Several Dutch cities are opening up free “cooling spots”, where anyone can step inside, drink water, use a toilet, and escape the worst of the heat.
These spots are called koelteplekken (literally “cool places”), and they’re exactly what they sound like: locations across the country that throw open their doors when a national heat plan is in effect.
You don’t need to buy anything or sign up. Visitors can cool off, drink water, sit down, use the toilet, and sometimes pass the time with a game or a book.
So, if your house makes you feel like you’re being boiled alive, read on to find a koelteplek near you.
Where can I find koelteplekken in my city?
Not all Dutch municipalities have rolled out cooling spots, but we’ll be updating our list as soon as any are publicly available.
As of June 25, Amsterdam has just opened its first-ever set of koelteplekken, while Den Haag has expanded its network for the summer.
Koelteplekken in Amsterdam
Almost 40 locations across Amsterdam are participating in their pilot programme for cooling spots, and they include:
- Stadsboerderij Osdorp (a city farm),
- Albert Heijn XL, Osdorpplein,
- Amstelring de Venser,
- Stayokay Amsterdam Oost (a hostel),
- Theatre De Meervaart,
- Hotel Nicolaas Witsen (a hotel),
- Kerk De Opgang, Osdorp (a church),
- Kerk de Ark (a church),
- Leonardo Royal (a hotel),
- OBA Slotermeer, OBA Postjesweg, OBA Javaplein, OBA Molenwijk, and OBA Geuzenveld (public libraries),
- Albert Heijn, Bijlmerplein,
- and Kerk De Nieuwe Stad (a church)
The full, up-to-date list lives on GGD Amsterdam’s Koeltekaart (cool map), which is worth checking regularly, as new spots get added when more organisations sign up.
Koelteplekken in The Hague
Meanwhile, The Hague has around 14 cooling spots available, which include:
- Haagse Hogeschool (The Hague University of Applied Sciences),
- Wijkcentrum Lindenkwadrant (a community centre),
- Wijkcentrum Mariahoeve (a community centre),
- Wijkcentrum Piet Vink (a community centre),
- Wijkcentrum Bouwlust (a community centre),
- Here and Now – Salvation Army, Wagenstraat,
- Salvation Army, Koperwerf,
- and Welzijn Scheveningen Couvéehuis.
The full, up-to-date list is on the GGD Haaglanden website, along with more information for residents of The Hague.
Koelteplekken in Rotterdam
Rotterdam has oodles of cooling spots dotted across the city, including:
- Henegouwerplein,
- Station library,
- Oostervantstraat,
- Zuiderpark,
- Noordgouwepad,
- and Kamperlandsingel.
Check Rotterdam’s Koelekaart (Cool Card) for more information on outdoor spots, indoor spots, and free drinking water fountains.
When are koelteplekken actually open?
Needless to say, koelteplekken aren’t open all summer; they’re only designated as such when a national heat plan is triggered.
The RIVM (the Dutch public health institute) activates that plan during sustained hot spells in consultation with the KNMI (the Dutch weather institute). At that point, the KNMI issues either a code geel (code yellow) or code oranje (code orange) weather warning for heat.
If you’re sweltering under the current heatwave, you’ll know that the entire country is bathed in a code oranje, so these spots are open and waiting for you.
What does this mean for you?
If you live in an older or poorly insulated rental with no air conditioning, a koelteplek gives you somewhere genuinely cool to retreat to — completely gratis (free).
However, there are a few practical things to keep in mind:
- Check the map first: Facilities vary by location, and some spots are aimed at specific groups (such as the elderly or people who are homeless).
- Bring a refillable bottle with you: Many spots have water stations, and Dutch cities also have public drinking fountains dotted around. It’s easier to refill a water bottle than hunt around for disposable cups.
- Keep an eye on opening and closing times: Most cooling spots adhere to their existing opening times, so you won’t have access to them outside of their operating hours.
- Some locations are NOT free: Certain koelteplekken (like Rotterdam’s Odeon) do not have free entry. While we’ve done our best to vet these locations for pricing, always double-check before visiting.
For more ways to survive the current summer blaze, our guide on how to beat the Dutch heat has you covered. 🙌
Have you popped into a koelteplek before? Are cooling spots available in more Dutch cities? Let us know in the comments!
