The climate of the Netherlands is influenced by the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, so it's cool, cloudy and humid for most of the year. The rains are not so abundant, ranging between 750/850 millimeters (29/33 inches) per year, but they are frequent throughout the year.
The wind is another characteristic of the Dutch climate, and blows frequently, especially in autumn and winter, when there may even be storms.
The sun in the Netherlands is rarely seen from November to February, but it does not shine very often even in summer, however, from May to August, there are around 6.5/7 sunshine hours per day. The sunniest area is the coast (see The Hague, De Kooy, the Frisian islands), where there are 1,850/1,900 hours of sunshine per year, while the least sunny area is the eastern one, further from the sea, where they have 1,650/1,700 hours of sunshine per year.
The brave who wish to swim in the sea must know that the North Sea is very cool even in summer: the water temperature reaches 18 °C (64 °F) in August. In addition, a cool breeze blows along the coast, often too cool, at least for those who are not accustomed to it or who don't come from Nordic countries.
Being a small and flat country, the Netherlands have a quite uniform climate, although there's a slightly greater continentality in inland areas (about 1-2 degrees Celsius less in winter and more in summer) compared with coastal areas, which in turn are more windy. Furthermore, the north (see Friesland, Drenthe, Groningen) is slightly colder than the center-south (see Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague, Eindhoven).
For example, in The Hague, located on the coast to the south-west of Amsterdam, the average temperature ranges from around 4 °C (39 °F) in January and February, to 17.5 °C (63.5 °F) in July and August. Rainfall amounts to 865 mm (34 in) per year. The least rainy season is spring, while the wettest is autumn.
The climate in detail
- The seasons
- When to go
- What to pack
The seasons
Winter, from December to February, is cold but not freezing, with daily average temperatures ranging from 2.5 °C (36.5 °F) in the north (see Groningen) to 4 °C (39 °F) on the south-western coast (see Rotterdam, Vissingen).
There are periods when Atlantic currents prevail, and the weather is mild, with highs above 10 °C (50 °F), but windy and rainy as well; in other periods, when the country is reached by a high pressure system, the weather can be dull and foggy.
On the other hand, cold air masses from Eastern Europe may sometimes reach the country, bringing cold spells, and in these cases, the temperatures can remain below freezing even during the day. This kind of frosty weather typically lasts a few days and is followed by the return of the westerlies, which may initially bring snowfalls; for this reason, snow is generally not abundant and is often followed by rain.
A winter landscape covered with snow, with frozen canals, which can be seen in the paintings of Flemish artists, refer to a period (the so-called Little Ice Age, roughly 1450 to 1850), when Europe's climate was colder than today. In recent times, situations of this type occur once every few years and have a shorter duration. However, when this happens, the Dutch are happy to play their national sport, ice skating, outdoors.
Spring, from March to May, is a cool season, characterized by a slow increase in temperature. In April, snow showers can still occur, while in early May, the maximum temperature can remain around 10 °C (50 °F). In May, the average maximum temperature is around 18 °C (64 °F). However, starting from this month, the expansion of the Azores High can bring the first sunny and relatively warm days, especially in the second half.
In summer, from June to August, the temperatures are generally pleasant, but the sun does not shine very often. Cool and rainy days are quite frequent, with maximum temperatures below 20 °C (68 °F), however, they alternate with warmer days, with the sun peeping through the clouds and the temperature exceeding 25 °C (77 °F) in the early afternoon. In short, the Dutch summer is similar to that of London. On average, the maximum temperature hovers around 22/23 °C (72/73 °F) in much of the country and around 21 °C (70 °F) on the coast, and it normally reaches 30/32 °C (86/90 °F) only two or three days per month.
However, during the brief hot air invasions, which in recent years are becoming more frequent due to global warming, the hottest area is the eastern one (see Twente, Eindhoven, Maastricht). In July 2019, the temperature reached 40.4 °C (104.7 °F) in Eindhoven, 36.4 °C (97.5 °F) in Amsterdam and 32.2 °C (90 °F) in Hoorn, in the West Frisian Islands.
Autumn, from September to November, is initially pleasant in September, especially in the first half, while later, it becomes gradually colder, cloudy, and rainy, with frequent winds.
When to go
The best time to visit the Netherlands runs from mid-May to mid-September: in this period, the temperature is usually mild or pleasantly warm, the rains are quite frequent, but sometimes, the sun comes out.
May and June are a bit cooler than July and August, but at this time, the country is in bloom; in the first half of May, which can still be a bit cold, you can admire expanses of tulips, which bloom between mid-April and mid-May.
In the first half of September, the maximum temperatures are still around 20 °C (68 °F).
What to pack
In winter: bring warm clothing, a sweater, a coat, a wind jacket, an umbrella, and possibly a warm hat and gloves for colder periods.
In summer: bring spring/autumn clothes, T-shirts for warm days, but also a shirt, a jacket, a sweatshirt or sweater, and a raincoat or umbrella.
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See also the temperatures month by month
