Driest Dutch spring in nearly 50 years to give way to rain showers in June
Ivo Antonie de Rooij / Shutterstock.com
By Simone Jacobs
The Netherlands has seen the driest and sunniest spring ever recorded this year. As the season changes and we get ready to welcome summer, the weather is set to change with some rain on the way for June.
Dutch spring sees record dry and sunny weather
The spring of 2025 brought with it the lowest levels of rainfall recorded in the Netherlands in almost 50 years. By May 27, a precipitation deficit of more than 140 millimetres is expected, which will be above the largest deficit that was ever recorded in 1976.
Starting in March, the Netherlands has been experiencing a drought - an average of 5mm of rainfall fell across the country in the third month of the year compared to the usual 56mm. Throughout the rest of spring, the combination of very little rainfall and many hours of sunshine has made the drought worse, reports Weeronline.
As of May 14, there were 37 very sunny spring days in the Netherlands - a record high since measurements began in 1901. For reference, a day where the sun is seen for at least 80 percent of the daylight period is considered a very sunny day.
Rain showers predicted for the Netherlands at start of June
In good news for greenery, the country can expect the rain to return in the last days of the month. According to Weeronline, the wind will change directions, bringing some showers in the last weekend of May.
While the return of rain may fill you with dread thinking of grey skies, there’s no need to worry as the sun is expected to shine through the rain clouds often enough. While the start of June could be wetter than normal, predictions claim that dry periods with clouds and sunshine will be the dominant weather of the month, as the rain is expected to fall in short bursts.
Temperatures are also expected to stay above 20 degrees celsius for the majority of June, with a few summer days above 25 degrees sprinkled in. Therefore, the start of summer should see the perfect weather to spend outdoors, exploring national parks or visiting the beach!
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Editor for the Netherlands at IamExpat Media. Simone studied Genetics and Zoology at the University of Pretoria in South Africa before moving to the Netherlands, where she has been working as a writer and editor since 2022. One thing she loves more than creating content is consuming it, mainly by reading books by the dozen. Other than being a book dragon, she is also a nature lover and enjoys hiking and animal training. Read more