Friesland heatwave forces event cancellations

On a tropical day in Friesland, temperatures reached 30 °C, the highest recorded in the province for the year. The heat prompted several organisations, shops and events to adjust or cancel activities. In Drachten, a children’s “spijkerdorp” was closed at noon, and nearby stores, such as Dorcas, ended trading early. The Leeuwarden gymnastics club halted all training sessions, citing unsafe indoor temperatures.

Local festivals in Sintjohannesga and Rotsterhaule added water games and offered extra water to cope with the heat, while organisers asked parents to protect children with sunscreen and to collect them earlier. The Wolvega fire brigade cancelled a planned competition due to the extreme temperatures, and the fire service in Kollum organised an evening water fest on the canal. Health and safety officials urged residents to stay hydrated and limit exposure.

The KNMI recorded 30 °C at the Leeuwarden station, marking the first tropical day of the year for Friesland and the warmest day nationwide, with even higher readings in Limburg.