Winter
Dec → Feb7 to 9°
nights 3 to 4°
- 15 rainy days · 92 mm
- 4.1 h of sun
- sea 7°
When is the best time to visit the Netherlands?
- Jan7°not recommended
- Feb9°not recommended
- Mar10°fair
- Apr13°recommended
- May17°recommended
- Jun21°recommended
- Jul21°fair
- Aug22°fair
- Sep20°recommended
- Oct15°fair
- Nov11°not recommended
- Dec8°not recommended
RecommendedFairNot recommended· afternoon temperature
The weather in the Netherlands, month by month
The table of records, month by month
| Month | High | Low | Sunshine | Rainfall | Rainy days | Sea | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7° | 3° | 3.8 h | 85 mm | 14 d | 6° | |
| February | 9° | 4° | 5.5 h | 99 mm | 16 d | 7° | |
| March | 10° | 4° | 7.5 h | 59 mm | 12 d | 8° | |
| April | 13° | 5° | 10.3 h | 67 mm | 11 d | 10° | ✓ |
| May | 17° | 9° | 11.6 h | 85 mm | 13 d | 13° | ✓ |
| June | 21° | 13° | 11.8 h | 72 mm | 12 d | 17° | ✓ |
| July | 21° | 14° | 11.9 h | 95 mm | 17 d | 19° | |
| August | 22° | 15° | 11.1 h | 74 mm | 14 d | 20° | |
| September | 20° | 12° | 9.1 h | 75 mm | 12 d | 19° | ✓ |
| October | 15° | 10° | 6.2 h | 119 mm | 18 d | 16° | |
| November | 11° | 6° | 4.4 h | 93 mm | 17 d | 12° | |
| December | 8° | 3° | 3.1 h | 91 mm | 16 d | 8° |
The four seasons in the Netherlands, in figures
What the 2015-2024 records (Amsterdam) show, season by season, to compare at a glance instead of reading twelve rows of a table.
Spring
Mar → May10 to 17°
nights 4 to 9°
- 12 rainy days · 70 mm
- 9.8 h of sun
- sea 10°
Summer
Jun → Aug21 to 22°
nights 13 to 15°
- 14 rainy days · 80 mm
- 11.6 h of sun
- sea 19°
Autumn
Sep → Nov11 to 20°
nights 6 to 12°
- 16 rainy days · 96 mm
- 6.6 h of sun
- sea 16°
Book early for April to June and September
The timing is right, so it is right for everyone: in these months the best places to stay and the small-group tours go first. Here is where to start.
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Daylight in the Netherlands, month by month
The time between sunrise and sunset, from shortest to longest. Not to be confused with the sunshine hours in the table above, which count clear skies. In June there are 16h46 of daylight, in December 7h42, a difference of 9h04.
8h11Jan
9h49Feb
11h42Mar
13h51Apr
15h42May
16h46Jun
16h20Jul
14h40Aug
12h34Sep
10h30Oct
8h39Nov
7h42Dec
Calculated for the latitude of the reference point "Amsterdam" (52.37°). Values on the 15th of each month, local solar time.
What to do in the Netherlands, month by month
| Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiking | ||||||||||||
| Beach & swimming | ||||||||||||
| Towns & culture | ||||||||||||
| Long days | ||||||||||||
| Events | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
EventsCarnival in the southFebruary to MarchTulip seasonMarch to MayKing's Day (Koningsdag)AprilSinterklaasNovember to DecemberDetails ↓
favourablewith compromisesunfavourable
- Towns & culture: March, April, June, September
- Long days: May, June, July, August
Grid derived from the records (temperature, rainfall, sea), not from an opinion.
What's on in the Netherlands, month by month?
What comes back every year, and when. These events fill the hotels and push prices up: something to aim for or to avoid, depending on what you want.
- February to MarchCarnival in the south big crowds
Maastricht, 's-Hertogenbosch and the whole of Brabant parade with brass bands for the three days before Lent.
- March to MayTulip season big crowds
The fields of the Bollenstreek burst into colour from mid-March to mid-May, and Keukenhof park opens for the season.
- AprilKing's Day (Koningsdag) big crowds
On 27 April, the country dresses in orange and the Amsterdam canals fill with boats and flea markets.
- November to DecemberSinterklaas
The saint arrives by boat in mid-November and the shop windows follow suit until the presents are handed out on 5 December.
Travelling off-peak
Month by month, in detail
January
Not recommended7°3° at night
- 85 mm · 14 d
- 3.8 h
- sea 6°
Low season, lower prices
February
Not recommended9°4° at night
- 99 mm · 16 d
- 5.5 h
- sea 7°
Busy, without the crush
March
Fair10°4° at night
- 59 mm · 12 d
- 7.5 h
- sea 8°
Busy, without the crush
April
Recommended13°5° at night
- 67 mm · 11 d
- 10.3 h
- sea 10°
High season, book early
May
Recommended17°9° at night
- 85 mm · 13 d
- 11.6 h
- sea 13°
High season, book early
June
Recommended21°13° at night
- 72 mm · 12 d
- 11.8 h
- sea 17°
Busy, without the crush
July
Fair21°14° at night
- 95 mm · 17 d
- 11.9 h
- sea 19°
Busy, without the crush
August
Fair22°15° at night
- 74 mm · 14 d
- 11.1 h
- sea 20°
Busy, without the crush
September
Recommended20°12° at night
- 75 mm · 12 d
- 9.1 h
- sea 19°
Busy, without the crush
October
Fair15°10° at night
- 119 mm · 18 d
- 6.2 h
- sea 16°
Low season, lower prices
November
Not recommended11°6° at night
- 93 mm · 17 d
- 4.4 h
- sea 12°
Low season, lower prices
December
Not recommended8°3° at night
- 91 mm · 16 d
- 3.1 h
- sea 8°
Quiet, then the holidays
Read the twelve months in detail
January. Deep winter: 7 °C at the warmest of the day, 3 °C at night. A very wet month, 85 mm of rain over 14 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (3.8 h a day). Sea at 6 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
February. Cool: 9 °C at best, 4 °C at night. A very wet month, 99 mm of rain over 16 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (5.5 h a day). Sea at 7 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
March. Cool: 10 °C at best, 4 °C at night. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (59 mm). Expect 7.5 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 8 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
April. Cool: 13 °C at best, 5 °C at night. Expect 11 days of rain in the month (67 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 10.3 h a day on average. Sea at 10 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
May. Cool: 17 °C at best, 9 °C at night. Expect 13 days of rain in the month (85 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.6 h a day on average. Sea at 13 °C, too cold to swim. High season: book early.
June. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 13 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (72 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 11.8 h a day on average. Sea at 17 °C, too cold to swim. Busy season, without the crush.
July. Mild, 21 °C in the afternoon and 14 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 95 mm over 17 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.9 h a day on average. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
August. Mild, 22 °C in the afternoon and 15 °C early in the morning. Frequent rain: 74 mm over 14 days. Plenty of sunshine: 11.1 h a day on average. Cool sea (20 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
September. Mild, 20 °C in the afternoon and 12 °C early in the morning. Expect 12 days of rain in the month (75 mm). Plenty of sunshine: 9.1 h a day on average. Cool sea (19 °C), for the brave. Busy season, without the crush.
October. Cool: 15 °C at best, 10 °C at night. Frequent rain: 119 mm over 18 days. Expect 6.2 h of sunshine a day. Sea at 16 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
November. Cool: 11 °C at best, 6 °C at night. A very wet month, 93 mm of rain over 17 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (4.4 h a day). Sea at 12 °C, too cold to swim. Low season: fewer people, lower prices.
December. Cool: 8 °C at best, 3 °C at night. A very wet month, 91 mm of rain over 16 days. Sunshine gets scarcer (3.1 h a day). Sea at 8 °C, too cold to swim. Quiet at the start of the month, then busier as the holidays approach.
Same season, other ideas
Their best time overlaps with this one: worth comparing before you book.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit the Netherlands?
April to June and September: over these months, recorded highs range from 13 to 21 °C, with 12 days of rain a month on average (2015-2024 records, Amsterdam).
Which month should you avoid in the Netherlands?
February: it is the wettest of the months to avoid, with 99 mm over 16 days of rain on average, according to 2015-2024 records at the reference point (Amsterdam).
What is the hottest month in the Netherlands?
August, with 22 °C on average in the afternoon and 15 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Amsterdam).
What is the coldest month in the Netherlands?
January, with 7 °C at best during the day and 3 °C at night. 2015-2024 records (Amsterdam).
What is the driest month in the Netherlands?
March: 59 mm over 12 days of rain, against 119 mm in October, the wettest month.
Which month has the most sunshine in the Netherlands?
July, with 11.9 h of sunshine a day on average. Note that this counts clear skies, not the length of the day.
When can you swim in the Netherlands?
The water stays cool all year (warmest 20 °C in August, measured in 2023-2024 on the nearest coast, Keukenhof): swimming is for the brave.
Plan this trip
📒 The free printable Netherlands guide: itinerary, map, where to sleep→
🗓️ Best time to visit: all our destinations→
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Photos: Atypeek Dgn / Pexels · Olivier Cleynen / CC BY 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons) · Charly Constant / Pexels · Ludovic Delot / Pexels · Yves B. / Pexels · Massimo Catarinella / CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)