Thursday, March 1 marks the start of meteorological spring in the Netherlands. Good news after all these cold days, right? Wrong, this year, the start of spring in the Netherlands may quite possibly be the coldest since 1947.

Cold start to Dutch spring

On Thursday, March 1, there is a possibility that the temperature will stay below freezing point. A temperature of under -0,7C during the daytime would mean the coldest start to the spring since 1947. A new cold record will be set if the temperature is colder still and dives below -1C. During the morning of March 1, a moderate to harsh frost is expected along with real feel temperatures of -20C in open areas due to the unrelenting north-eastern wind.

Despite the cold temperatures, up until now, February has been an extremely sunny month. At Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) measuring point De Bilt, from February 1 to 25, 136 hours of sun have been measured, much more than the usual 86 hours of sunshine in February. This February is therefore already second on the list of sunniest February months.

Stay warm in the Netherlands

With the cold weather sticking around a little longer, here are some tips to stay warm:

• Avoid alcohol, as this lowers your body temperature and increases the risk of hypothermia. You may feel warmer after a glass of alcohol, but this is only due to the fact that it temporarily enlarges your blood vessels.
• Layers. Layers are essential to keeping warm in this weather. Make sure you have enough clothes on and don’t forget to wear base layers, such as a vest under your shirt or perhaps tights under your trousers.
• Try ginger. Ginger purportedly helps with circulation and raises your body temperature. A similar effect can be achieved with chilli peppers, as these cause you to sweat. Brown rice can also be of benefit, as your body needs to work hard to digest it.

It is not clear whether you should drink a hot or cold beverage to warm yourself up in cold weather. We suggest you drink something you like which will keep you hydrated.

Do you have any tips for keeping warm? Share them in the comments!