December 2025 brought a notably dry and sunny month to the Netherlands, with weather patterns that deviated significantly from typical winter conditions. The month presented an interesting contrast between mild early periods and colder spells, while precipitation remained well below seasonal averages.
Temperature Overview
The Netherlands experienced an average temperature of 5.9 degrees Celsius during December, running slightly below the normal value of 6.1 degrees, resulting in a modest anomaly of -0.2 degrees. The warmest day occurred on December 9th in Sittard-Geleen, where temperatures reached 14.7 degrees Celsius, demonstrating the mild conditions that characterized the early part of the month. In stark contrast, the coldest temperature was recorded in Enschede on December 26th, plummeting to -6.2 degrees Celsius, marking a significant temperature swing as winter intensified toward the month's end.
Precipitation Patterns
December proved to be exceptionally dry across the Netherlands. The average total precipitation measured just 30.3 millimeters, representing a dramatic 61 percent below the normal monthly average of 77.6 millimeters. The wettest day occurred on December 16th in Venlo, where 22.5 millimeters of rain fell. Despite this single significant rainfall event, Venlo remained the wettest location overall for the month with a total of 60.5 millimeters, indicating that precipitation was concentrated in specific areas and periods rather than distributed evenly throughout the country.
Sunshine and Notable Features
One of December's most striking characteristics was its exceptional sunshine. The Netherlands recorded 97.9 hours of sunshine, surpassing the normal value of 78.6 hours by 25 percent. This above-average sunshine, combined with below-average precipitation, created conditions that were unusually bright and dry for a winter month. The combination of these factors resulted in a December that departed notably from typical winter weather patterns, offering more daylight hours despite the season's inherent darkness.