King’s Day is likely to be colder than New Years Day this year but then January 1 was a record 15.6 Celsius, weather bureau Weeronline said on Tuesday.

The run-up to King’s Day on April 27 will be chilly, with the temperature falling to 10 Celsius on Wednesday and overnight frost is an option, Weeronline says.

In Utrecht, where the market traditionally starts at 6pm on April 26, a winter coat is definitely to be recommended, Weeronline said. However, there is no rain on the cards, so the umbrellas can stay at home.

King’s Day itself will start out feeling very cold, with temperatures just above freezing point but it will warm up to around 11 degrees in the north and 15 in the far south, where there may also be some morning sunshine. On average, the temperature at this time of year is around 17 Celsius.

Rain may move into the west in the afternoon and evening although in many places it will remain dry until most of the festivities are over.

The KNMI weather bureau is equally pessimistic about the King’s Day weather, and says there is a 50% chance of rain. Friday will be wetter, but by the weekend, the temperature will start creeping up again and there is more likelihood of sunshine, the KNMI said.