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-   -   November to Netherlands and Belgium? (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/november-to-netherlands-and-belgium-1041150/)

dwdvagamundo Mar 25th, 2015 08:01 AM

November to Netherlands and Belgium?
 
My spouse and I have switched our plans from Sunny Spain to Netherlands, Belgium and Paris this fall. My spouse now wants to go to an annual antique fair, which appear to be mid to late November in Netherlands and Belgium.My only concern is the weather. I had originally planned to fly in early October and leave in third of October from Paris.

Could someone familiar with this give me a brief rundown on the likely weather?
The internet sites say that weather is not too bad--that is, not too cold and not too rainy--primarily darker because of the shorter days.

Thanks a lot for your help.

menachem Mar 25th, 2015 09:22 AM

where are you from? November is cold and wet and cheerless. Dress warm

dwdvagamundo Mar 25th, 2015 10:41 AM

We live in Atlanta, Georgia, but grew up in the north. Sounds from your response like it's too late in the year. Thanks

pariswat Mar 25th, 2015 10:48 AM

Hi
I live in Belgium.
When my brother got married, in mid nov, sky was great, temps in the high 10C. That was about 25 years ago.
Usually mid nov is gray, windy, rainy, and in the 10C max.
Some years the weather is great by freezing like hell with a clear sky. That is how we like november.
And you got it, days are short - that's why we are nice people : we go inside, drink and feast... nothing to do outside.

Sassafrass Mar 25th, 2015 11:24 AM

I love the Netherlands, but would stick with Spain in early October, just because of gray, cold weather in the North.

dwdvagamundo Mar 26th, 2015 08:57 AM

Thank all. We're going to Netherlands, Belgium and Paris in October, which I think would be a good compromise. Most of what we would do would be indoors anyway.

nytraveler Mar 26th, 2015 09:32 AM

October is NOT cold - it's fall, not winter. And these countries are not as cold as upper midwest or northeast of the US. The days do get short in midwinter - but unless you are from the tropics there is no real cold involved (no snow that time of year and IMHO if it's raining versus snowing it's not really cold).

menachem Mar 26th, 2015 12:22 PM

still, november in northern europe is simply not a fun time. you may get lucky with the weather, but most likely it'll be wet, cold and grey.

dwdvagamundo Mar 27th, 2015 06:31 AM

menachem--

We spent November in northern Italy (plus Rome) many years ago and while it was not terrible, it was generally rainy and cold--we still remember with nostalgia acqua alta in Venice and the Adige near flood stage. The advantage was that we were able to sit and watch restoration of the Last Supper with only a few other people, and there was no line for the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua so we were able to be inside as long as we wanted.

Northern Europe will, obviously, be even rainier and colder.
October, I think, is a good compromise, as ny traveler says. We were in France in October last year, the weather was decent, and the only crowded place--and it was very crowded in a few areas--was Paris. We had the foresight to get tickets to Versailles in advance and will do the same for the Louvre this year. We've seen Mona, and understand that the Museum is not that crowded away from her.

So thanks to everyone. I'll probably be back with more questions under a different topic as we get closer.


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