summer

River cruise operators are cancelling or altering itineraries as drought pushes Rhine and Danube water levels to historic lows. Some ships are idle, ports are inaccessible, and passengers are being moved by bus when routes cannot be sailed.

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.

Dutch municipalities are shifting waste collection to early morning hours due to upcoming extreme heat. Garbage trucks will start as early as 06:00, and recycling centers will close around noon to protect workers from high temperatures.

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.

Action’s sales jumped 14 percent to 8.3 billion euros, driven by strong demand for summer products and increased store visits. The retailer continues its rapid expansion, adding new stores across Europe and preparing for its first U.S. opening.

Holiday home providers in the Netherlands report a noticeable increase in bookings following the Dutch team’s World Cup elimination, but emphasise that weather conditions and other seasonal factors also contribute to the surge.

CBR cancels driving exams in code‑red provinces due to extreme heat. Over 5,000 tests affected; rescheduling is free and prioritised. Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe, Zeeland continue.

National railway operator NS has repaired an IT malfunction that locked passengers out of their personal accounts on Tuesday. The system failure was triggered by overwhelming website traffic following the launch of a government-funded 49-euro summer travel subscription. Although the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management allocated 118 million euros to subsidise the off-peak discount, the sheer volume of buyers congested the webshop and overwhelmed the digital infrastructure.