Leiden, in South Holland, has a temperate maritime climate with mild summers, cool winters, and rainfall spread throughout the year. Seasonal changes are pronounced, with long, sunny days in summer and short, grey days in winter. The city’s weather is famously changeable, so visitors should be prepared for both rain and sunshine at any time.
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.
Leiden’s climate is shaped by its coastal proximity and prevailing westerly winds, resulting in moderate temperatures and frequent rainfall. Summers (June–August) are mild and comfortable, with average highs of 20–22°C and lows around 13–15°C. July and August are the warmest months, and while heatwaves above 30°C are rare, they can occasionally occur. Rainfall is moderate, with August being the wettest month (up to 93 mm), and showers are often brief and followed by sunshine. Summer days are long, with up to 16 hours of daylight and about 7–8 hours of sunshine per day.
Winters (December–February) are cool and damp, with average highs of 6–8°C and lows near 1–2°C. January and February are the coldest months, and frost or light snow is possible but rarely persistent. Rain is common, with monthly totals of 60–77 mm, and sunshine is limited to about 2 hours per day. Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–November) are transitional, with spring warming from 7°C in March to 17°C in May, and autumn cooling from 19°C in September to 7°C in November. Rain falls year-round, but April and May are typically the driest months. Winds are moderate to strong, especially in autumn and winter, and the weather can change quickly, so layers and rain gear are always advisable. Leiden receives about 1,600 hours of sunshine annually and 800–950 mm of precipitation, with 10–15 rainy days per month on average.
| Average climate data for Leiden, Netherlands | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 6 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 18 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 21 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 3 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 30 | 28 | 22 | 14 | 21 | 34 | 40 | 54 | 40 | 39 | 37 | 42 | 401 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 17 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 184 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 10 | 22 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 46 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 9 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 84 | 81 | 78 | 75 | 75 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 77 | 79 | 82 | 82 | 78 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 23 | 23 | 20 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 25 | 19 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 63 | 59 | 52 | 38 | 41 | 39 | 38 | 38 | 45 | 53 | 59 | 65 | 49 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit Leiden is from late May to September, when temperatures are mild (17–22°C), days are long, and rainfall is moderate. These months are ideal for cycling, outdoor events, and exploring the city’s historic canals and gardens, with the most comfortable and reliable weather.
The least favourable time to visit is from November to February, when Leiden is coldest, wettest, and least sunny. Rain, wind, and short daylight hours can limit outdoor activities, though the city’s museums and cafés offer a cosy refuge from the weather.
Leiden has a temperate maritime climate with mild summers (20–22°C), cool, damp winters (6–8°C), and rainfall throughout the year. Weather is changeable, with frequent clouds, wind, and occasional sunshine.
The best time to visit Leiden is from late May to September, when temperatures are mild, days are long, and rainfall is moderate—perfect for outdoor activities and sightseeing.
Snow is possible in winter, especially in January and February, but it is usually light and doesn’t last long. Most winter precipitation falls as rain, and frost can occur on colder nights.
Leiden receives about 800–950 mm of precipitation annually, with rain distributed fairly evenly throughout the year. August and October are typically the wettest months, while April and May are driest.
Sunshine hours range from just 1.7 per day in December to up to 7.7 per day in May. The city enjoys about 1,600 hours of sunshine each year, with the most in summer.
Yes, Leiden experiences moderate to strong winds year-round, especially in autumn and winter, due to its coastal location. Winds are generally stronger during storms, contributing to the city’s brisk, fresh atmosphere.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (21 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (5.8 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 13.2 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (16.3 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (2.9 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 9.1 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is August (53.7 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (14 mm). Over the whole year there are 401.1 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is August (19.1 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is April (11.3 days). Over the whole year there are 183.6 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (21.7 mm). The months with the least snowfall are April, May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 45.8 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (3.7 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are May, August and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 9.1 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is January (83.7 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is April (74.7 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 78.4 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is December (24.7 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is July (16.1 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 19.4 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is December (65.2 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is July (37.9 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 49.2 %.
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: 10.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 3 h). Over the whole year there are 6.5 h of sunlight per day on average.
The months with the highest average UV index are June, July and August (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 3.4.
