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Netherlands weather in December

Netherlands in December averages 4°C (40°F), 84 mm of rain and 1.8 hours of sun a day.

Of the twelve months in Netherlands, December is the third coldest, the second wettest and the dullest.

Netherlands
Average temp
4°C (40°F)

2–7°C · 35–44°F

Rainfall
84 mm

Showers likely

Sunshine
1.8 h

hours per day

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What is Netherlands like in December?

Daytime

Days are cool.

Rain

Some rain is likely; pack for showers.

Evening

Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.

What should I pack for Netherlands in December?

  • A light rain jacket

    About 84 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.

  • A warm mid-layer

    Nights drop to around 2°C (35°F).

December compared with November and January

December in Netherlands is 2.7°C cooler than November and about as wet as it, which averages 7°C (44°F).

December in Netherlands is 0.7°C warmer than January and 13 mm wetter than it, which averages 4°C (38°F).

Daylight in Netherlands in December

On 15 December the sun is up for 7 hours 45 minutes in Netherlands, rising about 08:41 and setting about 16:26 local time.

December ends 15 minutes shorter than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.

No month in Netherlands has less daylight than December.

Netherlands weather by month

TemperatureRainfall

Source: MeteostatPeriod: 1991-2020Checked: 2 Sept 2026358 places covered

How December compares with the rest of the year

December is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.

Netherlands weather by month: average temperature, rainfall, sunshine for each month, from 1991–2020 climate normals
MonthAverageRainfall
January4°C / 38°F71 mm
February4°C / 39°F63 mm
March6°C / 44°F58 mm
April10°C / 49°F42 mm
May13°C / 56°F59 mm
June16°C / 60°F71 mm
July18°C / 64°F85 mm
August18°C / 64°F84 mm
September15°C / 59°F78 mm
October11°C / 52°F81 mm
November7°C / 44°F80 mm
December4°C / 40°F84 mm

Similar weather in December

Other destinations whose December averages sit close to this one.

Check another month

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FAQs about Netherlands in December

December climate averages for Netherlands, 1991–2020.

Netherlands averages 4°C (40°F) in December, ranging from about 2°C (35°F) at night to 7°C (44°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.

Some. About 84 mm falls across December, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.

Yes. December averages 4°C (40°F) against 4°C (38°F) in January — 0.7°C warmer.

December is 2.7°C cooler than November, and about as wet.

It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is May to October; December sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.

About 1.8 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average, so daylight is short on useful sun.

This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what December is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.

About 7 hours 45 minutes of daylight in mid-December, the least of any month in Netherlands.

On 15 December, sunrise is about 08:41 and sunset about 16:26 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 15 minutes shorter than it starts.