climate change

The Netherlands has recorded its seventh very hot day of the year, matching the 2020 record. Temperatures passed 35°C in Limburg, highlighting how extreme heat days are becoming increasingly common due to climate warming.

The Netherlands saw exceptionally little rainfall in July 2026, averaging just 12 millimeters nationwide, making it the second driest July since weather measurements began in 1906. Sunshine hours were unusually high, temperatures consistently warm, and only a few regions saw anything close to normal precipitation.

Dutch households threw away slightly less waste in 2025, mainly due to a drop in organic waste. Dry weather reduced garden growth, leading to fewer clippings and prunings. Residual waste levels stayed nearly the same, and waste separation rates have remained stable at around 60 percent.

Global crop prices have surged to their highest level since 2023, driven by the Iran war, supply disruptions, and extreme weather, raising concerns over rising food costs worldwide.

April 2026 ranks among the sunniest and driest on record in the Netherlands, raising early concerns about drought, wildfire risk, and pressure on nature and agriculture.