Many lucky people had a chance to see the aurora borealis, also known as the northern lights, this weekend — and not just in their usual places.
The lights were visible to the naked eye across the entirety of the Netherlands thanks to a strong solar storm, reports the NOS.
Missed the aurora? Take a look at last weekend’s snaps:
Unbelievable to be able to see the Northern Lights in my home town in the south of the Netherlands just now! pic.twitter.com/aQeqYtn3cA— Mark Wagenbuur (@BicycleDutch) May 11, 2024
The Northern lights (aurora borealis) lights up the night sky above the Molenviergang in Aarlanderveen, the Netherlands, early 11 May 2024. 📷️ EPA / ANP / Josh Walet#northernlights #auroraborealis #epaimages pic.twitter.com/zZDVEqbGXY— EPA Images (@EPA_Images) May 11, 2024
Last night we experienced the strongest geomagnetic storm in 20 years! The Northern Lights were visible to the naked eye all the way down in the Netherlands. It was so beautiful 😍 pic.twitter.com/ioP9ituSts— Aurora (Leah) (@Aurora_LeahV) May 11, 2024
I saw the northern lights in my own backyard! I live in a small village in the Netherlands, so it felt really special to witness it🥰
Shout out to my mum and @StormchaserNL for letting me know I just had to run out into the yard to see it! pic.twitter.com/GIb43UsTR7— 𝕽𝖚𝖝𝖆✨️ (@Ruxa_TV) May 11, 2024
northern lights captured in the netherlands 🇳🇱, using a samsung galaxy s24 ultra pic.twitter.com/AdYqP96tNY— 𝒍𝒐𝒆𝒔 🪐 (@electraseasons) May 11, 2024
#Aurora #AuroraBorialis – 05/10/2024#Nordlichter #nooderlicht
#NorthernLights #Netherlands pic.twitter.com/LDADAuQb17— ℹ️MiBaWi🇩🇪🇺🇸🇳🇱🇨🇦🇨🇱🇪🇸🇦🇺🇮🇩🇺🇦🇬🇷🚨 (@Michael45231497) May 10, 2024
Went all the way to Lapland to see the Northern lights and we were unlucky.
Saw this yesterday from our own rooftop 🏡 Northern Lights in the Netherlands. pic.twitter.com/iQdJwaYDIR— Sooraj Chandran (@soorajchandran_) May 11, 2024
How do the northern lights work?
Auroras occur when charged particles from solar flares pass through the Earth’s atmosphere and collide with each other, usually in the north and south poles where the magnetic field is strongest.
Energy is released, creating colourful patterns in the sky that we see as the northern lights. ✨
The aurora borealis is usually seen further north in Scandinavia, but it can be visible in the Netherlands a few days a year.
Want to spot the aurora? Go to an area with little to no light pollution on a dark night with a clear sky — and enjoy the sights!
Did you see the Northern Lights this weekend? Have you seen them before? Tell us in a comment below!