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Netherlands

Den Helder

Sun, sea & sand

Den Helder at a glance

Best time
Apr – Aug
Warmest month
Aug · 19°
Warmest sea
Aug · 18.6°
Sunshine a year
1,900 h
Rain a year
820 mm
Climate
Maritime
Time zone
UTC+1 / UTC+2
Elevation
3 m

Climate in Den Helder

Den Helder has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 19 °C, while February is the coolest at 6 °C. With around 1,900 hours of sunshine a year, Den Helder is moderately sunny; May is the sunniest month with 8.0 hours a day.

Holiday weather through the year

Your holiday weather, at a glance

Weather in October

7

Holiday weather in October

Poor

Best time to visit: April – August

Keep in mindFrequent rain

A typical day in October

  1. Morning, 08:00: about 12°
  2. Midday, 13:00: about 14°
  3. Afternoon, 16:00: about 14°
  4. Evening, 20:00: about 13°
  5. Night, 23:00: about 12°

08:0518:48

Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.

Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.

Light for photos in October

Golden hour
Morning 07:44–08:53 · evening 18:01–19:09
Blue hour
Morning 07:30–07:44 · evening 19:09–19:23

Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.

What is the weather like in Den Helder in October?

In October, Den Helder is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 14.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 98 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 31 km/h. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Den Helder.

More details for October

Daylight
10 h 43 min08:05 – 18:48
UV index
2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
Muggy days
0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
Wind
31 km/haverage daily peakAll months
Cloud cover
71 %on averageAll months
Hot days
0 days30 °C or more
Snow days
0 days1 cm or more of fresh snow
Time zone
UTC+2Europe/Amsterdam

How the score comes together

  • Temperatureweight 35 %0 %
  • Seaweight 25 %0 %
  • Sunshineweight 20 %15 %
  • Few rainy daysweight 20 %20 %

Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.

What to pack in October

  • A jumper for the evenings
  • Rain jacket or umbrella
  • Windproof jacket
Swimming calendar

Sea temperature in Den Helder

Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.

Sea in October14.8°Ccold

8 in 10 years: 14.0 – 15.9 °C

Swimming season: Never above 20 °C

  • cold
  • fresh
  • refreshing
  • pleasant
  • warm
  • very warm
OctoberMean sea temperature 14.8°8 in 10 years 14.0° – 15.9°
20°
Mean sea temperature8 in 10 years20 °C – comfortable for swimming

The sea temperature in Den Helder ranges from 5.7 °C in February to 18.6 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

From September to January the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 17.7 and 19.8 °C.

Sea temperature by month
MonthAverageCool yearWarm yearFeels
JanuaryJan6.5°4.8°7.9°cold
FebruaryFeb5.7°4.3°7.0°cold
MarchMar6.3°4.3°7.6°cold
AprilApr8.5°7.5°9.7°cold
MayMay11.5°10.3°12.7°cold
JuneJun14.7°13.8°15.5°cold
JulyJul17.2°16.2°18.2°fresh
AugustAug18.6°17.7°19.8°fresh
SeptemberSep17.5°16.3°18.4°fresh
OctoberOct14.8°14.0°15.9°cold
NovemberNov11.6°10.5°12.7°cold
DecemberDec8.5°7.5°9.3°cold
Sunshine

Sunshine hours in Den Helder

Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
1,900 hours
Sunniest month
May · 8.0 h a day
Least sunshine
Dec · 2.0 h a day
OctoberSunshine 3.9 hDaylight 10.7 hShare of daylight 36 %
SunshineDaylight

In October, the sun shines for about 3.9 of 10.7 hours of daylight in Den Helder, 36 % of the day.

Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 4 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.

Sun protection

UV index in Den Helder

How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.

Clear-sky UV in October
2 · lowLittle protection needed; sunglasses on bright days.

The sun is strongest in June (UV 7).

Minutes until sunburn in October

Very fair skin
about 80 min
Fair skin
about 100 min
Light brown skin
over 2 h
Olive skin
over 2 h

Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.

Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.

Rain

Rain in Den Helder: rainy days and rainfall

A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.

Per year
820 mm on 150 days
Wettest month
Oct · 98 mm
Driest month
Apr · 39 mm
OctoberRainy days 15Rainfall 98 mm

In October, Den Helder has about 15 rainy days with 98 mm of rain in total.

Wind & clouds

Wind and clouds in Den Helder

How breezy and how cloudy Den Helder is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.

Wind

Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.

Year average
29 km/h · fresh breeze
Windiest month
Dec · 34 km/h
Calmest month
Aug · 25 km/h
OctoberWind 31 km/hBeaufort 5
20
WindBeaufort 4

In October, the wind in Den Helder typically peaks at 31 km/h during the day: Beaufort 5, fresh breeze.

Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting

From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it gets there all year.

Clouds

Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.

Year average
67 % · mostly cloudy
Clearest month
Apr · 60 %
Cloudiest month
Dec · 76 %
OctoberCloud cover 71 %Sunshine 3.9 h

In October, cloud covers on average 71 % of the sky over Den Helder: mostly cloudy, with about 3.9 hours of sunshine a day.

Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.

Climate through the year

Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.

Best time to visit

Nights and sleep in Den Helder

How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.

  • Cold 0–8°
  • Cool 8–15°
  • Pleasant 15–20°

CoolOctober: nights around 12°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.

The coolest nights are in February (4°), the warmest in August (17°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from July to September. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from December to April, so the room should be heated.

Temperatures through the year

Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.

OctoberDay 14°Night 12°Sea 15°
DayNightSea
MonthScoreDayNightSeaSunRain daysRain mm
JanuaryJan66°4°6.5°2.3 h1468
FebruaryFeb116°4°5.7°3.5 h1158
MarchMar187°5°6.3°5.0 h1047
AprilApr2710°7°8.5°7.2 h939
MayMay2813°11°11.5°8.0 h1052
JuneJun2716°14°14.7°7.7 h1057
JulyJul2418°16°17.2°7.8 h1372
AugustAug2719°17°18.6°7.1 h1385
SeptemberSep1817°15°17.5°5.4 h1279
OctoberOct714°12°14.8°3.9 h1598
NovemberNov310°8°11.6°2.3 h1686
DecemberDec48°5°8.5°2.0 h1580

Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences

52.96° N, 4.76° E · 3 m · Europe/Amsterdam

Best time to visit

Best time to visit Den Helder

The best time to visit Den Helder is from April to August. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 18.6 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable in June. Rain is most frequent from July to January; the wettest month is October with 98 mm.

Den Helder through the seasons

How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.

Den Helder in spring

Mar – May

24

Poor

  • 7–13 °C by day
  • Sea 9 °C
  • 7 h of sun a day
  • 30 rainy days in all

Den Helder in summer

Jun – Aug

26

Poor

  • 16–19 °C by day
  • Sea 17 °C
  • 8 h of sun a day
  • 36 rainy days in all

Den Helder in autumn

Sep – Nov

9

Poor

  • 10–17 °C by day
  • Sea 15 °C
  • 4 h of sun a day
  • 44 rainy days in all

Den Helder in winter

Dec – Feb

7

Poor

  • 6–8 °C by day
  • Sea 7 °C
  • 3 h of sun a day
  • 40 rainy days in all

Find your perfect month

Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Den Helder for you.

Swimming in the sea
Sunshine
Little rain

Your best months: April – May, August

Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.

Compare two months in Den Helder

Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.

vs.

May has the better holiday weather in Den Helder: score 28 against 7. In May, days are 1 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 3 °C cooler in May. May has 5 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 4 hours longer a day in May.

October vs. May, Den Helder
MonthOctoberMay
Weather score728better
Day high14°13°
Night low12°11°
Sea14.8°11.5°
Sunshine3.9 h8.0 hbetter
Rainy days1510better
Rainfall98 mm52 mmbetter

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Which month for what?

Beach & swimming

No month

Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry

Sightseeing & hiking

Jun

15–28 °C and not too much rain

Rainy months

Jul – Jan

12 or more rainy days

Den Helder month by month

The typical weather for every month at a glance.

6January6° · Sea 7° · 2 h

In January, Den Helder is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 6.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 68 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 34 km/h. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Den Helder.

Den Helder in January
11February6° · Sea 6° · 4 h

In February, Den Helder is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sea averages 5.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 58 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 33 km/h. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Den Helder.

Den Helder in February
18March7° · Sea 6° · 5 h

In March, Den Helder is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 6.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 47 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 29 km/h. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Den Helder.

Den Helder in March
27April10° · Sea 9° · 7 h

In April, Den Helder is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 8.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 9 rainy days and 39 mm in total. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Den Helder.

Den Helder in April
28May13° · Sea 12° · 8 h

In May, Den Helder is cool: daytime highs average 13 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 11.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 52 mm in total. All in all, May is not an ideal month for a holiday in Den Helder.

Den Helder in May
27June16° · Sea 15° · 8 h

In June, Den Helder is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 14.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 57 mm in total. All in all, June is not an ideal month for a holiday in Den Helder.

Den Helder in June
24July18° · Sea 17° · 8 h

In July, Den Helder is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 17.2 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 72 mm in total. All in all, July is not an ideal month for a holiday in Den Helder.

Den Helder in July
27August19° · Sea 19° · 7 h

In August, Den Helder is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 18.6 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 85 mm in total. All in all, August is not an ideal month for a holiday in Den Helder.

Den Helder in August
18September17° · Sea 18° · 5 h

In September, Den Helder is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 17.5 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 79 mm in total. All in all, September is not an ideal month for a holiday in Den Helder.

Den Helder in September
7October14° · Sea 15° · 4 h

In October, Den Helder is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 14.8 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 98 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 31 km/h. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Den Helder.

Den Helder in October
3November10° · Sea 12° · 2 h

In November, Den Helder is cool: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 11.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 16 days, adding up to 86 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 32 km/h. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Den Helder.

Den Helder in November
4December8° · Sea 9° · 2 h

In December, Den Helder is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sea averages 8.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 80 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 34 km/h. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Den Helder.

Den Helder in December
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Den Helder compared

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Den Helder vs. Bergen

In October the holiday weather in Den Helder and Bergen is about equally good (score 7 vs. 7). During the day it is about as warm in Bergen as in Den Helder. The sea is about equally warm.

Den Helder vs. Bergen, in October
in OctoberDen HelderBergen
Holiday score77
Daytime high14°14°
Sea15°15°
Sunshine4 h4 h
Rainy days1515
Best timeApr – AugMay – Aug

Through the year

OctoberDen Helder 14°Bergen 14°
Den HelderBergen
Go to Bergen, Netherlands
Ranking

Netherlands in October: the best places

In October, Den Helder ranks 27 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.

  1. Breda15°50
  2. 2Tilburg15°49
  3. 3Dordrecht15°48
  4. 4's-Hertogenbosch15°48
  5. 5Amersfoort15°47
  6. 6Deventer14°47
  7. 7Arnhem15°47
  8. 8Nijmegen15°47
  9. 27Den HelderThis page14°15°7
All destinations: Netherlands

Planning a trip to Den Helder

Weather for your travel dates

Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.

Den Helder in the school holidays

How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.

Den Helder has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 28) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 5).

  • Easter holidays

    Mar – Apr

    24

    Poor

    • 9 °C by day
    • Sea 8 °C
    • 6.5 h of sun a day
    • 9 rainy days a month
  • May half-term

    May – Jun

    28

    PoorBest holidays

    • 14 °C by day
    • Sea 12 °C
    • 7.9 h of sun a day
    • 10 rainy days a month
  • Summer holidays

    Jul – Aug

    26

    Poor

    • 19 °C by day
    • Sea 18 °C
    • 7.3 h of sun a day
    • 13 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • October half-term

    Oct

    7

    Poor

    • 14 °C by day
    • Sea 15 °C
    • 3.9 h of sun a day
    • 15 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

  • Christmas holidays

    Dec – Jan

    5

    Poor

    • 7 °C by day
    • Sea 8 °C
    • 2.2 h of sun a day
    • 14 rainy days a month

    Keep in mind: Frequent rain

Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.

Getting there

Flying from

Nonstop flight
Short trip – train or car is often quicker
Distance
390 km
Time zone
UTC+2
Jet lag
Hardly any (under 3 h)

Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.

Frequently asked questions about Den Helder

When is the best time to visit Den Helder?

The best time to visit Den Helder is from April to August. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.

How warm is the sea in Den Helder?

The sea temperature in Den Helder ranges from 5.7 °C in February to 18.6 °C in August. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.

Can you swim in Den Helder in October?

Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 14.8 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.

What is the warmest month in Den Helder?

August is the warmest month, with average highs of 19 °C and nights around 17 °C. February is the coolest month at 6 °C.

When does it rain most in Den Helder?

Rain is most frequent from July to January; the wettest month is October with 98 mm. The driest month is April with 39 mm.

How many hours of sunshine does Den Helder get?

Den Helder gets around 1,900 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 8.0 hours a day; in December there are 2.0 hours a day.

What time zone is Den Helder in?

Den Helder uses the time zone Europe/Amsterdam: UTC+1 in January and UTC+2 in July.

Which school holidays are best for Den Helder?

Den Helder has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 28) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 5). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 24, May half-term 28, Summer holidays 26, October half-term 7, Christmas holidays 5.

Near Den Helder

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Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Den Helder's – good alternatives.

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