Climate guide for Haarlem, Netherlands

Best Time to Visit
Haarlem

How to read the score (0–10)
05810
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About Haarlem

April and May bring surrounding tulip fields into full bloom. Summer is ideal for canal cruises and patio dining in Grote Markt.

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Travel Tips

Frans Hals Museum Visit
Visit the Frans Hals Museum to admire Golden Age civic guard group portraits in a restored 17th-century almshouse.
Climbing Windmill De Adriaan
Take a guided balcony tour of De Adriaan windmill for panoramic views of Haarlem's historic rooflines and river Spaarne.
Exploring Hofjes (Hidden Courtyards)
Pick up a courtyard walking map to discover Haarlem's 21 peaceful hidden almshouse gardens (Hofjes).

Things to do in Haarlem

Haarlem, Netherlands. Live activities and tours from GetYourGuide, matched to this destination.

When to visit Haarlem: the short answer

The best time to visit Haarlem is June, followed by July, August. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: June averages 16°C with 56 mm of rain and about 27 sunny days. The months to avoid unless you have a specific reason are December, November. If budget matters more than perfect weather, February is the strongest of the low-rate months at 4.6/10.

Across the year Haarlem swings from 6°C in January to 19°C in August, a 13-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 56 mm in June to 132 mm in November. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Haarlem is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 4.6 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: August (19°C). Coolest: January (6°C). Driest: June (56 mm). Wettest: November (132 mm).

Haarlem month by month

January in Haarlem — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 4.4/10

January averages 6°C (43°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 85 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 0 sunny days and 8 hours of daylight.

It scores 4.4/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Haarlem — 4.4 points higher on the same scale.

February in Haarlem — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 4.6/10

February averages 7°C (45°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 83 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 0 sunny days and 9.6 hours of daylight.

It scores 4.6/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Haarlem — 4.2 points higher on the same scale.

March in Haarlem — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.5/10

March averages 7°C (45°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 75 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 4 sunny days and 11.5 hours of daylight.

It scores 5.5/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Haarlem — 3.3 points higher on the same scale.

April in Haarlem — reliably good (5th best month)

Good · 7/10

April averages 9°C (49°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 64 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 14 sunny days and 13.7 hours of daylight.

It scores 7/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Haarlem — 1.8 points higher on the same scale.

May in Haarlem — reliably good (4th best month)

Good · 8/10

May averages 13°C (56°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 70 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 23 sunny days and 15.5 hours of daylight.

It scores 8/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

June in Haarlem — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8.8/10

June averages 16°C (61°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 56 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 27 sunny days and 16.5 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Haarlem at 8.8/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

July in Haarlem — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8.6/10

July averages 18°C (65°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 67 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 23 sunny days and 16.1 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Haarlem at 8.6/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

August in Haarlem — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8.5/10

August averages 19°C (67°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rainfall runs 64 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 19 sunny days and 14.5 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Haarlem at 8.5/10 — the reference point every other month on this page is measured against.

Expect peak pricing, and this is one of the busiest months here. You are paying the year's highest rates for the year's best conditions — book early or shift a few weeks either side.

Pack light clothing, swimwear and real sun protection, a packable rain layer.

September in Haarlem — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.9/10

September averages 18°C (64°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

At 104 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 8 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 6.9/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are moderate.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Haarlem — 1.9 points higher on the same scale.

October in Haarlem — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 6.1/10

October averages 15°C (58°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 90 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 0 sunny days and 10.3 hours of daylight.

It scores 6.1/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Haarlem — 2.7 points higher on the same scale.

November in Haarlem — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 4.3/10

November averages 10°C (50°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

At 132 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 0 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 4.3/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a proper rain shell rather than an umbrella.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Haarlem — 4.5 points higher on the same scale.

December in Haarlem — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 4.2/10

December averages 7°C (45°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 100 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 0 sunny days and 7.5 hours of daylight.

It scores 4.2/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 8.8/10 in the destination's best month.

Expect mid-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.

Pack a mid-weight jacket, long sleeves and shoes you can walk 15 km in, a packable rain layer.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Haarlem — 4.6 points higher on the same scale.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Haarlem, Netherlands?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Haarlem are June, July, August, May. June is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 8.8/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and historical sunny days.
What is the weather like in Haarlem year-round?
Haarlem has a climate profile suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 6°C in January to 19°C in August, with Ideal Weather scores between 4.2 and 8.8 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Haarlem?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Haarlem are December (4.2/10), November (4.3/10), January (4.4/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer sunny days.
When is the rainy season in Haarlem?
November is the wettest month in Haarlem, averaging about 132 mm of rainfall. June is the driest, at roughly 56 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Haarlem?
June sees the most sun in Haarlem, with about 27 sunny days on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Haarlem a good destination for sightseeing and cultural travel?
Haarlem is well suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (June, July, August, May) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Haarlem calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Haarlem: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and historical sunny days - weighted for sightseeing and cultural travel.

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