With an average temperature of 4.7 °C, the winter of 2025-2026 was mild, despite the cold January with much snow and slipperiness. In the north, it was often clearly colder than in the rest of the country.
Mild December
Before all the snowfall and slipperiness in January, we had a very mild December, with temperatures often above 10°C during the first three weeks.
At night, the temperature rarely dropped below zero.
At night, the temperature rarely dropped below zero. A high-pressure area caused cold, sunny Christmas days at the end of the month. In De Bilt, it froze all day on December 25, the first ice day of this winter.
Cold and lots of snow
This winter, we issued orange or red codes 8 times for slipperiness due to snow and freezing rain. On the night and morning of January 3, there were heavy snow showers especially in the central and southern parts. On January 5 and 7, it snowed for a long time in large parts of the Netherlands at temperatures slightly below zero. From January 5, there was a snow layer of 10 to 20 cm in many places, and in the central and northern parts up to 20 to 30 cm of snow. On January 3, 5 and 7 January orange codes were in effect in large parts of the Netherlands for slipperiness due to snow. On January 9 and 10, a low-pressure area in the central and southern parts caused thawing due to rain, but in the north it snowed again. This snow was accompanied by strong winds, especially on the northern coast. From the evening of January 8 until the afternoon of January 10, orange codes were in effect in the northern provinces for snowdrifts.
On January 3, 5 and 7, orange codes were in effect in large parts of the Netherlands for slipperiness due to snow.
During the thaw on the night of January 11 to 12, rain fell which froze on the cold ground except in the southwest. Because of this, orange codes were in effect for slipperiness due to freezing rain, as well as on January 23 and 24 when orange codes were in effect for slipperiness due to freezing rain in the north.
After some snow at the end of January, February also started with winter weather. In the north, it rained again at temperatures below freezing. On February 3 and 4, orange codes were in effect in the northern provinces for slipperiness due to freezing rain. On the night and morning of February 4, even red codes were issued for large-scale slipperiness due to freezing rain. For example, gritters could often no longer get on the roads and public life in the north largely came to a standstill. This was the first red code since storm Poly in 2023.
Frost days
There were 31 frost days in De Bilt this winter (days with minimum temperatures below freezing): eight in December, eighteen in January and five in February. That is less than the long-term average of 35. De Bilt also counted two ice days, normally six in winter. In the (north)east of the country there were more ice days, about ten.
Dry winter
With a national average of 132 millimeters of precipitation against 204 millimeters normally, it was a dry winter despite the much snow.
All months were drier than normal.
All months were drier than normal. December was very dry with a national average precipitation of 23 millimeters (78 millimeters normally). January and February were both on the dry side.
With a national average of 216 hours of sunshine against a long-term average of 217 hours, sunshine was normal this winter. December and January were sunnier than normal, February was on the gloomy side. Despite some sunny days here and there, February was mostly gray. February 25 and 26 felt like the first sunny spring days.