Dutch Native
 

I'm looking for someone who lives in Holland who can advise me about the weather. We will be in Amsterdam next week and I have been checking the weather on the internet. It seems to rain every day. Is this usually all day or just a shower, then sun? We're wondering how this will affect our sightseeing and if we should always carry an umbrella and jackets.

Hi, I do not live in Holland but have been there several times and most times I have been there it has rained!! I always carry an umbrella...Sometime's it rains and then stops, but other times it pours all day...So who knows for sure..But when there is a nice sunny day, everyone is out and about....Sitting outside, drinking beer or coffee....So my advice to you would be to just bring your umbrella and enjoy...It doesn't seem to bother the Dutch people..They ride their bike's in the pouring rain with no rain gear at all!!

I live in Amsterdam. Most likely, there will be a shower or two every day, but that's it. This week, the weather forecast was a mix of sun, clouds and rain every day, so I bought my umbrella to work every day, but so far I haven't needed it. I have noticed that the weather forecasts are often a bit negative. Even when there is only a chance for rain, they will say "rainy". In most cases, it will still be dry 22 or 23 hours out of the 24. Enjoy your trip!

Thanks so much, Sjoerd. You've made my day! I've been getting upset seeing rain every day. I think your froecasts are a lot like ours in eastern US. They predict rain every day during the summer but it rarely happens. I'm going with a much more positive attidude now.

Peggy, maybe you will get a few days like today: warm & sunny, with just a few picture-perfect clouds. Right now the prediction is for rain on May 19 and dry weather May 20 - 22. You don't need to carry both a rain jacke AND an umbrella, in any case. And if you get caught in a shower, duck into a cafe!

I'm Dutch (as you can tell from my screen name) but not from Amsterdam. Currently gorgeous weather, 20 degrees. We have been having amazingly good weather, and Amsterdam is just perfect if you can sit outside by the canals, with a cold beer. Have fun! Can't guarantee that it will not rain though.

This site is fantastic! What a difference in what you all say and what the weather site says!! I love your versions and who knows better than someone who is living there now? I can't wait to sit out at the cafes on the canals! Thanks so much!

Belgium and the Netherlands have similar weather, although the Netherlands has somewhat colder winters and you're more likely to see some snow there if you travel in winter months. It looks like we'll be "booted" (transferred) from Brussels to the Netherlands later this summer--I'm looking forward to living in the Amsterdam suburbs or possibly Leiden (the company may be moving their NL offices farther south of A'dam). I'll have to start cramming my Dutch, tho--I already spoke French when we moved here so I was lazy about learning Dutch (fortunately the local broadcasts of The Simpsons and ER have Dutch subtitles!).
"Oost, West, Thuis Best" (East or West, home is best)

Hi Peggy!
We leave tomorrow for Holland too. Called my sister-in-law today, in Delft, and she said the weather forecasts are always pessimistic and that likely we will see a few showers but not rain all day every day. Packing my raingear but hoping we won't use it much!
Shaya