From midnight tonight, eight Dutch provinces fall under code red because of the extreme heat, the highest possible weather warning, and it’s the first time it’s ever been triggered by hot weather in the Netherlands.
If that sounds dramatic, that’s the point. Even during the record temperatures of 2019, the country never reached this level.
The advice from the KNMI (the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute) is blunt: only go outside if you really have to.
Which provinces are affected?
The code red weather warning applies to the provinces of Noord-Brabant, Gelderland, Utrecht, Limburg, Noord-Holland, Zuid-Holland, Flevoland and Overijssel.
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Zeeland, Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe stay on code orange, while the Wadden Islands sit on code yellow.
Most of the country had already been under code orange since yesterday, so this is a step up rather than a sudden surprise.
What does a code red warning actually mean?
Here’s the slightly odd part: meteorologically, there’s no difference between code orange and code red. The decision to go red isn’t about the temperature itself.
Instead, a body called the weerimpactteam (weather impact team) makes the call. The KNMI sits at that table alongside the police, fire service, the National Crisis Centre, the national traffic centre, ProRail and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.
They issue code red when dangerous weather risks disrupting society, weighing up the chances of injury, damage and serious disruption. Belgium and France have both reached this top level several times in recent days, too.
How to look after yourself (and others)
With code red, everyone needs to watch for signs of dehydration and overheating, up to and including a life-threatening heatstroke. The KNMI advises staying out of the sun and avoiding heavy physical activity.
Drink plenty of water even when you don’t feel thirsty. Keep an eye on pets, who cope badly with heat, and on people who might need a hand.
Older people in particular often have a weaker sense of thirst, which means dehydration can creep up on them faster.
Is this the new normal?
Possibly, yes. While the code red itself is historic, the KNMI expects extreme heat like this to become more common as the climate warms, with heatwaves growing both more likely and more intense.
The advice that comes with code red isn’t legally binding, but plenty of organisations have plans ready.
Hospitals prepare for heat-related patients, care homes run extra checks on residents, and many employers adjust working hours or pause heavy outdoor work. Some councils are opening cool public buildings as refuges.
Events this weekend may be shortened or scrapped, and the hardstyle festival Defqon. 1 has already decided to admit fewer visitors because of the heat.
And the heat won’t let up overnight.
The night from Thursday into Friday is expected to be the warmest ever measured in the Netherlands, which is bad timing if you were planning to stay up for the football. The Netherlands play Tunisia at the World Cup at 1 AM, so a sweaty, sleepless night may be on the cards either way.
Staying in the shade, hugging a fan, or sweating through extra time? Tell us how you’re surviving in the comments.
