5 May is the single best reason to time a visit. Wageningen hosts the national Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day) celebrations each year, with a large outdoor music festival, commemorative events at Hotel de Wereld, and a parade. It is one of the most heartfelt Liberation Day events in the Netherlands and draws visitors from across the country. Book accommodation well in advance if you plan to come for this.
Outside Liberation Day, late spring and summer (May–September) are the most pleasant times to visit, with the Rhine flood plains green, the Veluwe accessible, and the outdoor market in full swing. The university term runs September to June, so the town is liveliest — and the cafes fullest — during term time.
Winter is quiet and can be grey, though the forested Wageningse Berg is atmospheric in November mist. The town never closes down completely because of the research institutes, which run year-round.