It’s simple really….
Maybe it’s because my body is not used to 35F degree weather or the fact that I come from a city that has an average of 284 days of sunshine. But I’m no die hard fan of Dutch weather. To put it simply, Dutch weather is cold, grey, wet and very questionable. And by questionable I mean it can be raining for most of the day, become sunny then suddenly hoards of hail will fall angrily from of the sky. Welcome to the Netherlands guys. While the weather here is not as cold as the Nordic countries, I still find it quite a phenomena. However, I do have to say that there is a way for sure to deal with it all.
What you’ll need is a good raincoat, Buienradar and a good list of things to do for all the time you’ll have to stay indoors to better keep your sanity in tack. I have provided a list of activities to keep you busy inside when the rain and wind is so horribly unpredictable, you refuse to step out. Being inside really doesn’t have to be boring!
Visit a Museum
The perfect way to stay out of the cold and keep yourself warm is by visiting a museum. You can spend all day wandering around reveling at art and Dutch cultural heritage. My personal favorites are the Tropenmuseum and Rijksmuseum! Lucky for you there are about 870 museums throughout the Netherlands so you will have your fill to choose from.
Beer Tasting
The Belgians seem to get all the credit when it comes to beer. However, the Dutch also have a nice reputation of brewing beers since the 9th century. And I can totally attest for this! While I’m not a beer sommelier, I do enjoy beer tasting and have basic knowledge of my favorite stouts and tripels. If you’re looking for something to do then head out to any brewery, taproom or bar for some quality beer (and order something else than Heineken).
Go to Ikea
Whether rain or shine, IKEA is always a good idea. You can easily spend an entire day in this magical furniture wonderland browsing around or purchasing items you didn’t know you needed. If you’re not looking to spend 300 euros on miscellaneous things I would recommend coming for the food alone, especially the Swedish meatballs. You can also pretend you live in any of the cool showrooms and get lost in the endless amount of layouts. The Dutchie himself confirmed that Dutch people love IKEA, but honestly who doesn’t?
Learn a Language
Take advantage of the time you are spending away from the cold weather and learn a new skill. What better way to do this than learning a new language? (Note to self: pick an easier one next time.)
When the weather is bad…go outside anyways
To truly survive Dutch weather you need the right clothing, an umbrella that can bear heavy winds, a weather app to check the forecast and finally accept that the weather is unpredictable and go outside anyways. Regardless of the cold or rain you, will still find Dutch people happily going about their way.
I hope these tips can help you keep sane when the weather takes a turn!
18 comments
Long time supporter, and thought I’d drop a comment.
Your wordpress site is very sleek – hope you don’t mind
me asking what theme you’re using? (and don’t mind if I steal it?
:P)
I just launched my site –also built in wordpress like yours– but the
theme slows (!) the site down quite a bit.
In case you have a minute, you can find it by searching for “royal cbd” on Google (would appreciate any feedback) – it’s still in the works.
Keep up the good work– and hope you all
take care of yourself during the coronavirus scare!
Ugh, sounds like WI weather, we do n’t get very nice days around here so we have to find ways to enjoy life!
I lived in Belgium for six years and, yes, the weather there is completely maddening! Hang in there, and keep finding new and fun things to do!
I think your best advice was having the right clothes to withstand the weather. It does actually look beautiful there in spite of the harsh weather!
OMg this is amazing…food looks so deliocious and tasty…GReat work..Thanks for sharign..
Very useful information you have provided here, especially for individuals planning to travel, adequate and proper body covering would required in this weather to protect the body, however, this is just a perfect whether some people would prefer.
What an Interesting Read. I would love to go and visit.
What an Interesting Read. I would love to go and visit.
first of all, thanks for sharing your experience. It’s great to know what to do on this kind of place and keep our sanity intact.
I love this! I do not like cold weather. If I can see my breathe, it is too cold. But, you gave some great options!
I’ve learned so much about the history and culture of the Dutch people. Some things are so unique and fun.
Oh wow. You’re making me want to go there. Hopefully soon, when the pandemic is over and it’s safer to travel.
You are so lucky. I would love to visit The netherlands! Yet, your review and pics make me feel like I’m already there.
I didn’t know much about dutch weather. But yes the things to do you have mentioned sounds good to me.
This was an eye-opener as i didn’t realise the weather in the netherlands was quite so miserable. Now i know to go there only in summer.
Loved this! My best friend is living in the Netherlands and he loves the dutch weather! This is an interesting read. I will share it with him 🙂
For bad weather, it would be great to find a challenging crossword puzzle and exercise the mind. Puzzles can help pass time, get your mind off a gloomy day, and keep your brain healthy.
I have heared about dutch people and their traditions. Beer tasting looks perfect for my friend. Lol! and those foods looks really delicious.