The year 2024 in the Netherlands was notably warm, matching the average temperature of 2023, which was 11.8 degrees Celsius. This makes 2023 and 2024 the warmest years since records began in 1901, according to the KNMI.
Despite a summer perceived as gloomy and cool with abundant clouds and rain, the overall year was warmer due to higher temperatures in the other ten months. The announcement coincides with the release of the KNMI’s latest “climate stripes,” a visual representation of temperature changes in the Netherlands since 1901.
These stripes, inspired by British climate scientist Ed Hawkins, range from dark blue for cold years to dark red for warm years. The 2024 stripe is as dark red as 2023, highlighting a warming trend over the decades.
Globally, similar warming patterns are observed, with the European climate service Copernicus noting that the global average temperature in 2024 surpassed 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels. However, this global figure is not directly comparable to the faster warming rate in the Netherlands.
The KNMI faces a challenge as the available shades of red for warm years are becoming exhausted. With the end of the recent El Niño, 2025 is expected to be cooler globally, but significant cooling is unlikely for the Netherlands.
Source: NOS