Hottest June 24 on record in the Netherlands; Feels like 50°C on the roads

June 24 has entered the record books as the hottest on record in the Netherlands since observations began in 1901. At 2:30 p.m., the temperature in De Bilt climbed to 32.8 degrees Celsius, surpassing the previous June 24 record of 32.6 degrees from 2005. Weeronline said it marks the seventh date-specific temperature record to fall this year.

Road temperatures have exceeded 50 degrees Celsius in a number of locations across the country. According to data displayed on a Rijkswaterstaat map, the most extreme surface temperatures are being recorded primarily on roads in the southern part of the country.

The Dutch June 24 temperature record of 36.5 degrees Celsius, set in IJmuiden in 1976, remained intact on Wednesday. Even so, the country came relatively close to that mark, with temperatures reaching a national high of 35.4 degrees Celsius.

Weeronline says more heat records could be broken in the coming days. The forecaster also points out that extreme heat is affecting several other parts of Europe, with countries such as France and the United Kingdom experiencing unusually high temperatures.

The ongoing heatwave is causing a surge in breakdown calls for the ANWB. More than 3,800 motorists are expected to require roadside assistance on Wednesday, roughly 400 more than on an average day. In response to the increased demand, the ANWB has deployed its full complement of roadside assistance personnel and plans to maintain maximum staffing levels until at least Sunday.

The majority of roadside assistance requests continue to involve battery failures, overheating engines, and tire damage. Demand peaks during the late afternoon and evening, when traffic volumes are high, and temperatures remain elevated, an ANWB spokesperson said.

Although waiting times can occasionally reach up to an hour and a half, the organization is prioritizing motorists stranded along roadsides in extreme heat. Drivers dealing with vehicle issues at home may therefore be asked to accept a longer wait before assistance arrives.