The Netherlands has experienced its hottest summer on record since temperature measurements began in 1901, according to the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI).
The average temperature recorded at the institute’s main station in De Bilt reached 19.3°C, exceeding the previous record of 18.9°C set in 2018.
The summer was characterized by several heat waves, unusually warm nights and extended periods of drought. In June, KNMI issued its first-ever red alert for extreme heat.
Climate expert Peter Siegmund said the country experienced an unprecedented number of days with temperatures above 35°C, while tropical days and consecutive nights with temperatures of at least 22°C also reached record levels.
Southern areas were particularly affected. In Maastricht, temperatures stayed above 22°C for three nights in a row, something never previously recorded there.
Siegmund warned that summers as hot as this one could become increasingly common because of global warming. He estimated that under current climate conditions, a summer of this intensity could occur roughly once every five years.
However, he emphasized that effective climate policies could still reduce future temperature increases. By 2050, the difference between high- and low-emissions scenarios could be around 1°C, potentially reaching 4°C by the end of the century.
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