Amsterdam’s run of tropical days has come to an end.
Forecasters expect daytime highs of about 19 degrees in the northwest of the country and up to around 25 degrees in the southeast for the rest of August.
That is a drop of more than 10 degrees from the peak of last week’s heat.
Rain returns, in fits and starts
Showers are expected to cross the country regularly from Tuesday onward.
Monday itself starts the change: cloudier, fresher, with rain likely later in the day.
For gardens, parks and sleep-deprived residents, the cooler air will come as a relief.
The drought is not over
Water authorities warn that a few weeks of showers will not undo months of dryness.
Groundwater levels remain low, and restrictions such as the daytime ban on drawing surface water stay in place until they are formally lifted.
The heat may be gone, but the summer’s water shortage will take far longer to repair.
