Climate guide for Rotterdam, Netherlands

Best Time to Visit
Rotterdam

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

May-September is the sweet spot: bike Markthal to Erasmus Bridge, ride harbour tours, and visit Kunsthal. Mild maritime air suits long cycling days across the city.

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Travel Tips

Harbour Tour Timing
Harbour cruises run regularly; morning light on the Erasmus Bridge is excellent for photos. Markthal is busiest at weekend brunch.
Metro Tram & Water Taxi
RET metro/tram tickets cover the sprawling centre efficiently. Water taxis are fun hoppers across the Nieuwe Maas when you want views with transit.
Cube Houses & Museum Fees
Cube Houses interiors and major museums charge admission; architecture walks outside are free. Rotterdam Welcome Card can bundle transit and sights.
Wind Off the Maas
Open harbours funnel wind - a shell jacket beats a fashion coat. Cycling is normal; stay predictable in dedicated lanes and signal turns.

Things to do in Rotterdam

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

When to visit Rotterdam: the short answer

The best time to visit Rotterdam is June, followed by August, July. Those months combine the most usable temperatures with the fewest lost days to rain: June averages 17°C with 58 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 5.5/10.

Across the year Rotterdam swings from 5°C in January to 19°C in August, a 14-degree spread, while rainfall ranges from 58 mm in June to 121 mm in November. That is the whole planning problem in one sentence: Rotterdam is not equally good year-round, and the difference between the best and worst month here is 4.7 points on a 10-point scale.

Warmest month: August (19°C). Coolest: January (5°C). Driest: June (58 mm). Wettest: November (121 mm).

Rotterdam month by month

January in Rotterdam — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.1/10

January averages 5°C (41°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 82 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 11 sunny days and 8.4 hours of daylight.

It scores 5.1/10 here, 10th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 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 Rotterdam — 4 points higher on the same scale.

February in Rotterdam — workable with trade-offs

Trade-offs · 5.5/10

February averages 7°C (44°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 82 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 10 sunny days and 10 hours of daylight.

It scores 5.5/10 here, 9th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 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 Rotterdam — 3.6 points higher on the same scale.

March in Rotterdam — reliably good (7th best month)

Good · 7.1/10

March averages 8°C (46°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 70 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 20 sunny days and 11.9 hours of daylight.

It scores 7.1/10 here, 7th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 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 Rotterdam — 2 points higher on the same scale.

April in Rotterdam — reliably good (6th best month)

Good · 7.5/10

April averages 10°C (49°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 24 sunny days and 13.9 hours of daylight.

It scores 7.5/10 here, 6th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 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 Rotterdam — 1.6 points higher on the same scale.

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

Good · 8/10

May averages 14°C (57°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 88 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 27 sunny days and 15.7 hours of daylight.

It scores 8/10 here, 4th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 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 Rotterdam — the year's strongest window

Best window · 9.1/10

June averages 17°C (63°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

Rainfall runs 58 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 27 sunny days and 16.6 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Rotterdam at 9.1/10 — 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 Rotterdam — reliably good (3rd best month)

Good · 8.3/10

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 90 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 27 sunny days and 16.2 hours of daylight.

It scores 8.3/10 here, 3rd of 12 months, against 9.1/10 in the destination's best month.

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 Rotterdam — the year's strongest window

Best window · 8.8/10

August averages 19°C (66°F) — warm enough for beach and boat plans, still short of the heat that pushes sightseeing into early morning.

Rainfall runs 66 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 29 sunny days and 14.6 hours of daylight.

On our climate-comfort scale this is the top-ranked month of the year for Rotterdam at 8.8/10 — 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 Rotterdam — reliably good (5th best month)

Good · 7.9/10

September averages 17°C (62°F), the range most people find easiest for walking a city all day without either overheating or losing daylight to weather.

At 101 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 25 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 7.9/10 here, 5th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 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.

October in Rotterdam — reliably good (8th best month)

Good · 7.1/10

October 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 88 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 17 sunny days and 10.6 hours of daylight.

It scores 7.1/10 here, 8th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 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.

If your dates are flexible, June is materially better in Rotterdam — 2 points higher on the same scale.

November in Rotterdam — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 4.9/10

November averages 8°C (47°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

At 121 mm this is a genuinely wet month: about 10 sunny days in total, and outdoor plans need an indoor fallback.

It scores 4.9/10 here, 11th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 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 Rotterdam — 4.2 points higher on the same scale.

December in Rotterdam — the hardest end of the year

Hardest · 4.4/10

December averages 6°C (42°F) — jacket weather. Comfortable for walking and museums, too cool for anything water-based.

Rainfall runs 95 mm, so plan one flexible day in three; you still get about 6 sunny days and 7.9 hours of daylight.

It scores 4.4/10 here, 12th of 12 months, against 9.1/10 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 Rotterdam — 4.7 points higher on the same scale.

Frequently asked

When is the best time to visit Rotterdam, Netherlands?
In Ideal Weather mode, the best months to visit Rotterdam are June, August, July. June is the single peak month with an Ideal Weather score of 9.1/10 based on temperature, rainfall, humidity, daylight and historical sunny days.
What is the weather like in Rotterdam year-round?
Rotterdam has a climate profile suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Average monthly temperatures range from 5°C in January to 19°C in August, with Ideal Weather scores between 4.4 and 9.1 out of 10.
Which months should I avoid in Rotterdam?
The lowest Ideal Weather-scoring months in Rotterdam are December (4.4/10), November (4.9/10), January (5.1/10). These months typically combine less comfortable temperatures, higher rainfall or fewer sunny days.
When is the rainy season in Rotterdam?
November is the wettest month in Rotterdam, averaging about 121 mm of rainfall. June is the driest, at roughly 58 mm.
Which is the sunniest month in Rotterdam?
August sees the most sun in Rotterdam, with about 29 sunny days on average - ideal for outdoor plans.
Is Rotterdam a good destination for sightseeing and cultural travel?
Rotterdam is well suited to sightseeing and cultural travel. Its highest Ideal Weather window (June, August, July) aligns with the conditions travelers usually look for in this style of trip.
How is the bestime.to score for Rotterdam calculated?
Each month receives an Ideal Weather score from 0-10 using ERA5 climate normals for Rotterdam: temperature comfort, precipitation, humidity, daylight hours, and historical sunny days - weighted for sightseeing and cultural travel.

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Curated in Rotterdam

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