A year of unusual heat in the Netherlands has produced another milestone: the hottest Aug. 13 ever recorded.
That same heat has also pushed the country to a national record for the number of days above 86 degrees Fahrenheit (30 degrees Celsius).
Here's what to know
According to NL Times, De Bilt, the Netherlands' primary weather station, reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32.2 C) at 2:20 p.m. on Aug. 13. That topped the previous Aug. 13 high of 89.8 F (32.1 C), which was set in 1997.
Other parts of the country ran even hotter. Central areas were around 91.4 F to 93.2 F, while the south and east climbed to 95 F to 96.8 F. Gilze-Rijen stood at 94.3 F, just shy of the national Aug. 13 record of 94.8 F recorded in Nieuw-Beerta.
The new reading was De Bilt's 10th official daily heat record of 2026. It also gave the Netherlands its 31st "tropical day" of the year, meaning a day above 30 degrees Celsius (86 F), breaking the national annual record set in 1947.
Weeronline meteorologists said Aug. 13 was also likely to become 2026's eighth regional "very hot day," a designation for days above 95 F. That would surpass the previous yearly record of seven from 2020.
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More background
The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment activated the National heat plan nationwide on Aug. 13, reflecting concern for older adults, infants, and people living with chronic health conditions.
The Dutch national weather service, KNMI, issued a nationwide Code Yellow alert for heat stress and unusually strong ultraviolet radiation, with UV levels reaching 7 and 8. Forecasts for Aug. 14 called for highs of 91.4 F in the north and up to 98.6 F in the southeast, before a cooler change and possible thunderstorms were expected on Aug. 15.
Worsening extreme weather can directly endanger lives and livelihoods. Dangerous heat raises the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and heat stroke, especially for people without reliable cooling or those working outdoors.
It can also strain hospitals, disrupt schools and businesses, reduce worker productivity, damage crops, and drive up energy demand, creating ripple effects for household budgets and local economies.
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What's being done?
Authorities are already taking some of the most immediate steps available by issuing warnings, activating public health plans, and alerting residents to the combined dangers of extreme temperatures and intense sun exposure.
The forecast suggested the dangerous stretch would not last much longer, with temperatures expected to drop to around 77 F on Aug. 15.
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