Every year, we hold out hope that we might be blessed on Christmas Day with the kind of snowy scene that graces the front of our Christmas cards. Alas, all the signs are pointing to 2023 not being that year. Rather than a White Christmas in the Netherlands, it looks set to be a soggy one.
Chances of snow on Christmas in the Netherlands very small in 2023
The latest weather forecasts suggest that the chances of having a White Christmas in 2023 are very, very small. According to WeerOnline, the temperature will drop as we head into the Christmas holidays next week, but only to around five to eight degrees, meaning that any precipitation will almost certainly fall as rain, rather than snow.
And precipitation does seem to be on the cards: according to the Dutch Weather Institute (KNMI), there is an “approximately 80 percent” chance that the variable, wet weather we’ve been seeing in recent weeks will carry us right through from Christmas Day to New Year’s Day. Temperatures will hover around sixdegrees during the day, falling to around twodegrees at night.
This doesn’t rule out the possibility of snow, however: if things get a little colder than predicted, we might get some wet snow over the holidays. WeerOnline said that a few wintry showers weren’t out of the question, but that rain and hail are much more likely.
There have been 8 White Christmas in the Netherlands
Officially, it counts as a White Christmas in the Netherlands if there is measurable snowfall on both December 25 and December 26. The odds are forever against us, unfortunately, as this has only happened eight times since records began, and not once in the last 12 years. The last White Christmas took place in 2010.
So far, this December has been warmer than average, with temperatures lingering between eightand onedegrees. Last year, it was between sevenand 12 degrees on Christmas Day.
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FAQs
The Netherlands is located at “the height of a weather front,” where warm, moist air from the south collides with dry, cold air from the north. As the southern air cools, the water in the air condenses and becomes rain. Officially this is climate type Cfb—temperate, no dry season, warm summer.
What is the weather like in the Netherlands at Christmas? ›
The average high temperature in the month is just 6°C (42° F) with an average overnight low temperature of 2.5°C (33° F). This is not as cold as January, however, with the wind, it can feel much cooler than that.
Which country is most likely to have a white Christmas? ›
In Europe, snow at Christmas is common in Norway, Sweden, Finland, the Baltic states, Russia, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belarus, and northeastern Poland.
Does it rain or snow in the Netherlands? ›
The coldest month in the Netherlands is January when temperatures dip from 0°C to 4°C (32°F to 39°F). Not to mention the limited sunshine, cloudy skies, and a lot of chilly wind. Expect a lot of rain and snow, especially inland.
What is the highest rainfall in the Netherlands? ›
Last year was also the wettest since 1906 when the KNMI began recording rainfall. In total, an average of 1152 millimetres of rain fell across the country in 2023, smashing the 1998 record of 1109 millimetres. Between 1991 and 2020, the amount of rain averaged 851 centimetres per year.
What is the country where it rains the most? ›
List
| Country | Continent |
|---|
| 1 | Colombia | South America |
| 2 | São Tomé and Príncipe | Africa |
| 2 | Tuvalu | Oceania |
| 4 | Papua New Guinea | Oceania |
118 more rowsWhere a white Christmas is most likely. Those most likely regions to see a white Christmas are mainly in the western U.S. mountains, parts of the northern and perhaps central Plains, and the Northeast U.S. mountains and areas downwind of the Great Lakes.
What city has a white Christmas every year? ›
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the most likely U.S. city to see a white Christmas is Fairbanks, Alaska, which has a 100% chance of snow on the ground for Christmas Day. Seeing, however, is relative, as Fairbanks only gets about 5 hours of daylight at this time of year.
What is the rainiest month in the Netherlands? ›
On average The Netherlands deals with 100 minutes of rain per day and 130 days of rain per year, with October being the wettest month (13 days) and April the driest (9 days).
What is the Netherlands famous for? ›
The Netherlands has some of the world's most beautiful canals and windmills. It is also known for its scenic beauty, cheese, beer, rich historical past, vibrant and lively cities and serene countryside. The country is full of attractive tourist destinations you cannot miss out on.
Astronomically, winter in the Netherlands starts on December 21. However, meteorological winter starts on December 1 and ends on March 1 on the northern hemisphere.
Why does the Netherlands have so many floods? ›
Flood control is an important issue for the Netherlands, as due to its low elevation, approximately two thirds of its area is vulnerable to flooding, while the country is densely populated. Natural sand dunes and constructed dikes, dams, and floodgates provide defense against storm surges from the sea.
Does it rain more in England or Netherlands? ›
London has a lower average annual rainfall total than Copenhagen, Eindhoven and Amsterdam. (Amsterdam receives 40% more rainfall, per year).
What is the rainiest city in Europe? ›
Bergen, Norway
Securing the number one spot as the rainiest city in Europe is Bergen in Norway! Topping the data table for being both the city with the highest average rain days per month (12.7) as well as the highest average daily rainfall (8.8mm), Bergen is the outright rainiest city in Europe.
What keeps the water out of the Netherlands? ›
In The Netherlands, both the areas beneath sea level and the areas above sea level, but still beneath maximum river level, are protected by dikes. But this is not nearly enough for keeping our feet dry. As dikes always “leak”, the lower areas are continuously and slowly supplied with water from the sea and rivers.
