The Netherlands has set a new record for mild weather this year, with the maximum temperature at the De Bilt weather station staying above 10° for 234 consecutive days — the longest such period since records began.

The streak began on 17 March and the maximum temperature has not dropped below 10° since then. The previous record was set in 2020, when temperatures remained in double digits for 233 days, from April 1 to November 19.

A run of more than 200 mild days has now occurred in 20 of the 125 years that measurements have been taken in De Bilt. Fourteen of those years have been in this century and a run of 200 days or more has become almost normal, weather bureau Weeronline said.

Meteorologists attribute the increase to climate change, which has raised average temperatures and reduced the number of cooler days in spring and autumn.

The shortest series of mild days was recorded in 1902, 1962 and 1974, when temperatures stayed above 10° for just 140 consecutive days.

There is no change to the mild temperatures for the next few days at least. According to the KNMI weather bureau‘s long range forecast, the maximum temperature will remain above 10° until at least next week and on Wednesday it could hit a high of 17°.