Central European (CET/CEST)
Amsterdam operates on Central European (CET/CEST). Amsterdam observes summer time (DST), shifting clocks forward one hour in March and back in October.
Time Zone: Central European Time / Central European Summer Time — Standard Offset: UTC+1 (CET) — DST Offset: UTC+2 (CEST)
Country: Netherlands
This city observes Daylight Saving Time, so the UTC offset changes twice per year. Always verify the current offset when scheduling across time zones.
Amsterdam operates on CET (UTC+1), shared with the rest of the EU's economic core. The city is the official capital of the Netherlands and a major hub for international business, hosting the European headquarters of numerous multinational corporations including Booking.com, Adyen, TomTom, and Philips. The Amsterdam Exchange (Euronext Amsterdam) is the world's oldest stock exchange, dating back to the Dutch East India Company in 1602.
The Port of Rotterdam (less than an hour from Amsterdam) is Europe's largest port, handling over 450 million tons of cargo annually. Dutch logistics and trade operations run on CET, coordinating shipments between Asian manufacturers and European consumers. Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam is one of Europe's busiest and serves as a major cargo hub. The CET time zone allows morning coordination with Asian suppliers and afternoon alignment with American customers.
The Netherlands follows EU DST rules. The Dutch have been vocal participants in the EU debate about abolishing DST — a 2019 EU survey found 80% of Dutch respondents favored ending clock changes, with most preferring permanent summer time (CEST/UTC+2). Until EU consensus is reached, Amsterdam continues the twice-yearly shift.
Amsterdam's CET position makes it one of the most schedule-friendly cities for global business. The 1-hour difference with London is negligible. The 6-hour gap with New York (5 during DST overlap) allows afternoon CET calls to catch morning ET. For Asia, early morning Amsterdam meetings reach end-of-day Singapore (7 hours ahead) and Tokyo (8 hours ahead). The Netherlands' famously direct business culture means meetings tend to start on time and run efficiently.