More than 80 shooting stars per hour set to soar over the Netherlands this weekend

Let's hope the clouds stay away 💫

Astronomy nerds rejoice! After a fairly boring astronomical year, 2025 is going to end with a dazzling star show (if the weather works in our favour, at least).

On the night of Sunday, December 14, Weerplaza expects more than 80 meteorites to shoot across the sky almost every hour.

So if you want to romanticise your weekend, grab a blanket, your favourite person, and maybe a hot water bottle.

Tell me more!

This spectacle is all thanks to a shower of meteors called the Gemenids.

Why this name? Well, the point where the meteors appear to come from (the radiant, for those of us who are new to the astronomy game) will be seen near the Gemini constellation.

If we want to get super scientific about it, the Geminids are actually dust particles that originate from the asteroid 3200 Phaeton.

Each December, Earth’s orbit passes through this asteroid’s orbit, and the result is a pretty neat light show.

How can I see them?

Well, the first thing you’ll have to do is cross your fingers and hope there are no clouds in the sky on the night of December 14.

Once we jump that hurdle, the next step will be to find somewhere dark with as little light pollution as possible (which means it’s best to avoid urban areas).

All set up in the dark? Great. You’ll then need to look for the Gemini constellation. If you’re not familiar with these, it’s time to romance a college boy — no, actually, you can just look for Jupiter.

The planet looks like a super bright star in the sky. It’s located near the Gemini constellation and will help you spot the point where the shooting stars should come from.

Let’s cross our fingers and hope the clouds stay away this Sunday.

Want the latest Dutch news to come zooming through the internet to your inbox? Dat kan! Subscribe to DutchReview’s weekly roundup 📮

Feature image:Depositphotos

Accuracy, clarity, and a touch of humour — that’s DutchReview. Read our editorial mission.

Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
Sarah O'Leary 🇮🇪
Before becoming the Senior Editor of DutchReview, Sarah was a fresh-faced international looking to learn more about the Netherlands. Since moving here in 2017, Sarah has added a BA in English and Philosophy (Hons.), an MA in Literature (Hons.), and over five years of writing experience at DutchReview to her skillset. When Sarah isn't acting as a safety threat to herself and others (cycling), you can find her trying to sound witty while writing about some of the stickier topics such as mortgages and Dutch law.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Related posts

Latest posts

Sick of low Dutch savings rates? Here are 3 ways to grow your funds faster

If you're tired of low Dutch savings rates, these are the best and fastest ways to grow your funds, from high-yield savings accounts to...

Why neobank users in the Netherlands need a local bank as a main account or backup

Neobanks have made international banking faster and simpler, but in the Netherlands, relying on one as your sole account may cause a few financial...

Driving to Belgium? From next year, you may have to pay to use the roads

Find yourself driving down to Belgium from time to time for a weekend trip? Or nipping across the border to pick up that one...

It's happening

Upcoming events