The Netherlands Declares Its First Code Red for Heat, Used When Conditions Could Disrupt Society
For the first time ever, the KNMI has issued code red for heat in the Netherlands, with temperatures near 40°C on Friday. Schools are closing and people are advised to travel only if necessary.
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For the first time ever, the Dutch weather service KNMI has issued code rood (code red) because of heat. The warning applies to most of the country for Friday 26 June, when temperatures are expected to reach up to 40°C in places. Combined with high humidity, the KNMI says this will create an unpleasant, oppressive heat across almost the whole country.
Only the northern provinces of Groningen, Friesland and Drenthe, along with Zeeland, are under the lower code oranje, with the Wadden Islands under code geel.
What code red means
Code red is the heaviest of the KNMI’s weather warnings. In meteorological terms it is no different from code orange; the difference is in the expected impact. The decision is taken by a body called the weerimpactteam (weather impact team), in which the KNMI sits alongside organisations such as the police and fire brigade, the National Crisis Centre, the Dutch traffic control centre, the rail manager ProRail and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. They move to code red when dangerous weather could disrupt society, weighing the risk of injury, damage and serious disruption.
“It will be a hard day, which many people will also feel physically,” said KNMI director Maarten van Aalst, who noted that more people die when it is this hot. “So we have to take the heaviest measure to warn everyone.”
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The advice
The KNMI warns that, in these conditions, everyone is at risk of dehydration, overheating and even a life-threatening heatstroke, partly because the body cannot cool down enough, including at night. The institute revised its guidance during the day: rather than telling everyone to stay indoors, which can sometimes be dangerously hot, it now advises staying out of the sun as much as possible and watching for signs of dehydration and overheating.
The wider advice is familiar from earlier in the week: drink enough water even without feeling thirsty, avoid heavy physical activity between noon and 6 pm, use sunscreen, keep your home cool by closing curtains and windows during the day and airing it in the early morning, and never leave children or pets in a parked car. People are also urged to check on those around them who may be vulnerable to the heat.
Separately, the road authority Rijkswaterstaat advised people to go out on the roads only if necessary. Anyone who does travel is advised to take water and sun protection, such as an umbrella or parasol, as the heat can damage road surfaces and cause delays.
A country partly at a standstill
The code red has consequences across daily life. Many schools, and some universities including the University of Amsterdam, have closed their doors, with some arranging emergency childcare for pupils who have nowhere else to go. Court hearings in the code-red provinces have been cancelled, with urgent cases continuing where possible, and the driving test organisation CBR is not holding exams in those provinces. Public transport keeps running, though passengers are warned of possible disruptions, and the railway company NS is running fewer trains on some routes as a precaution, because carriages can overheat.
Care for patients continues, with health organisations tightening their heat protocols and some starting their shifts earlier in the day. A string of events has been cancelled or scaled back, including the national Veterans’ Day parade, while the TT Assen motorcycling event is going ahead with adjustments, such as allowing visitors to bring their own water.
A confirmed heatwave, and a warning about the climate
The heat also means a national heatwave is now official. To count as one, the De Bilt weather station, used for national records, must record at least five days in a row above 25°C, of which three are above 30°C, a threshold that has now been met. Friday is expected to be the hottest day of this period, with local peaks of around 40°C; the national record stands at 40.7°C, measured in Gilze-Rijen in 2019.
Scientists link the extreme weather to a changing climate. According to an analysis by the international World Weather Attribution network, with input from the KNMI, a June heatwave like this one would have been almost impossible without climate change, and such temperatures barely occurred 50 years ago. The public health institute RIVM has also warned of smog, with poor air quality possible along the North Sea coast and, on Saturday, ozone smog over parts of the centre and north; people sensitive to it are advised to stay inside and exert themselves less, especially in the late afternoon.
Heat can be dangerous, especially for older people, young children and those with health conditions. The advice is to keep an eye on vulnerable neighbours and relatives, and to seek medical help if someone shows signs of heatstroke.