Climate and Weather of the Netherlands
The ocean affects the weather conditions in the Netherlands. With a temperate maritime climate summers are generally pleasant with very changeable periods, but excessively hot weather is rare. Rainfall is common throughout the year.Winters can be quite cold and dark with the possibility of some snow. Around every 7 years it gets so cold that the canals in Amsterdam turn into a huge open air icerink. When the ice is around 15 cm's thick the Elfstedentocht is organized. The Elfstedentocht is a tour skating event on natural ice, almost 200 kilometers (120 miles) long. It is held both as a speed skating competition and a leisure tour (with 16,000 skaters). It takes place in the north of the Netherlands in the province Friesland and leads past eleven beautiful historical towns. The tour is held at most once a year, sometimes on consecutive years, other times with gaps that may exceed 20 years. When the ice is suitable, the tour is announced and starts within 48 hours.
Almost each day clouds appear in the sky and in winter you will also experience foggy weather. The average temperature in the Netherlands is about 2°C in the month of January. In July the average monthly maximum temperature is 22°C. The annual average temperature is approximately 10°C. The average annual rainfall in a year is 700 mm.
People in the Netherlands talk much about the weather, because of the unpredictability. Even if the weather seems nice and sunny in the morning, by the afternoon it might be raining again. Luckily almost every day cloudy skies remember of famous Dutch painters.
One of the best periods to visit the Netherlands is during spring from April until the end of June. The days become longer and the Dutch embrace the sun sitting on teracces and while enjoying the blooming flower fields.
Global Warming and Its Effects in The Netherlands
The Netherlands are experiencing milder winters with fewer frost and snowfall days. The frequency and intensity of heatwaves have also increased. For example, the country experienced record-breaking temperatures during the summers of 2018, 2019, and 2020. Also summers have become drier, while winters see increased rainfall, leading to higher river levels and more floods inland.The Netherlands experiences earlier springs and later autumns. This is why certain bird species have altered migration patterns, and there is a northward shift of some insect populations.
As a low-lying country, the Netherlands is particularly vulnerable to sea-level rise, increasing the risk of flooding and requiring significant investments in coastal defenses.
Are you interested in more detailed information for various cities in the Netherlands?
Please select the city you plan to visit, or one closest to your destination. For each selected city, you will see the following graphs:
1. Yearly average minimum and maximum temperatures
2. Monthly averages of precipitation throughout the year (rainfall, snow etc)
3. Monthly average hours of sunshine throughout the year
Additionally, some pages provide historical weather data such as humidity, wind speed, and water temperature.