You may have noticed that the weather in the Netherlands right now is pretty hot! It was already 20C at 6.30am this morning! Well, the hot weather has triggered a code yellow for certain parts of the Netherlands and the national heat plan has been activated.

Code yellow weather warning

The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) has issued a code yellow weather warning in the east, middle and south of the country due to the persistent heat. This affects the provinces of Gelderland, Utrecht, Drenthe, Flevoland, Overijssel, North-Brabant and Limburg. The code yellow warning will be in place until Thursday.

The Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has also put the National Heat Plan into force in these areas. This entails keeping a close eye on each other and especially those who are vulnerable, such as babies, the elderly, those suffering from chronic illnesses, overweight people, those in care homes and socially isolated people. The heat can cause health risks like dehydration and overheating, so it is important to drink enough water and stay cool.

The RIVM also advises sticking to the shade as much as possible, avoiding alcohol and staying away from strenuous exercise during the hottest parts of the day. Keep your home cool by closing the curtains and, if you have it, turning on the air conditioning or a fan. A cooler house will also allow you to sleep better. Be sure to only have your windows slightly open for ventilation too, opening them all the way will only let the heat in. You can open them at night when it is cooler.

Tropical nights and days

Today, the temperature is expected to reach 32C – 33C inland and possibly even 34C in the southeast. That’s pretty hot if you ask us, and it doesn’t look like the night will offer you any respite, as a so-called “tropical night” is expected. This occurs when the temperature doesn’t drop below 20C. Be sure to take a look at our tips for sleeping in a heatwave to make sure you get some rest with this heat.

Tomorrow is the warmest day of the week, with temperatures between 31C – 33C expected in the north and the Randstad and 33C to 35C elsewhere. In the east and southeast, it’s even hotter, with 36C to 37C forecast. Wednesday, June 26 will be slightly cooler, with temperatures of around 24C – 28C in the Randstad. Tropical temperatures (30C to 32C) may, however, still be about along the eastern border in the regions Twente, the Achterhoek and the east of Brabant and Limburg.