Mild and mostly dry weather expected on Ascension Day in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is forecast to experience mostly dry and mild weather on Thursday, May 29, 2025, Ascension Day (Hemelvaartsdag), after a period of unsettled conditions, according to weeronline. Meteorologists predict a return of sun with some scattered showers, followed by a gradual warming trend through the long holiday weekend.
After a recent stretch of dry and sunny days, the weather turned more variable. On Saturday, May 24, clouds increased with rain moving in from the west. Temperatures ranged from 12 to 16 degrees. Sunday started wet, but the rain shifted eastward into Germany, allowing breaks of sunshine in the afternoon. Temperatures rose slightly to 18 or 19 degrees.
The unsettled pattern is expected to continue through the following days, with daily rain or showers and occasional sunshine. Temperatures will range between 15 and 18 degrees—below the long-term climate average of 17 to 21 degrees for this time of year.
Forecasters say there is a strong chance that temperatures will rise beginning on Ascension Day itself. On May 29, the sun is expected to appear regularly but with some showers as well. Temperatures will reach about 16 to 17 degrees near the coast, while inland areas can expect highs of 18 to 19 degrees.
After Ascension Day, the odds for warmer weather increase. By Friday, the chance of coastal areas reaching 20 degrees or more is around 10 percent, rising to 40 percent over the weekend. In the eastern and southern parts of the country, the probability of warm weather climbs as high as 70 percent.
The average temperature on Ascension Day in the current climate period (1995–2024) is 18 degrees. Since 1901, temperatures on this day have exceeded 20 degrees in 26 percent of years and fallen below 15 degrees in 32 percent. Temperatures between 15 and 20 degrees occur most often—42 percent—and this year’s forecast aligns with that range.
Ascension Day has been “summer warm” six times historically in De Bilt, with maximum temperatures of 25 degrees or higher. The hottest recorded Ascension Day was May 27, 1954, when temperatures reached 29.2 degrees in De Bilt. Notably, the warmest Ascension Days occurred between May 21 and May 29, when average temperatures are typically about 3 degrees higher than in early May.
Since 2015, temperatures on Ascension Day in De Bilt have ranged from 17 to 27 degrees. The warmest recent Ascension Day was in 2020, with a high of 26.7 degrees. The last distinctly cold Ascension Day was May 29, 2014, when the temperature only reached 11.8 degrees.
