There’s no point arguing about it - the weather so far this year really hasn’t been great. While last spring saw warm temperatures and a record amount of sunshine, this spring has been bleak and cold. But there is a little hope on the horizon: May is here, and some parts of the Netherlands could see temperatures rise as high as 25 degrees this weekend.

Sunday to bring a (brief) warm spell to the Netherlands

Friday and Saturday don't offer too much to look forward to. Rain is expected on both days, with temperatures ranging from 10 to 13 degrees on Friday. Saturday is set to be a little warmer, especially in the afternoon, but as Saturday turns to Sunday you can prepare to pack your winter coat away (even if it's just for one day).

On Sunday, a warm wind will blow in from the south and bring temperatures of up to 20 degrees to the north of the country, potentially reaching 24 degrees in areas near Maastricht and Eindhoven. The day should start sunny, but try and make the most of the weather early in the day as the afternoon and evening are expected to bring clouds, rain, and potentially even thunderstorms. 

Will the warmer temperatures stick around next week?

Heading into next week, the weather is looking pretty changeable. Monday could still see some nice warm temperatures, potentially reaching between 20 and 25 degrees in the east of the Netherlands. Temperatures will likely drop across the country but it still shouldn’t get as cold as it has been over the past few days. The chance of rain is high, and temperatures will stay between 16 and 18 degrees in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague.

This change in weather is great news for bars and restaurants across the country, who were finally able to open up their terraces to customers at the end of April but haven’t really seen much terras weer (“terrace weather”).