Netherlands Experiences First Official Spring Day of 2026
The Netherlands is officially experiencing spring-like conditions, with temperatures in De Bilt exceeding 15°C on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. This marks the first “official spring day” of the year, as defined by the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI).
Temperature Records Broken
At 1:20 P.M. Local time, the temperature in De Bilt reached 15.1°C, officially triggering the spring day designation. Southern regions of the Netherlands, particularly Maastricht, saw even warmer temperatures, reaching approximately 18.2°C, with the potential for further increases later in the afternoon. In fact, Maastricht recorded a high of 19.3°C, breaking a local record for February 25th according to NU.nl.
What Defines a Spring Day?
In the Netherlands, a day is considered an official spring day when the maximum temperature at De Bilt reaches 15°C or higher. This meteorological indicator signifies the onset of spring-like weather, independent of the calendar or astronomical spring equinox, which falls on March 20th.
Early Arrival of Spring
This year’s first official spring day arrived over two weeks earlier than the average, which typically falls around March 10th. While early spring days are not unprecedented – occurring in February or even January in some years – this year’s arrival is notable. For comparison, the first mild day occurred on February 15th in 2024 and on January 1st in 2023. The earliest official spring day ever recorded in De Bilt was on January 13, 1993.
Current Weather Conditions in De Bilt (February 25, 2026)
- Maximum Temperature: 17.3°C
- Minimum Temperature: 6.3°C
- Average Temperature: 12.5°C
- Wind Direction: South-Southeast
- Wind Speed: 3.3 m/s (11.9 km/h)
- Sunshine Duration: 9.3 hours
Looking Ahead
Temperatures in some areas may locally rise to around 19°C, potentially approaching the February 25th record of 19.1°C, set in 2019. The mild spring weather is expected to continue for several days, with temperatures reaching 18 degrees Celsius on Thursday and Friday according to NL Times.