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Netherlands Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in the Netherlands in December.

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Amsterdam Zandvoort Rotterdam Maastricht

Planning a getaway to the Netherlands this December and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in the Netherlands in December

December in the Netherlands generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. December is a winter month.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 7°C (45°F) in Bad-Nieuweschans to 9°C (48°F) in De Koog. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 6°C (43°F) in De Koog and 1°C (34°F) in Bad-Nieuweschans.

For specific regional insights in the Netherlands, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Zuidhorn with an average of 69 mm (2.7 in) to high rainfall in Hindeloopen with 102 mm (4 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is more restricted in many locations in December. Amsterdam sees roughly 52 hours of sunlight. Our weather planner can help you find destinations with more sunshine if needed.

Explore the Netherlands by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in the Netherlands — and find the best time to visit. (based on Amsterdam)

January7°C (45°F) February8°C (46°F) March10°C (50°F) April14°C (57°F) May17°C (63°F) June20°C (68°F) This monthJuly22°C (72°F) August22°C (72°F) September19°C (66°F) October15°C (59°F) November11°C (52°F) December8°C (46°F)
Best Time to Visit the Netherlands →

Best Places to Visit in the Netherlands in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across the Netherlands.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in the Netherlands

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in the Netherlands?

Temperature range in the Netherlands (December)

Precipitation variation in the Netherlands (December)

Amsterdam

In December Amsterdam generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
8°C (46°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
3°C (37°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
62 hours
52 hours
64 hours
Monthly rainfall
83 mm (3.3 in)
87 mm (3.4 in)
77 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
19 days
19 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Amsterdam →

Zandvoort

In December Zandvoort generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
4°C (39°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly rainfall
100 mm (3.9 in)
99 mm (3.9 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
19 days
19 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Zandvoort →

The Hague

In December The Hague generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
4°C (39°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
64 hours
50 hours
67 hours
Monthly rainfall
87 mm (3.4 in)
88 mm (3.5 in)
76 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
19 days
20 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in The Hague →

Rotterdam

In December Rotterdam generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
8°C (46°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
64 hours
54 hours
68 hours
Monthly rainfall
73 mm (2.9 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
69 mm (2.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
19 days
19 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Rotterdam →

Maastricht

In December Maastricht generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
73 hours
55 hours
68 hours
Monthly rainfall
70 mm (2.8 in)
85 mm (3.3 in)
74 mm (2.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
19 days
20 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Maastricht →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in the Netherlands.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in the Netherlands in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Amsterdam 8°C (46°F) 3°C (37°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Zandvoort 9°C (48°F) 4°C (39°F) 99 mm (3.9 in)
Rotterdam 8°C (46°F) 3°C (37°F) 79 mm (3.1 in)
Maastricht 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
De Koog 9°C (48°F) 6°C (43°F) 98 mm (3.9 in)
Groningen 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)

The Netherlands weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in the Netherlands in December?

the Netherlands typically experiences poor weather in December, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Amsterdam average around 8°C (46°F), and temperatures drop to about 3°C (37°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in the Netherlands in December?

Average temperatures in the Netherlands during December range from a nighttime low near 3°C (37°F) to a daytime high around 8°C (46°F) in Amsterdam.

Does the Netherlands get a lot of rain in December?

December is on the drier side in the Netherlands. Amsterdam averages only about 87 mm (3.4 in), with most days staying dry.

Is December a Good Time to Visit the Netherlands?

In our opinion, December may not be the ideal time to visit the Netherlands due to the typically poor weather in Amsterdam.

On average, the best time to visit the Netherlands is in June, July and August with generally perfect weather in Amsterdam. In contrast, January, February, March and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in the Netherlands.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to the Netherlands? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in the Netherlands.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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