Rotterdam features a temperate oceanic climate with mild to warm summers, cool, damp winters, and rainfall spread throughout the year. Influenced by the North Sea, the city experiences frequent clouds, brisk winds, and moderate temperature swings. Spring and summer are the mildest and sunniest seasons, while autumn and winter bring more rain and overcast skies.
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.
Rotterdam’s sub-oceanic climate is shaped by its coastal location and proximity to the North Sea and Atlantic. Winters (December–February) are cool and damp, with average highs of 5–7°C and lows near 0–2°C. Snow is possible but usually light and short-lived, though cold waves can bring heavier accumulation. Rainfall is steady, with December and January among the wettest months, and wind speeds are highest from November to March, often making the cold feel sharper. Sunshine is limited in winter, with only 1–2 hours per day, and fog is common.
Spring (March–May) is initially chilly, with occasional snow in March, but temperatures gradually rise to 17°C by May. April and May are the driest and sunniest months, with up to 7 hours of sunshine daily, and blooming parks make this a favourite time for visitors. Summers (June–August) are mild to warm, with average highs of 20–23°C and lows around 13–15°C. Rainfall is frequent but usually brief, and hot spells above 30°C are possible but short-lived. Nights can be cool, and the sea remains cold for swimming, peaking at 18°C in August. Autumn (September–November) is mild to cool, with increasing rain, wind, and shorter days. Annual precipitation is moderate, averaging 800–900 mm, and sunshine totals about 1,600 hours per year. Winds are moderate to strong, especially near the coast and in winter.
| Average climate data for Rotterdam, Netherlands | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 5 | 6 | 10 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 7 | 22 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | 3 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 2 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 17 | 22 | 18 | 9 | 13 | 24 | 19 | 20 | 13 | 15 | 15 | 20 | 205 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 11 | 9 | 12 | 9 | 12 | 11 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 131 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 8 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 36 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 83 | 82 | 77 | 72 | 75 | 76 | 75 | 73 | 78 | 82 | 83 | 86 | 78 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 20 | 20 | 17 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 16 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 8 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 63 | 59 | 51 | 40 | 43 | 42 | 42 | 39 | 46 | 55 | 59 | 65 | 50 |
| Average UV index | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit Rotterdam is from mid-May to mid-September, when temperatures are mild to warm (17–23°C), days are long and sunny, and the city is lively with festivals and outdoor events. Spring and early summer offer blooming parks and fewer crowds, while July and August are warmest and sunniest, though rain showers remain possible.
The least favourable time to visit is from November to February, when Rotterdam is coldest, daylight hours are shortest, and rain, wind, and dampness are most frequent. While winter brings festive lights and cosy cafés, outdoor exploration can be less comfortable due to chilly, wet, and unpredictable weather.
Rotterdam has a temperate oceanic climate with mild to warm summers, cool, damp winters, and rainfall spread throughout the year. Frequent clouds, brisk winds, and moderate temperature swings are typical.
Summer temperatures in Rotterdam typically reach 20–23°C, but short heatwaves can push highs above 30°C. Nights are cool, and rain showers are common, though usually brief.
Snow is possible in Rotterdam, mainly from December to February, but it is usually light and melts quickly. Heavy snow is rare, though cold waves can bring temporary accumulation.
Rain falls year-round, but autumn and winter (especially October to January) are the wettest periods. Spring is the driest season, with April and May receiving the least rainfall.
Rotterdam averages about 1,600 hours of sunshine annually. May to August are the sunniest months, with up to 7 hours of sunshine per day, while winter months are much cloudier.
Bring layers, a waterproof jacket, and water-resistant shoes. Even in summer, pack a jumper or light jacket for cool evenings. An umbrella is essential for sudden showers in any season.
Rotterdam is often windy, especially from November to March. Humidity is moderate to high year-round, making cold feel sharper in winter and warm spells muggy in summer.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is July (22 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (5.5 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 13.9 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (15.4 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (2.3 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 8.4 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is June (24.2 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (8.9 mm). Over the whole year there are 205 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (13.8 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (8.6 days). Over the whole year there are 130.6 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (19.1 mm). The months with the least snowfall are April, May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 36 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is February (2.3 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are May, July and October (0 days). Over the whole year there are 7.5 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (85.6 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is April (72 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 78.4 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is December (19.9 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (13.4 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 16.2 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is December (65.5 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is August (38.9 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 50.3 %.
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 June (Average sunshine: 9.1 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is December (Average sunshine: 2.9 h). Over the whole year there are 6.1 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 3.3.
