While many in the Netherlands are celebrating the start of spring and enjoying the sunny and warm weather, hay fever sufferers are dreading the peak in pollen levels that come with it. In the coming days, a spike in pollen is expected as temperatures rise and more trees and shrubs bloom.

Spike in pollen from trees and shrubs in the Netherlands

Hazel and alder trees had already started blooming in February, which means the upcoming spike in pollen will not be the first, and certainly not the last, peak of this year. Allergy sufferers may have already noticed pollen levels rising on Friday, and this is set to continue in the next few days.

According to biologist Maurice Martens of Pollennieuws.nl, the pollen forecast for Friday and Saturday, in particular, will cause trouble for hay fever sufferers. With a code dark red predicted for Dutch cities in the eastern, southeastern and central parts of the Netherlands, residents can expect high levels of pollen from trees and shrubs in the air. 700.000 people in the country suffer from allergies to this type of pollen, while one in five suffers from hay fever in general. 

“What is striking this week is that the night temperatures in particular are relatively high. That makes plants stay active even at night,” Martens explained to AD. From Sunday and the days that follow, the peak in pollen will dull down a bit, but there will still be fair amounts of pollen, being categorised as a code orange. 

Plants blooming early due to climate change

Biologists are finding it harder to predict when hay fever seasons are likely to begin due to climate change. The weather has become more erratic, which means many people with hay fever develop symptoms earlier and earlier in the year. “Because we hardly had any winter weather, the hazel was already blooming in some places during Christmas,” said Martens. “Years ago, that only happened at the end of January.”

The warm temperatures with highs of up to 22 degrees celsius have resulted in the most recent spike. A lack of rain also exacerbates the situation. Fortunately for hay fever sufferers, light rain showers are predicted later in the weekend, which should lower pollen levels. 

Tips for surviving hay fever in the Netherlands

While many people who suffer from hay fever have anti-histamines and nasal sprays stocked up for times like these, there are additional things you can do to help as well. Here are some tips for those with pollen allergies:

• Try to complete outdoor activities in the morning, preferably before 10am. The amount of pollen increases later in the day as temperatures rise.
• Air out the house in the morning rather than the evening. It is also a good idea to air out one room at a time rather than the whole house all at once to prevent an influx of pollen.
• Evening showers over morning showers. Showering in the evening will ensure you remove any pollen in your hair and on your clothes before getting into bed.  
• Put petroleum jelly, i.e. Vaseline, around your nostrils before going outside.
• Wear sunglasses to prevent pollen from getting into your eyes.
• Vacuum and dust with a damp cloth regularly to get rid of any pollen that makes it into your home.
• Hang up washing to dry indoors to limit the amount of pollen on your clothes.

For more tips on combating hay fever and updates on pollen levels, visit Pollennieuws.nl.