Wet, windy weather expected during busiest Christmas tree shopping day
A soft but unsettled weather system and the year’s busiest Christmas tree shopping day are set to collide this weekend across the Netherlands, with forecasters warning of rain, wind, and unusually mild temperatures as sellers brace for heavy crowds, weeronline reports.
Saturday is expected to be the peak day for Christmas tree sales nationwide, coming immediately after Sinterklaas—a timing shift that sellers expect will intensify demand. At the same time, the country faces a wet and increasingly stormy weekend, with forecasters reporting widespread showers today and severe gusts expected Sunday evening along the coast.
Jaap Bolhuis, secretary of the Vereniging Nederlandse Kerstbomenkwekers (VNK), the Dutch Christmas Tree Growers Association, said the compressed holiday calendar is expected to boost sales. “The Saturday after Sinterklaas is every year the busiest day of the year. This time it will probably be extra busy because there are usually a few days between Sinterklaas and the first Saturday. That is not the case this year,” he told De Telegraaf.
Bolhuis expects sales to rise by about 5 percent compared with last year, equal to the increase seen in 2024. Wholesale preorders were already strong, though prices this year are up 3 to 4 percent. “An inflation correction,” he said.
According to the VNK, at least half of the Christmas trees sold in the Netherlands come from Dutch growers, particularly trees with root balls. Many Nordmann trees still arrive from Denmark and Germany. Bolhuis described 2025 as a “good year” for growers, with spring dryness followed by well-timed rainfall producing “fuller trees and longer needles.”
Meanwhile, the weekend weather is expected to challenge shoppers.
Forecasters reported a gray, rainy Monday morning with light showers moving in from the southwest and a moderate to fairly strong south wind. By late morning, temperatures are expected to reach 5 degrees in the northeast and 6 to 9 degrees elsewhere. Rain is likely to continue into the afternoon under persistent cloud cover, with a moderate to strong wind shifting from south to southwest. The south and west may reach 10 degrees, while the northeast will remain at 7 to 8 degrees.
Showers will continue across the country this evening, then gradually clear across the east overnight. Cloud cover will prevent temperatures from falling significantly, with minimums of 8 to 9 degrees and a weakening southwest wind.
Sunday will begin largely dry and cloudy, except for isolated showers in the north. Mid-morning temperatures will reach 7 to 9 degrees, and light winds will offer relatively pleasant conditions for outdoor plans.
The first half of Sunday afternoon is expected to remain dry, with temperatures around 10 degrees, but rain will spread from the south later in the day, reaching the north by evening.
Winds will likely strengthen sharply in the evening as the rain band moves north. The wind will shift to the southwest and increase to moderate or strong inland and strong to near-storm force in coastal areas. Coastal gusts of 70 to 80 km/h are possible.
Monday will bring a mix of clouds, sun, and isolated showers, with persistent strong southwest winds in coastal areas, especially in the northern coastal region, where wind force 7 is expected. Highs will reach 10 to 13 degrees.
Tuesday is forecast to be exceptionally mild and cloudy, with widespread rain and a firm southwest wind pushing temperatures to 13 or 14 degrees—far above the seasonal norm of about 7 degrees. From Wednesday onward, conditions are expected to become drier and sunnier.
