The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) issued an orange weather alert for Gelderland and three other eastern provinces on Saturday, June 27, 2026.
The warning comes after a day of extreme summer heat.
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Severe thunderstorms are expected to move across the Netherlands on Saturday evening and overnight into Sunday.
The KNMI warned of large hail between 2 to 5 centimeters in diameter.
Localized wind gusts of 75 to 100 kilometers per hour are also forecast. Heavy precipitation could bring 20 to 40 millimeters of rain within a short timeframe.
Heat and Storm Alerts Overlap
A red alert for heat remains active until 9:00 p. m.
on Saturday. The orange alert for thunderstorms takes effect at 8:00 p.
m. , creating an unusual atmospheric overlap.
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The intense heat forced the cancellation of an Orkest De Ereprijs concert in Elburg on Saturday evening. Organizers cited unsafe conditions for musicians, crew, and the audience.
Daytime heat also led to various incidents. In Lunteren, the fire department rescued a cat from a roof gutter early in the morning.
In Wageningen, residents gave popsicles to firefighters pruning low-hanging tree branches.
Dermatologist Ineke Terra from Arnhem noted that sweating is a vital bodily function for temperature regulation. However, she acknowledged that its odor can cause social discomfort.
Recreation areas like Strandpark Slijk-Ewijk saw large crowds seeking relief from the heat. Many visitors reported high indoor temperatures at homes without air conditioning.
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Construction for the National Cycling Championships in Nijmegen proceeded as planned. Dozens of volunteers prepared the course for Sunday's scheduled races.
