Climate - The Hague (Netherlands)

The climate of The Hague (Den Haag in Dutch), the third largest city in the Netherlands and the de facto capital of the country, is sub-oceanic, humid and rainy, influenced by currents from the Atlantic and the North Sea, with cold, gray winters and mild or pleasantly warm summers.
The city is the capital of the province of South Holland and is located on the North Sea coast. Nearby are the cities of Rotterdam, Leiden and Delft.
The wind blows frequently, and can be intense, especially from November to March.
The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is of 3.8 °C (39 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 17.7 °C (64 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 865 millimeters (34.1 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 45 mm (1.8 in) in the driest month (April) to 95 mm (3.7 in) in the wettest (August). Here is the average precipitation.

Winter, from December to February, is not very cold for the latitude, but is often humid, windy and rainy. There may be relatively mild periods, when Atlantic currents prevail, and other colder periods, when the temperature drops below freezing and it can snow.
Sometimes, there can be cold spells, in which temperatures can drop as low as -10 °C (14 °F) or even below. In fact, Scandinavian high pressure systems can reverse the normal circulation and bring very cold periods, which in the past were more frequent. The cold record is -17.5 °C (0.5 °F), set in February 1956 and in February 2012.
Even in spring, until April or the first half of May, there is often cold and unstable weather. In April, there may still be some snow showers.
In summer, from June to August, the temperatures are generally pleasant and lend themselves to outdoor activities, although there are cool and rainy periods, and sometimes thunderstorms can break out.
At times, hot periods can occur, generally of short duration, which in recent years are becoming more frequent due to global warming, and in which the temperature can exceed 30 °C (86 °F). On the hottest days of the year, the temperature typically reaches 32 °C (90 °F). The heat record is 35.5 °C (96 °F), set in July 2019.



On average, there are around 1,845 sunshine hours per year. The sun does not shine very often, however, due to its position in the south and on the coast, The Hague is the sunniest city in the Netherlands (although in the Frisian Islands the amount of sunshine reaches 1,900 hours). Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea temperature ranges from 6 °C (43 °F) in February and March to 18 °C (65 °F) in August. So, it never becomes warm for swimming (except for tourists from northern Europe). Here are the average sea temperatures.

Weather by month

Based on the period 1991 - 2020.
(January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December)

In January, the coldest month of the year, the average temperature is 3.9 °C (39.1 °F), with a minimum of 1.5 °C (34.7 °F) and a maximum of 6.4 °C (43.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to -6.5 °C (21 °F). However, it dropped to -14 °C (7 °F) in January 1997.
On the mildest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 12 °C (53 °F). However, it reached 14.5 °C (58 °F) in January 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 70 millimeters (2.8 inches), spread over 12 days.
On average, there are 72 hours of sunshine per month, ie 2.3 hours per day.

In February, the average temperature is 4.1 °C (39.3 °F), with a minimum of 1.3 °C (34.3 °F) and a maximum of 6.9 °C (44.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to -5.5 °C (22 °F). However, it dropped to -17.5 °C (1 °F) in February 2012.
On the mildest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 12.5 °C (54 °F). However, it reached 18.5 °C (65 °F) in February 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 60 millimeters (2.4 inches), spread over 11 days.
On average, there are 98 hours of sunshine per month, ie 3.5 hours per day.

In March, the average temperature is 6.3 °C (43.3 °F), with a minimum of 2.8 °C (37 °F) and a maximum of 9.7 °C (49.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to -3.5 °C (26 °F). However, it dropped to -15 °C (5 °F) in March 2005.
On the mildest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 16.5 °C (61 °F). However, it reached 21.5 °C (71 °F) in March 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 50 millimeters (2 inches), spread over 10 days.
On average, there are 150 hours of sunshine per month, ie 4.8 hours per day.

In April, the average temperature is 9.2 °C (48.6 °F), with a minimum of 4.9 °C (40.9 °F) and a maximum of 13.5 °C (56.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to -1 °C (30 °F). However, it dropped to -4.5 °C (24 °F) in April 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 22 °C (71 °F). However, it reached 27.5 °C (82 °F) in April 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 45 millimeters (1.8 inches), spread over 9 days.
On average, there are 205 hours of sunshine per month, ie 6.8 hours per day.

In May, the average temperature is 12.7 °C (54.8 °F), with a minimum of 8.4 °C (47.1 °F) and a maximum of 17 °C (62.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to 2.5 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in May 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 25.5 °C (78 °F). However, it reached 30.5 °C (87 °F) in May 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 55 millimeters (2.2 inches), spread over 9 days.
On average, there are 237 hours of sunshine per month, ie 7.6 hours per day.

In June, the average temperature is 15.4 °C (59.7 °F), with a minimum of 11.2 °C (52.2 °F) and a maximum of 19.5 °C (67.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to 6 °C (43 °F). However, it dropped to 1.5 °C (35 °F) in June 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 28.5 °C (83 °F). However, it reached 33.5 °C (92 °F) in June 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 60 millimeters (2.4 inches), spread over 10 days.
On average, there are 229 hours of sunshine per month, ie 7.6 hours per day.

In July, the warmest month of the year, the average temperature is 17.6 °C (63.8 °F), with a minimum of 13.6 °C (56.5 °F) and a maximum of 21.7 °C (71.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to 9 °C (48 °F). However, it dropped to 7 °C (44 °F) in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 30 °C (86 °F). However, it reached 35.5 °C (96 °F) in July 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 80 millimeters (3.1 inches), spread over 10 days.
On average, there are 237 hours of sunshine per month, ie 7.7 hours per day.

In August, the average temperature is 17.6 °C (63.6 °F), with a minimum of 13.4 °C (56.1 °F) and a maximum of 21.7 °C (71.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to 9 °C (48 °F). However, it dropped to 6 °C (43 °F) in August 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 33.5 °C (92 °F) in August 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 95 millimeters (3.7 inches), spread over 11 days.
On average, there are 213 hours of sunshine per month, ie 6.9 hours per day.

In September, the average temperature is 14.9 °C (58.8 °F), with a minimum of 11 °C (51.7 °F) and a maximum of 18.8 °C (65.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to 6 °C (43 °F). However, it dropped to 2 °C (35 °F) in September 2018.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 24.5 °C (76 °F). However, it reached 31 °C (87 °F) in September 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 90 millimeters (3.5 inches), spread over 12 days.
On average, there are 159 hours of sunshine per month, ie 5.3 hours per day.

In October, the average temperature is 11.3 °C (52.3 °F), with a minimum of 7.9 °C (46.2 °F) and a maximum of 14.7 °C (58.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to 2 °C (35 °F). However, it dropped to -4.5 °C (24 °F) in October 1997.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 20.5 °C (69 °F). However, it reached 26.5 °C (80 °F) in October 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 90 millimeters (3.5 inches), spread over 13 days.
On average, there are 118 hours of sunshine per month, ie 3.8 hours per day.

In November, the average temperature is 7.4 °C (45.3 °F), with a minimum of 4.6 °C (40.4 °F) and a maximum of 10.1 °C (50.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to -2 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -7 °C (19 °F) in November 1998.
On the mildest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 15.5 °C (60 °F). However, it reached 18.5 °C (65 °F) in November 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 90 millimeters (3.5 inches), spread over 14 days.
On average, there are 67 hours of sunshine per month, ie 2.2 hours per day.

In December, the average temperature is 4.6 °C (40.3 °F), with a minimum of 2.2 °C (35.9 °F) and a maximum of 7.1 °C (44.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature typically drops to -5 °C (23 °F). However, it dropped to -13 °C (8 °F) in December 2010.
On the mildest days of the month, the temperature typically reaches 12.5 °C (54 °F). However, it reached 15.5 °C (60 °F) in December 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 85 millimeters (3.3 inches), spread over 14 days.
On average, there are 57 hours of sunshine per month, ie 1.8 hours per day.

Best Time

The best time to visit The Hague runs from mid-May to mid-September, since it is the warmest and sunniest period of the year. Sometimes, it can be hot in July and August, while in other circumstances, nights can be cool or even a little cold even in these months, so it can be useful to bring a sweatshirt or sweater and a light jacket.