The temperature in the Netherlands averaged 10.6 degrees Celsius in 2008, making it the 12th warm year in a row and the ninth warmest since 1901, says weather bureau KNMI.

January was the most notable month, with an average temperature of 6.5 degrees Celsius, compared with a seasonal norm of 2.8.
But September, October and December were chilly, the KNMI says. This month, the average temperature so far has been 2.6 degrees, compared with a 4 degree norm.
Coldest temperature of the year was recorded in the southern town of Woensdrecht on Sunday night, when it hit -9.2 degrees. The warmest place was Eelde in Groningen, which reached 34.2 degrees on July 2.
This year has also been a lot sunnier than normal, the KNMI said.