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Canoe at evening light in Lauwersmeer National Park
© Marvin Kuhr

The weather in the Netherlands

From tulip fields exploding into color each spring to sun-drenched beaches in summer, and from misty autumn walks to romantic Christmas markets – the time of the year that you travel to the Netherlands will make a real difference. However, there’s no need to prepare for extremes. The climate is temperate, with gentle winters and cool summers, so you can leave the technical arctic gear or abundance of floaty linen outfits at home. Do make sure to bring a raincoat – there is rainfall in every season.

What’s the temperature?

Couple sups on the Lauwersmeer
© Marleen Annema via Visit Wadden

The Netherlands may be a small country, but each province has its own weather conditions. The weather in coastal provinces is more moderate than inland; and the best chance of enjoying sunshine is along the coast, particularly in Zeeland and on the Wadden Islands.

The average maximum daytime temperature in spring rises from 9° C in March through 14° C in April to 17° in May. Be aware that the weather in spring can be volatile – this fact has inspired a number of old Dutch proverbs, including “April doet wat hij wil” – April has a mind of its own – and “Aprilletje zoet geeft nog weleens een witte hoed” – meaning that despite the mild weather, the Netherlands has been known to see a dusting of snow as late as April.

Spring sunshine

But in general, you are likely to experience some pleasant spring sunshine, and this is enthusiastically embraced by the Dutch, who flock to café patios and terraces en masse as soon as the sun is out. There’s nothing quite like the cheerful and at times even giddy mood on the first day of sitting outside a café in a Dutch city after a long winter. And of course, there are plenty of other outdoor activities to embrace in spring: a visit to the world-famous flower fields, celebrating King’s Day, or visiting one of the first festivals of the year.

Sustainable restaurant Amsterdam
© Marie-Charlotte Pezé via AmsterdamPartners

How warm is it in summer in the Netherlands?

Greened canal in Utrecht the Catharijnesingel
© Antoine Thevenet via OKRA landscape architects

In the summer, the average daytime temperature tends to be in the low- to mid-20s. Locals and visitors alike make ultimate use of the warm weather: days on the beautiful beaches, fun bike tours, and water sports are all popular summer activities. That said, Dutch summers can be capricious. A few extremely rainy weeks might be followed by a heatwave, so it’s best to pack for all weathers. Make sure to regularly check sites or apps such as AccuWeather or KNMI for up-to-date weather reports. And, most importantly, don’t ever let the weather spoil your holiday, and make sure you have made a plan for rainy days as well as beach weather.

There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.
Alfred Wainwright, British guidebook author

Fall and winter temperatures in the Netherlands

Cyclists South Limburg
© John Kreukniet Fotografie via ANP

Autumn is a wonderful time to travel to the Netherlands. It is generally less busy, but there is an abundance of things to do, from exploring natural parks and lush forests to inspiring city trips. A particularly great area to visit in the fall is the Veluwe, with a beautiful natural park that’s home to heathland, deer and forests as well as a renowned art gallery, the Kröller-Müller Museum. The average maximum daytime temperature in the Netherlands ranges from 18° C in September to 9° C in November.

In winter, this drops to 5° C – time to wrap up warm and explore the many lovely seasonal events and activities that are on offer, from light festivals to ice skating rinks and Christmas markets. Indulge in countless hot chocolates and traditional Dutch comfort food. And if you’re a real daredevil, you can join the Dutch traditions of the New Year’s dip, when people race into the North Sea on New Year’s Day. The temperature of the sea at that point is about 5° C, so we’re not blaming you if you’d rather wait until summer, when it will have risen to around 20° C.

Christmas market Westerpark Amsterdam
© Koen Smilde via AmsterdamPartners

Did you know?

…that the Dutch cycle whatever the weather? Even snow and icy conditions don’t dampen the Dutch love for their bikes.

Rainy days

There’s no way around it – the Netherlands is a rainy country. After all, this is a land of water. No month has less than 13 days of rainfall on average, so make sure you’re prepared. Pack a raincoat and waterproof shoes, have a list of museums and galleries to visit at hand, and embrace the fact that it will most likely rain more than once during your stay. In exchange, you will get to see the most spectacular, dramatic skies that inspired the magnificent landscape paintings of generations of Dutch painters.

Museums in NL

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The tips from Lone Mokkenstorm

  1. The history of The North Sea Floods

    The Watersnoodmuseum in Ouwerkerk tells the story of the North Sea Floods of 1953, an important moment in Dutch history. The event has shaped Dutch flood management and is more relevant than ever, considering today’s climate change and rising sea levels.

  2. In touch with nature

    On the country’s various barefoot paths (blotevoetenpaden), you can enjoy nature by walking on soft surfaces with your shoes off. A bit of rain and mud only adds to the experience.

  3. A historic observatory

    The historic Sonnenborgh Museum & Observatory in Utrecht is where the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute was founded. Nowadays, you can visit the building on a 16th-century fortress to learn about the weather and the stars.