Holland when to go. When is the best time to go to Holland

Spring in Holland is a special time. The "Land of Flowers" is being transformed precisely at this time: nature blooms, everything around is transformed, which is certainly reflected in holidays and traditions. Dni.Ru decided to formulate five good reasons why you should definitely visit Holland in spring.

King's Day

King's Day

On April 7, the country celebrates its favorite national holiday - King's Day, dedicated, as you might guess, to the beloved monarch, Willem-Alexander, who became the first male monarch in the history of Holland since 1890.

On this day, all the cities of the kingdom will be covered with an orange wave: people, buildings, cars - everyone will dress up in this bright, cheerful color. The streets will be filled with noisy crowds, but the main festivities are traditionally held in Amsterdam. Here, at every intersection, you can stumble upon an incendiary party in some street institution or a spontaneous flea market, where you can buy some useful (or not so) curiosity at a reasonable price. It is a local tradition to sell unnecessary things that have accumulated in the house on this day: dishes, toys, decor - what you will not find here! The thing is that trade on the birthday of the monarch is not taxed. A special chic is to become a member of the solemn boat procession, riding along the city canals.

King's Day is also celebrated in others large cities: Utrecht, Eindhoven, The Hague, Rotterdam, Breda, Zwolle, Arnhem, Groningen, Nijmegen. So we put on orange clothes, take orange mood with us - and go!

Mill in Holland

Mills Day

This year, on May 13 and 14, Holland will celebrate National Mills Day. It would seem that the name is too loud for such technical buildings, but it should be understood that very long time it was they who played a huge role in the food supply of the state. Nearly 1000 wind and water mills will be available for visiting these days: they will show everything to guests, tell everything, and, perhaps, they will give some mechanism to spin.

It goes without saying that in honor of the holiday they try to decorate old mills in order to give them an elegant look. Since the distances and the climate in Holland are not as harsh as in Russia, you can rent bicycles, create your own route and actively pedal all day, stopping where you like the most.

Season at Keukenhof Flower Park

The Keukenhof Royal Flower Park has already opened its doors to visitors. Every spring you can see orchids, roses, tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, carnations, irises, lilies and many other beautiful plants - about 7 million flowers in total.

Keukenhof Royal Park

This is the largest park of its kind in the world. It is in Keukenhof that the traditional international flower fair will take place, where more than a hundred suppliers will surprise and delight the public. This year's theme is "Dutch Design". The organizers promise mosaics of natural flowers, flower shows, a sculpture garden and other interesting things. There is something to see. Despite the fact that the garden is open only part of the calendar year, there is no end of tourists.

Running marathon in Rotterdam

On April 8-9, 2017, Rotterdam will host the country's largest running marathon. Thousands of people will come together to conquer the canonical distance of 42.195 km. Among them are both amateurs and eminent professional athletes. Also, traditionally, satellite races will be held at shorter distances, including a special children's race. If you like such an adventure, then you should hurry up, because there are a lot of people who want to, and the number of participants is limited. Therefore, you should think about registration now.

Flower parade

On April 22, the famous flower parade will be held for the 70th time. Accompanied by brass bands, a string of large platforms, drowning in living flowers, will set off on the way. The action begins in the morning in Noordwijk and follows the main roads of Holland through the Keukenhof park kilometer after kilometer to finish in Haarlem in the evening. Spring, flowers and all-consuming love - what could be better!

Flower parade

Vasily Ruchkin
Photo: GLOBAL LOOK press,

Flower fields, windmills, the famous Dutch cheese, the work of Van Gogh - all these clichés are firmly stuck to the "freest country in Europe", the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located in its western part on the North Sea coast, as well as on several Caribbean islands. Read our article on the Tour Calendar in which we explain why the best time to visit Holland is from May to early October.

Tourist season in Holland

Today, the number of visitors to the Netherlands is about 11 million people from around the world. The tourist season here lasts all year round, and all because the rest in this truly unique country is multifaceted and is designed for a public of different ages. First of all, of course, Holland (another name for the Netherlands) is Amsterdam with its Red Light District, coffee shops, and incendiary shows in nightclubs, a "must-visit" in the "cultural program" of a free body and spirit of wealthy youth, as well as lovers of "going to nirvana" over 30. Cultural tourism enthusiasts feel great here: delightful architecture, interactive museums, art galleries, fishing villages and medieval cheese fairs - food for the mind is quite varied. The Netherlands is also very popular due to the great opportunities for families with children: flower gardens, theme parks and many attractions.

High season in the Netherlands

Summer months in the Netherlands are the busiest of the tourist season. The vacation season begins for students, and the vacation season for workers. Multilingual speech is heard on the city streets. The excitement is also great at the beginning of May, when the famous flower exhibition takes place. Mostly Germans, Belgians, British, Canadians and French come to Holland. Russians also learn all the delights of recreation in this country, but there are no more than 155 thousand of them per year. Although we must nevertheless recognize the growing interest in the Dutch tourist product among our compatriots. Largely, of course, thanks to the recent year of Russian-Dutch cooperation, which turned out to be very eventful for both states at thematic exhibitions, cultural festivals and various celebrations. One of his main achievements was the beginning of issuing long-term visas to the country for Russians. Nevertheless, prices for air travel, accommodation and meals during the high season are still quite high, which, in one way or another, limits the availability of this tourist destination and outlines a certain circle of its faces - travelers with above average incomes.

Low season in the Netherlands

In the period from October to March, the concentration of tourists in the Netherlands decreases, and some hotels are lowering their price bar, so holidays in the off-season are the most economical. Regardless of whether you travel to Holland by bus as part of a tour or by plane, it will cost much less than in summer. In addition, the country's mild climate makes it very comfortable to travel around the country in late autumn, winter and early spring. Most museums and historical sites are open to visit, and there are no impressive queues for them. As you can see, there are a lot of advantages of a trip to the Netherlands outside the high tourist season. The only thing to keep in mind is that the whole Christmas week, New Year and the first few days after it in the country is another influx of foreign guests. It is customary to have fun here until you drop, going all out. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Netherlands is at the top of the list of the most visited countries for winter holidays.

The best time for excursions

The answer to the question of when is the best time to explore a country depends primarily on what exactly you plan to visit. For example, cyclists can be advised the period from April to the end of June and from the end of August to the end of September, when the flow of tourists is not so great and the trails are in satisfactory condition. In summer, despite the crowds of tourists, it is very cool to see the sights, you can also take part in a boat trip along the canals of Amsterdam or take a mini-cruise along the water area of ​​the port of Rotterdam - the largest in Europe in terms of cargo turnover.

Beach season in the Netherlands

The Netherlands is not at all the country where people go for a beach holiday. Nevertheless, the beach business has been established here for a long time. This is favored by the long strip of sand dunes and the cleanest sea coast. The swimming season lasts from early July to late August. The water temperature in the North Sea in summer fluctuates between + 17 ° C .. + 19 ° C, rising to + 20 ° C on the warmest days. This is quite small, so only the most seasoned swimmers, and the rest of the holidaymakers prefer to sunbathe. Dutch beaches are recommended for those who do not tolerate the heat, since the summer weather in the country is very comfortable and the sun is devoid of aggressive habits. Well, if you still want to swim, but you cannot be classified as a "walrus", we advise you to go to Schwenningen, where a large water park is located.

Surfing season

They don't go to the Netherlands specifically for surfing. Let's just say surfing is a nice bonus to your beach holiday. They are also engaged in this sport mainly in the south-west of the country. The surfing season here lasts from May to September, a wetsuit is required due to the cold sea water.

Diving season

Despite the relative coolness of the North Sea, water sports in the Netherlands are represented in almost all forms. Diving is especially widespread. The largest number of dive sites are concentrated on the southwest coast, but the water temperature here never exceeds + 15 ° C. The most favorable weather conditions for diving are observed from May to October.

Cruise season

During different periods of the year, passenger ships leave the ports of the Netherlands for the countries of Scandinavia, Western Europe, the Mediterranean, as well as Asia. A cruise line was organized directly from Rotterdam, connecting this city with St. Petersburg, and from the sea gates of Amsterdam, snow-white liners go through France, Spain, Tunisia, Croatia, Italy and Greece to Odessa. Typically, these cruises are carried out in the spring and summer. In winter, during the northern lights season, a number of shipping companies arrange cruises to the Nordic countries, ending in the Netherlands.

Flower season

In April, tens of thousands of tourists come to Holland to enjoy the colorful "tulip carpets"

Dutch tulips are the pride of the Dutch. Keukenhof National Park is one of the most fantastic landmarks in the country, popularly referred to as the "Garden of Europe". Traditionally, at the end of March each year, its doors swing open in front of millions of guests, this is the opening time of the tulip season, which lasts until the last days of May (the dates can be shifted plus or minus by a couple of weeks). However, these flowers are not the only ones represented in Keukenhof. Here you can see greenhouses with hyacinths, daffodils, orchids, azaleas. In the second half of April, a grandiose flower parade "Bloemencorso Bollenstreek" takes place here: giant flower platforms move from Noordwijk to Harley, and themed exhibitions and contests are held in the park itself. In addition, there are whole “flower routes”. So, in addition to the Keukenhof park, the aesthetic pleasure of contemplating tulips can be obtained in the all-season Appletern Gardens and in the villages of Bennebrock, Lisse and Sassenheim. By the way, in the spring people come to Holland not only to admire all this incredible beauty, but also to buy flower bulbs. Another highlight in the "flower world" is the Flower Parade in Aalsmeer, starting on the first weekend of September. This time, the procession reaches Amsterdam, ending in its central square. Well, and summing up, let's say that the best time to travel to observe the luxurious flowering of tulips is mid-April.

It's time for holidays and festivals

Despite the fact that the Netherlands is a rather controversial country, almost all traditional holidays and dates of the Catholic calendar inherent in Europe are celebrated here - St. Martin (11 November), St. Nicholas (December 6), St. Stephen's Day (December 24), Catholic Christmas (December 25), St. Sylvester (December 31), New Year (January 1), St. Epiphany / Epiphany (January 6), St. Valentine (February 14), Catholic Easter (late March-April) and Labor Day (May 1). The events of state and national importance include the following: The birthday of Queen Biatrix “Konninginnedag”, which falls on April 30, is the country's main holiday, the most important celebrations take place in The Hague; Liberation Day of the Netherlands, celebrated annually on May 5; Cycling Day "Landelijke Fietsdag" and National Miller Day "Nationale Moldendag" falling on the second Saturday in May, and the official opening of the Parliamentary Year "Prinsjesdag" in The Hague on the third Tuesday in September. The Winter Carnival, which precedes the beginning of Lent, the cheese fairs held in different cities of the country from April to September, and the Herring Festival in the port of Schefeningen on the first Saturday of June are very noteworthy.

Climate in Holland

The weather conditions of the country are dictated by its location in the zone of the temperate marine type of climate. Summers are rather rainy and not hot, while winters are mild, but damp and windy. About 40% of the area of ​​the entire territory of the Netherlands is located below sea level, it is here that the course of 3 European rivers (Rhine, Scheldt and Meuse) ends, moreover, there is an absence of mountain ranges in their landscapes. All these factors provoke a very high level of relative humidity throughout the year. One of the striking features of the Dutch climate is the prevailing winds blowing from the North Sea, which cool significantly in summer and in winter they can penetrate "to the very bones." In general, the weather tends to change several times a day. The sun in Holland is worth its weight in gold, it looks up at the sky mainly in summer. The rest of the time, cloudy weather is predominant.

Netherlands in spring

In the spring, the Netherlands appears in all its glory. Regardless of precipitation and low temperatures at the beginning of the season, nature pleases with a riot of lush greenery, "flower dresses" of lawns and greenhouses, as well as the first timid rays of the sun after winter. In March, the air throughout the country in the daytime warms up to an average of 8 ° C, and in April it becomes a couple of degrees warmer. Until mid-May in the Netherlands, you can admire whole fields of flowers in the patchwork style, with special attention at this time riveted to the vast plantations of tulips. The last month of the season brings real warm and sunny weather, mostly stable. The only thing that can be upsetting is the slight increase in rainfall. By the way, in the Hague in spring the weather is slightly colder than in the capital, and in the southernmost city, Maastricht, on the contrary, it is warmer. The nights are quite cold, so winter clothes can come in handy in the evening.

Temperature and weather in the Netherlands in spring

Netherlands in summer

Summer in the Netherlands is not hot at all. On the sunniest day, the thermometer rises to +24 ° C, but usually at noon the air temperature fluctuates between +19 ° C .. + 21 ° C. This is the rainiest period of the year, so a 6-7-hour sunny day is often "diluted" with precipitation. As a rule, they lead, albeit to a short-term, but to a significant cooling, when it is impossible to do without some insulation. The beach season traditionally opens in July, the water in the North Sea warms up to about +18 ° C .. + 19 ° C. In early August, this figure may rise to +20 ° C. When going to the Netherlands in summer, remember that no matter how clear and sunny weather forecasters predict during the day, in the evening you will not be comfortable in light clothes. As the sun goes down, the air gets very cold, and it happens very quickly.

Temperature and weather in the Netherlands in summer

Netherlands in autumn

At the beginning of autumn in the Netherlands it gets a little colder, clear weather gives way to variable clouds, but in general the temperatures for this season are quite high. In October, nature is increasingly in a bad mood. The wind is playing out in earnest, and heavy rains are charging. In the mornings, the cities are shrouded in a white veil of fog, cloudy weather is now returning to normal. A bright spot among the frowning landscapes is the fallen golden foliage of numerous parks and gardens, forming whole carpets underfoot. In the last month of autumn, long walks along the coast can be hampered by cold weather and frequent storms. By the evening, the thermometer drops to +3 ° C .. + 4 ° C, and at night the water sometimes freezes in puddles.

The Dutch began to fight nature in the 1st century, building dams. And by the heyday of the Middle Ages, the locals were so successful in this business that entire coastal regions were surrounded by defenses. This was done and continues to be done to this day due to floods - the eternal Dutch disaster.

The second direction of the fight against nature in Holland is polders. This is, in fact, land taken from the sea, drained with the help of dams and other ingenious structures. The dam, by the way, does not always represent a wall; it is often limited to such earthen or stone ramparts along which roads are laid. Actually, the depth of the sea bays here is extremely small (1-3 m), which provoked the Dutch to this creativity.

In 1953, a powerful flood hit the Netherlands, which broke through a large number of coastal dams. Many people died. However, the misfortune did not stop the Dutch in their struggle to reclaim land, but on the contrary served as an incentive for the invention of more practical and sophisticated methods and means. The inquisitive Dutch mind came up with a response in case of possible floods later - it was decided to separate the river estuaries from the sea, laying canals there.

This project of the century was called the "Delta" plan, it was successfully completed and now the Netherlands are not afraid of any floods. And even earlier, in 1932, the Dutch dealt with the Zuidersee Bay, which had long hampered them with its roughness and salinity. They fenced it off from the sea with a dam and turned it into the freshwater lake Eiselmeer. And then little by little they took pieces of the territory from this lake and turned them into polders. Polders make up a significant part of the territory - almost a quarter.

Therefore, it turns out that this quarter is below sea level. The lowest point in Holland in relation to sea level is -7 meters, and this is a world record. As for the high point Netherlands, it is located in the east of the country, on the border with Germany. This is Valserberg Hill and rivals the Burj Al Arab in Dubai in height - both are 322 meters above sea level.

The landscape of the Netherlands is pretty dull. It is a solid plain, consisting of polders cut by canals according to the canons of school geometry. Sometimes these are forests, in places resembling woodlands in middle lane Russia. Sometimes these are meadows with black and white cows and sheep. And, of course, these are windmills, tulips and medieval towns... And almost all of the above is the result of human activity.

There is a lot of water in Holland. Besides the sea ( coastline- 451 km), this is the general Western European runoff. Three European rivers end in the Netherlands: Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt. The first flows from Germany, the other two - from France through Belgium. This determines not only nature, but also economics and geopolitics. The rivers were primarily trade routes and strategic transport arteries. Due to this, in the Middle Ages, an acceleration in the development of the country was obtained.

Now an important element of the country's self-sufficiency is gas deposits, which the country does not import from Russia, like the rest of Europe, but exports. In terms of gas production, the Netherlands ranks 4th in the world and owns 1% of all world reserves.

Weather in the Netherlands

The weather in Holland is rarely good. The best analogue for understanding its essence is the St. Petersburg weather. It is always humid and rainy here, and the most unpleasant moment of the local climate is the strong wind blowing from the North Sea.

Moreover, the fact that the sun is shining and warm in the morning does not mean at all that it will be like this all day - the weather in the Netherlands tends to change several times a day. Holland is a land of tulips, and May is the best month to combine ideas about this country and reality. From mid-April to mid-May, it is pretty cool during the day and cold at night, but sunny weather compensates for these disadvantages.

In general, cloudy skies are the scourge of the Netherlands. It is good if for the whole year there are one and a half months of clear days (that is, the sun is present in the sky in the amount of 10% of what it could). July and August are two more or less warm months, but with rains. Thank God that these rains are short-lived. Swimming in the North Sea is reserved only for the bravest: the water temperature is +16 ... + 17 ° C with very strong winds ...

September for the Netherlands is still back and forth, but already cool. In October, the wind blows, the sky is covered with clouds, and charges heavy drizzling rain for the whole day. Worse than Dutch November, it is difficult to come up with anything, because the sun is almost never in the sky. But ... It is at the end of November that the marijuana festival is held, which attracts lovers of "hammering a joint" from all over the world.

The Dutch winter is generally a raw, nasty horror. Constant humidity, fog and wind, which are especially raging on the coast. Sometimes, however, frosty winters are issued, which allow the Dutch to indulge in their favorite pastime - ice skating along the frozen canals. Frosts are rare, the snow cover is extremely unstable, and in cities it is practically absent. The exception is the northern provinces of Groningen and Friesland.

When going to Holland in the summer, be sure to take warm clothes with you, since at any moment the sunny sky can be covered with clouds, a cold wind blow and it can rain. Highly useful thing- polyethylene raincoat. In winter, you can do with things that are typical for our late autumn. The tourist season reaches its maximum in July-August.

There are no special climatic and weather differences between cities and provinces of the country. Perhaps only in summer it is warmer in the south in Maastricht than in the far north in Friesland. And in winter, it can be frosty on the border with Germany, while on the coast - damp and slush.

Average temperature in Holland by months