes DST earlier, but the gap stays about 6 hours). Best calling time: 3 PM–5 PM Amsterdam time, which is 9 AM–11 AM in New York. That’s your sweet spot.
  • Tokyo: Tokyo is 8 hours ahead of Amsterdam in winter (10 AM here = 6 PM there) and 7 hours ahead in summer. Catch them during your late morning: 9 AM–11 AM Amsterdam time is 5 PM–7 PM in Tokyo in winter, or 4 PM–6 PM in summer. Perfect for a quick chat before their workday ends.
  • Sydney: Sydney is 10 hours ahead of Amsterdam in winter (10 AM here = 8 PM there) and 8 hours ahead in summer. Best bet: your late afternoon, like 4 PM–6 PM Amsterdam time, which is 2 AM–4 AM in Sydney in winter (not great) but 12 AM–2 AM in summer. Honestly, better to schedule a call just before your lunch, around 11 AM–12 PM Amsterdam time, which is 9 PM–10 PM in Sydney in winter, or 7 PM–8 PM in summer.

Business Hours Overlap

For work, Amsterdam’s standard 9 AM–5 PM aligns nicely with London (9–5 here, 8–4 there in winter) and has a solid 3–4 hour window with New York (starting around 2 PM Amsterdam time). Tokyo and Sydney? You’ll need to be flexible—early mornings or late evenings work best, especially with Sydney’s dramatic time difference.

Fun Fact: The Dutch and Their Clocks

Here’s a quirky bit of history: Before 1909, the Netherlands didn’t use a standard time zone. Each city set its own time based on local solar noon—so Amsterdam’s time could be a few minutes different from Rotterdam’s. They finally standardized, but the Dutch love for precision didn’t stop there. Amsterdam even has a ‘time ball’ on the Royal Palace that drops at exactly 12:00 noon, a tradition dating back to the 19th century. So if you’re ever in Dam Square at noon, look up—you might catch it.