Chicago is typically 7 hours behind Amsterdam. When it's 4:00 PM in Amsterdam, it's 9:00 AM in Chicago. Both cities observe daylight saving time, though the transition dates differ slightly.
During the brief periods when the US and Europe change clocks on different weekends (usually in March and November), the difference can temporarily be 6 or 8 hours. For most of the year, it's a consistent 7-hour difference.
Optimal meeting window: 7:00 AM - 10:00 AM Chicago time (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM Amsterdam). This catches afternoon business hours in Amsterdam while being morning in Chicago.
Financial services and trading firms often schedule transatlantic calls during this overlap period.