Humidity affects how heat feels on your body more than most people realise. At high humidity, sweat doesn't evaporate efficiently — the cooling mechanism your body relies on is compromised. Shorts help, but they can't fix everything.
The heat index
The heat index combines air temperature and relative humidity to express how hot it actually feels. At 25°C and 40% humidity, the heat index is about 25°C. At 25°C and 80% humidity, it rises to around 28–29°C. That extra 4°C is felt entirely in how uncomfortable you are.
| Air temp | Humidity | Heat index |
|---|---|---|
| 22°C | 40% | 22°C |
| 22°C | 70% | 24°C |
| 25°C | 60% | 26°C |
| 25°C | 80% | 29°C |
| 28°C | 75% | 33°C |
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Do shorts help with humidity?
Yes, to a degree. Less fabric means more skin exposed to air movement. When there's a breeze, shorts help air circulate around your legs and improve evaporative cooling. In still, humid air, the benefit is smaller — but long trousers would still be worse.
Where shorts fall short
Above 30°C with humidity over 80%, no clothing choice makes the heat comfortable. The Netherlands doesn't often reach these extremes, but it happens during heat waves in July and August. In those conditions, staying out of the heat matters more than what you're wearing.
Fabric choices at high humidity
Synthetic fabrics (polyester, nylon) wick moisture better than cotton and dry faster. Linen is also good — it breathes well and dries quickly. Cotton shorts in high humidity feel heavy and stay damp.
Learn more
Read next
Can I wear shorts at 12 degrees? Usually too cold
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.
Can I wear shorts at 15 degrees? Only in the sun
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.
Can I wear shorts at 17 degrees? With sun, yes
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.
Can I wear shorts at 18 degrees? Yes, if it's sunny
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.
Why humidity matters for clothing advice
Humidity works in both directions: it makes hot days feel suffocating and cold days feel more biting. Here's what's actually happening and why KorteBroekAan.nl includes it.