AI-generatedLeeuwarden at a glance
- Best time
- May – Sep
- Warmest month
- Aug · 21°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,790 h
- Rain a year
- 795 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+1 / UTC+2
- Elevation
- 1 m
Climate in Leeuwarden
Leeuwarden has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 21 °C, while January is the coolest at 5 °C. With around 1,790 hours of sunshine a year, Leeuwarden is moderately sunny; May is the sunniest month with 7.7 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Fair
Best time to visit: May – September
Keep in mindFrequent rain
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 10°
- Midday, 13:00: about 13°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 14°
- Evening, 20:00: about 12°
- Night, 23:00: about 11°
08:0118:44
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 07:40–08:49 · evening 17:56–19:05
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:26–07:40 · evening 19:05–19:19
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 Leeuwarden in October?
In October, Leeuwarden is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 80 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Leeuwarden.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 42 min08:01 – 18:44
- UV index
- 2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 28 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 50 %58 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %12 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %28 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Leeuwarden
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 3.7 of 10.7 hours of daylight in Leeuwarden, 35 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Leeuwarden
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 in Leeuwarden: 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.
In October, Leeuwarden has about 14 rainy days with 80 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Leeuwarden
How breezy and how cloudy Leeuwarden 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.
In October, the wind in Leeuwarden typically peaks at 28 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 71 % of the sky over Leeuwarden: mostly cloudy, with about 3.7 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.
Nights and sleep in Leeuwarden
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 10°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in January (2°), the warmest in August (15°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from July to August. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from November to April, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 11 | 5° | 2° | 1.9 h | 13 | 63 |
| FebruaryFeb | 15 | 6° | 2° | 3.0 h | 11 | 55 |
| MarchMar | 23 | 8° | 3° | 4.7 h | 11 | 46 |
| AprilApr | 51 | 12° | 6° | 6.8 h | 10 | 42 |
| MayMay | 67 | 16° | 9° | 7.7 h | 11 | 60 |
| JuneJun | 79 | 18° | 12° | 7.5 h | 12 | 67 |
| JulyJul | 73 | 20° | 15° | 7.6 h | 14 | 85 |
| AugustAug | 72 | 21° | 15° | 6.9 h | 14 | 86 |
| SeptemberSep | 69 | 18° | 13° | 5.2 h | 12 | 72 |
| OctoberOct | 40 | 14° | 10° | 3.7 h | 14 | 80 |
| NovemberNov | 14 | 9° | 6° | 2.1 h | 15 | 69 |
| DecemberDec | 9 | 6° | 3° | 1.7 h | 14 | 71 |
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
53.20° N, 5.81° E · 1 m · Europe/Amsterdam
Best time to visit Leeuwarden
The best time to visit Leeuwarden is from May to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to June. Rain is most frequent from July to January; the wettest month is August with 86 mm.
Leeuwarden through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Leeuwarden in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 8–16 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 32 rainy days in all
Leeuwarden in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 18–21 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 40 rainy days in all
Leeuwarden in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 9–18 °C by day
- 4 h of sun a day
- 41 rainy days in all
Leeuwarden in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 5–6 °C by day
- 2 h of sun a day
- 38 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Leeuwarden for you.
Your best months: July – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Leeuwarden
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
June has the better holiday weather in Leeuwarden: score 79 against 40. In June, days are 4 °C warmer than in October. June has 2 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 4 hours longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 40 | 79better |
| Day high | 14° | 18° |
| Night low | 10° | 12° |
| Sunshine | 3.7 h | 7.5 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 14 | 12better |
| Rainfall | 80 mm | 67 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
May – Jun
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Jul – Jan
12 or more rainy days
Leeuwarden month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
11January5° · 2 h
In January, Leeuwarden is cold: daytime highs average 5 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 63 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Leeuwarden.
Leeuwarden in January15February6° · 3 h
In February, Leeuwarden is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights cool down to about 2 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 3 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 55 mm in total. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Leeuwarden.
Leeuwarden in February23March8° · 5 h
In March, Leeuwarden is cold: daytime highs average 8 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 46 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Leeuwarden.
Leeuwarden in March51April12° · 7 h
In April, Leeuwarden is cool: daytime highs average 12 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 42 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Leeuwarden.
Leeuwarden in April67May16° · 8 h
In May, Leeuwarden is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 60 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Leeuwarden.
Leeuwarden in May79June18° · 8 h
In June, Leeuwarden is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 67 mm in total. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Leeuwarden.
Leeuwarden in June73July20° · 8 h
In July, Leeuwarden is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 85 mm. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Leeuwarden.
Leeuwarden in July72August21° · 7 h
In August, Leeuwarden is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 86 mm in total. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Leeuwarden.
Leeuwarden in August69September18° · 5 h
In September, Leeuwarden is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 72 mm in total. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Leeuwarden.
Leeuwarden in September40October14° · 4 h
In October, Leeuwarden is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 80 mm. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Leeuwarden.
Leeuwarden in October14November9° · 2 h
In November, Leeuwarden is cold: daytime highs average 9 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 69 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 28 km/h. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Leeuwarden.
Leeuwarden in November9December6° · 2 h
In December, Leeuwarden is cold: daytime highs average 6 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 71 mm. It is often windy, with gusts of around 30 km/h. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Leeuwarden.
Leeuwarden in DecemberLeeuwarden compared
Put Leeuwarden side by side with another destination.
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Leeuwarden vs. Harlingen
In October the holiday weather in Leeuwarden and Harlingen is about equally good (score 40 vs. 38). During the day it is about as warm in Harlingen as in Leeuwarden.
| in October | Leeuwarden | Harlingen |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 40 | 38 |
| Daytime high | 14° | 14° |
| Sea | – | 14° |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 14 | 16 |
| Best time | May – Sep | Apr – Aug |
Through the year
Netherlands in October: the best places
In October, Leeuwarden ranks 23 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Breda15°50
- 2Eindhoven15°50
- 3Tilburg15°49
- 4's-Hertogenbosch15°48
- 5Dordrecht15°48
- 6Deventer14°47
- 7Amersfoort15°47
- 8Arnhem15°47
- 23LeeuwardenThis page14°40
Planning a trip to Leeuwarden
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Leeuwarden 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.
Leeuwarden has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 72) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 10).
- 43
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 11 °C by day
- 6.2 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
- 69
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 16 °C by day
- 7.7 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 72
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
GoodBest holidays
- 20 °C by day
- 7.1 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 40
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 14 °C by day
- 3.7 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 10
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 6 °C by day
- 1.8 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
- 470 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 Leeuwarden
When is the best time to visit Leeuwarden?
The best time to visit Leeuwarden is from May to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Leeuwarden?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 21 °C and nights around 15 °C. January is the coolest month at 5 °C.
When does it rain most in Leeuwarden?
Rain is most frequent from July to January; the wettest month is August with 86 mm. The driest month is April with 42 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Leeuwarden get?
Leeuwarden gets around 1,790 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 7.7 hours a day; in December there are 1.7 hours a day.
What time zone is Leeuwarden in?
Leeuwarden uses the time zone Europe/Amsterdam: UTC+1 in January and UTC+2 in July.
Which school holidays are best for Leeuwarden?
Leeuwarden has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 72) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 10). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 43, May half-term 69, Summer holidays 72, October half-term 40, Christmas holidays 10.
Near Leeuwarden
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Leeuwarden
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Leeuwarden's – good alternatives.