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When can you wear shorts? Find out what makes sense by season, temperature and weather conditions.
How warm does it have to be for shorts? Read the answer for each temperature.
12°C (54°F) is too cold for shorts for most people. In full sun with no wind it can feel like 17°C, and then it's just about doable.
15°C (59°F) is the tipping point. In sun with no wind it feels like 20°C and shorts are fine; overcast and windy it feels like 11°C.
At 17°C shorts work, but only with sun or little wind. Overcast with a steady breeze it feels like 13°C, and long trousers are the better call.
18°C (64°F) is shorts weather when the sun is out: it feels like 23°C. Overcast and windy it feels like 14°C and trousers are the better call.
At 19°C (66°F) sun and wind decide: it can feel like 25°C or 12°C. Sunny or calm means shorts; overcast and windy means trousers.
Yes, 20°C (68°F) is usually shorts weather. Only overcast skies with wind or rain drop the feels-like to 13–16°C. When to think twice.
Yes: at 21°C (70°F) shorts are fine for almost everyone. The one exception is overcast and windy at once, when it feels like 14°C.
22°C is 72°F: warm, not hot. It's comfortable shorts weather for nearly everyone. Only strong wind with cloud or rain makes it feel cool.
Yes, 23°C is shorts weather. Even overcast with a strong wind it still feels like 16°C. Only near-certain rain gives you a reason to hesitate.
At 24°C shorts are a given. Watch the sun instead: on a clear day in June or July the UV index is high enough to put sunscreen on your legs.
25°C (77°F) is always shorts weather; long trousers just get sweaty. At this temperature the question is heat and humidity, not staying warm.
What to expect each month, from March through October.
March temperatures in the Netherlands are unpredictable. A warm day can feel like spring, but the average is still low. When does a March shorts day actually work?
April is unpredictable in the Netherlands. Warm spring days alternate with cold spells. We explain when shorts work in April and when they don't.
May is the first month where shorts become genuinely normal in the Netherlands. But how warm does it get and when is it safe to head out without a jacket?
June is the start of real shorts season in the Netherlands. But the weather is still variable. Here's what June typically looks like and when shorts are the right call.
July is the warmest month in the Netherlands. Shorts are the obvious choice, but heat, thunderstorms and humidity all play a role in how comfortable you actually are.
August is warm but already hints at what's coming. Shorts remain the right choice for most of the month, though evenings start to cool earlier than in July.
September starts as summer but ends as autumn. We explain when to put the shorts away and what to watch for in this transitional month.
October is when shorts season ends for most people. Average temperatures drop below 15°C and wind increases. But there are still occasional shorts days — if conditions align.
Wind, rain, clouds or shade: how to tell whether shorts still work.
Cloud cover removes the warmth you normally get from the sun. We explain how much impact cloud cover has and when shorts are still realistic in overcast conditions.
Wind is the biggest spoiler for shorts weather. How strong does the wind need to be to make shorts uncomfortable, and what can you expect at wind force 3, 4 or 5?
High humidity makes heat feel heavier and sweat less effective. Shorts help with this — but there's a point where humidity makes everything uncomfortable regardless.
The same date, different times of day: morning shorts often fail where afternoon shorts work fine. The temperature gap between 8am and 3pm can be 8–10 degrees.
A terrace in the sun feels warmer than the thermometer suggests. Direct radiation can add several degrees to how warm your legs feel — but shade and wind take it away fast.
Moving from sun to shade in shorts can feel like a 5–8 degree drop. Understanding how shade affects temperature helps you decide when shorts still work.
Cycling creates its own wind. Even at low speeds, the wind chill on a bike is significant. Here's how speed and air temperature combine for cyclists in shorts.
Rain and shorts are an odd combination. Whether it makes sense depends on temperature, how long you'll be out, and what you're doing.
A thunderstorm changes conditions quickly. Temperature drops, rain arrives and wind picks up — sometimes within minutes. Here's what this means for wearing shorts.
Background and practical tips on wearing shorts.
Shorts today if the feels-like is above 15°C (59°F) and heavy rain is unlikely. How to decide, what shifts the line, and when it is a trousers day.
Above a feels-like of 15°C (59°F), unless rain is almost certain. A degree-by-degree guide from 12 to 25°C, plus when that happens in the Netherlands.
Children aren't just small adults when it comes to cold. Their body proportions and activity levels change the temperature at which shorts are comfortable or too cold.
People who live in cooler climates often start wearing shorts at lower temperatures than visitors from warmer countries expect. Cold acclimatisation is a real physiological process.
Shorts and a jumper isn't a fashion statement — it's a practical response to how the body loses heat. When the temperature is right, it's the most logical combination.
How many pairs of shorts to pack depends on destination, season and activities. Overpacking is common; this guide helps you calculate more precisely.
Weather apps show air temperature, but your body responds to feels-like temperature. The gap between the two can be 10 degrees or more. Here's what drives that difference.