Groningen, in the northeast of the Netherlands, has a temperate maritime climate with mild summers, cool winters, and moderate rainfall year-round. The city is known for its breezy weather, frequent clouds, and significant seasonal changes in daylight, making it a dynamic destination for outdoor activities and cultural exploration throughout the year.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Groningen’s climate is shaped by its proximity to the North Sea and prevailing westerly winds, resulting in mild summers and cool, cloudy winters. Summer (June–August) brings average highs of 17–21°C and lows around 12–14°C. July and August are the warmest and sunniest months, with up to 7 hours of sunshine per day and sea temperatures reaching 17–18°C. Rainfall is moderate, with July and August being the wettest months (80–100 mm), though showers are usually brief. Evenings can be cool, so a light jacket is recommended.
Winters (December–February) are long, cool, and mostly cloudy, with average highs of 3–5°C and lows near 1°C. Snow is possible but not frequent or heavy, and rain, drizzle, or sleet are more common. Days are short in winter, with only 1–2 hours of sunshine and about 8 hours of daylight. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, with mild temperatures (6–15°C), moderate rainfall, and increasing or decreasing daylight. Annual precipitation averages 800–900 mm, and the city receives about 1,600–1,800 hours of sunshine per year. Groningen is known for being windy, especially in autumn and winter, with average wind speeds of 13–18 km/h and stronger gusts during storms, particularly near the coast.
| Average climate data for Groningen, Netherlands | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 4 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 19 | 21 | 21 | 18 | 14 | 9 | 6 | 21 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 25 | 24 | 23 | 17 | 21 | 41 | 39 | 37 | 26 | 29 | 26 | 28 | 335 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 19 | 17 | 15 | 16 | 13 | 18 | 179 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 17 | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 51 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 15 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 88 | 84 | 81 | 78 | 77 | 82 | 82 | 79 | 82 | 85 | 87 | 87 | 83 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 21 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 17 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 64 | 63 | 54 | 42 | 44 | 48 | 44 | 41 | 46 | 54 | 60 | 69 | 52 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit Groningen is from mid-May to mid-September, when temperatures are mild to warm (17–21°C), days are long and sunny, and the city’s parks, canals, and festivals are at their most vibrant. This period is ideal for cycling, sightseeing, and enjoying outdoor events, though occasional rain showers are likely.
The least favourable time to visit Groningen is from November to February, when days are short, temperatures are cool (3–5°C), and rain, wind, and clouds are frequent. While the city is cosy and cultural attractions remain open, outdoor activities are limited and weather can feel dreary.
Groningen’s annual average temperature is about 10–11°C. January is the coldest month (highs 3–4°C, lows 1°C), while July and August are the warmest (highs 20–21°C, lows 13–14°C).
Groningen receives about 800–900 mm of precipitation annually. Rain falls year-round, with July, August, and October being wettest. Snow is possible in winter but rarely heavy or long-lasting.
Groningen enjoys 1,600–1,800 hours of sunshine per year. The sunniest months are May to August (up to 7 hours/day), while December and January are the least sunny (1–2 hours/day).
Yes, Groningen is known for its windy weather, especially in autumn and winter. Average wind speeds are 13–18 km/h, with stronger gusts during storms, particularly near the coast.
Late spring through early autumn (May–September) is best for outdoor activities, with mild to warm temperatures, long days, and more sunshine. Summer is ideal for cycling, walking, and festivals.
Swimming outdoors is only comfortable in July and August, when air temperatures reach 20–21°C and the North Sea warms to 17–18°C. Even then, the water is cool for most swimmers.
Pack layers for spring and autumn, light clothing and rain gear for summer, and insulated, waterproof clothing for winter. An umbrella and windproof jacket are useful year-round.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (21.3 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (4.5 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 13 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (13.9 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (1 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 7.2 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is June (41 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (17 mm). Over the whole year there are 334.9 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (18.8 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (11.6 days). Over the whole year there are 179 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is January (17 mm). The months with the least snowfall are April, May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 51.3 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (4.8 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are May, June, July, September and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 15.3 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is January (88.2 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is May (76.9 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 82.6 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is December (21 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (14.1 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 17 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is December (68.9 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (41.4 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 52.4 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 16.1 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 7.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.7 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is July (Average sunshine: 9.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 3 h). Over the whole year there are 6.1 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (UV index: 5). The months with the lowest average UV index are January, February, November and December (UV index: 2). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.2.
