AI-generatedRotterdam at a glance
- Best time
- May – Sep
- Warmest month
- Aug · 22°
- Sunshine a year
- 1,750 h
- Rain a year
- 795 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC+1 / UTC+2
- Elevation
- 9 m
Climate in Rotterdam
Rotterdam has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 22 °C, while January is the coolest at 6 °C. With around 1,750 hours of sunshine a year, Rotterdam is moderately sunny; May is the sunniest month with 7.3 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 14°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 15°
- Evening, 20:00: about 12°
- Night, 23:00: about 11°
08:0518:51
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 07:44–08:51 · evening 18:04–19:12
- Blue hour
- Morning 07:31–07:44 · evening 19:12–19:25
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 Rotterdam in October?
In October, Rotterdam is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 77 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Rotterdam.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 10 h 46 min08:05 – 18:51
- UV index
- 2 · lowclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 23 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 %67 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %12 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %31 %
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 Rotterdam
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 10.8 hours of daylight in Rotterdam, 34 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 5 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Rotterdam
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 70 min
- Fair skin
- about 90 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 Rotterdam: 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, Rotterdam has about 14 rainy days with 77 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Rotterdam
How breezy and how cloudy Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam typically peaks at 23 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 Rotterdam: 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 Rotterdam
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 9°. 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) in 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 | 12 | 6° | 2° | 2.2 h | 12 | 63 |
| FebruaryFeb | 15 | 7° | 2° | 3.2 h | 12 | 57 |
| MarchMar | 30 | 10° | 3° | 4.6 h | 11 | 53 |
| AprilApr | 55 | 14° | 6° | 6.4 h | 11 | 49 |
| MayMay | 72 | 17° | 9° | 7.3 h | 12 | 65 |
| JuneJun | 79 | 20° | 12° | 7.2 h | 11 | 66 |
| JulyJul | 71 | 22° | 14° | 7.1 h | 14 | 80 |
| AugustAug | 72 | 22° | 15° | 6.5 h | 13 | 79 |
| SeptemberSep | 71 | 19° | 12° | 5.1 h | 12 | 65 |
| OctoberOct | 45 | 15° | 9° | 3.7 h | 14 | 77 |
| NovemberNov | 18 | 10° | 5° | 2.2 h | 14 | 70 |
| DecemberDec | 9 | 7° | 3° | 1.8 h | 14 | 70 |
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
51.92° N, 4.48° E · 9 m · Europe/Amsterdam
Best time to visit Rotterdam
The best time to visit Rotterdam is from May to September. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable in June and in September. Rain is most frequent in May and from July to August and from October to January; the wettest month is July with 80 mm.
Rotterdam through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Rotterdam in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 10–17 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 34 rainy days in all
Rotterdam in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 20–22 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 39 rainy days in all
Rotterdam in autumn
Sep – Nov
Fair
- 10–19 °C by day
- 4 h of sun a day
- 39 rainy days in all
Rotterdam in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 6–7 °C by day
- 2 h of sun a day
- 37 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Rotterdam for you.
Your best months: June – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Rotterdam
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 Rotterdam: score 79 against 45. In June, days are 5 °C warmer than in October. June has 3 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 4 hours longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 45 | 79better |
| Day high | 15° | 20° |
| Night low | 9° | 12° |
| Sunshine | 3.7 h | 7.2 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 14 | 11better |
| Rainfall | 77 mm | 66 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
Jun, Sep
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
May, Jul – Aug, Oct – Jan
12 or more rainy days
Rotterdam month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
12January6° · 2 h
In January, Rotterdam is cold: daytime highs average 6 °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 12 rainy days and 63 mm in total. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam in January15February7° · 3 h
In February, Rotterdam is cold: daytime highs average 7 °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 12 rainy days and 57 mm in total. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam in February30March10° · 5 h
In March, Rotterdam is cold: daytime highs average 10 °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 53 mm in total. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam in March55April14° · 6 h
In April, Rotterdam is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 49 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam in April72May17° · 7 h
In May, Rotterdam is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 65 mm in total. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam in May79June20° · 7 h
In June, Rotterdam is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 66 mm in total. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam in June71July22° · 7 h
In July, Rotterdam is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 80 mm. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam in July72August22° · 7 h
In August, Rotterdam is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 79 mm in total. All in all, August is a good month for a holiday in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam in August71September19° · 5 h
In September, Rotterdam is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 65 mm in total. All in all, September is a good month for a holiday in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam in September45October15° · 4 h
In October, Rotterdam is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 4 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 77 mm in total. All in all, October is a so-so month for a holiday in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam in October18November10° · 2 h
In November, Rotterdam is cold: daytime highs average 10 °C, and nights cool down to about 5 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. It rains often – on about 14 days, adding up to 70 mm. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam in November9December7° · 2 h
In December, Rotterdam is cold: daytime highs average 7 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sun is scarce, with only about 2 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 70 mm in total. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Rotterdam.
Rotterdam in DecemberRotterdam compared
Put Rotterdam side by side with another destination.
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Rotterdam vs. Delft
In October the holiday weather in Rotterdam and Delft is about equally good (score 45 vs. 44). During the day it is about as warm in Delft as in Rotterdam.
| in October | Rotterdam | Delft |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 45 | 44 |
| Daytime high | 15° | 15° |
| Sunshine | 4 h | 4 h |
| Rainy days | 14 | 14 |
| Best time | May – Sep | May – Sep |
Through the year
Netherlands in October: the best places
In October, Rotterdam ranks 10 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Breda15°50
- 2Eindhoven15°50
- 3Tilburg15°49
- 4Dordrecht15°48
- 5's-Hertogenbosch15°48
- 6Amersfoort15°47
- 7Nijmegen15°47
- 8Arnhem15°47
- 10RotterdamThis page15°45
Planning a trip to Rotterdam
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Rotterdam 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.
Rotterdam has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 73) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 11).
- 48
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 12 °C by day
- 5.9 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
- 73
May half-term
May – Jun
GoodBest holidays
- 18 °C by day
- 7.3 h of sun a day
- 12 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 72
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Good
- 22 °C by day
- 6.7 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 45
October half-term
Oct
Fair
- 15 °C by day
- 3.7 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 11
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 6 °C by day
- 2.0 h of sun a day
- 13 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
- 340 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 Rotterdam
When is the best time to visit Rotterdam?
The best time to visit Rotterdam 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 Rotterdam?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 22 °C and nights around 15 °C. January is the coolest month at 6 °C.
When does it rain most in Rotterdam?
Rain is most frequent in May and from July to August and from October to January; the wettest month is July with 80 mm. The driest month is April with 49 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Rotterdam get?
Rotterdam gets around 1,750 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is May with 7.3 hours a day; in December there are 1.8 hours a day.
What time zone is Rotterdam in?
Rotterdam uses the time zone Europe/Amsterdam: UTC+1 in January and UTC+2 in July.
Which school holidays are best for Rotterdam?
Rotterdam has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 73) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 11). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 48, May half-term 73, Summer holidays 72, October half-term 45, Christmas holidays 11.
Near Rotterdam
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Rotterdam
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Rotterdam's – good alternatives.