No Air Conditioning During a Dutch Heatwave? A Home Cooling and Heat-Safety Guide

Cool your home and protect health

What you need to know

Most Dutch homes do not have air conditioning. During prolonged heat, the most effective order is to block heat during the day, release it once the air outside becomes cooler, and give extra attention to older adults, babies and people with chronic conditions. This guide turns home cooling, warning signs, hot-night sleep and rental-home overheating into practical steps.

1. Check today's heat signals first

Use the KNMI website or app to check local weather warnings and hittekracht, and verify again before sharing an old screenshot.
RIVM's Nationaal Hitteplan is a public-health measure activated from forecasts; it is not the same as a formally confirmed Dutch hittegolf.
Live conditions change, so this guide does not fix a particular warning status in permanent content.

2. Do a 60-second risk check

Check whether you or someone at home has a headache, dizziness, fatigue, nausea, intense thirst or heavy sweating.
Identify anyone aged 75 or over, babies, pregnant people, people with chronic illness or medication, and anyone living alone.
Compare indoor and outdoor temperatures and decide in advance whether it will be safe to ventilate tonight.

3. Do not push through these symptoms

For headache, dizziness, fatigue, intense thirst or heavy sweating, stop, move somewhere cool and cool the body. Offer small sips of water only when the person is fully alert and able to swallow.
For nausea, cramps, a rapid pulse, pale skin or near-fainting that does not ease quickly or worsens, call the huisarts; at night, weekends or public holidays, call the huisartsen-spoedpost.
Call 112 immediately for confusion, unusual responses, poor coordination, seizures, loss of consciousness, repeated vomiting, or if someone has fainted and is not awake after two minutes.
Do not give drinks to someone who is not fully alert. Call 112 first and follow the operator's cooling instructions.

4. Block daytime heat before deciding on windows

Lower shading before sunlight reaches the glass. Exterior awnings, shutters or screens are usually more effective than indoor curtains.
When it is hotter outside than inside, close large windows and doors so hot air stays out; keep ventilatieroosters open.
Once it is cooler outside than inside, open windows on opposite sides, doors and internal doors to create cross-ventilation. Compare temperatures instead of guessing by the time.

5. Point the fan in the right direction

A fan does not lower room temperature; it mainly helps sweat evaporate so people feel cooler.
When outside is hotter, close the windows and aim the fan at people. Wipe the neck and limbs with a damp cloth first if helpful.
When outside is cooler, place a fan at one open window facing out to push hot air away, while opening another window for cooler air to enter.
Use a low setting for sleep and avoid prolonged strong airflow directly at the face. Do not rely on a fan alone if symptoms develop.

6. Cool the body and drink regularly

Stop heavy activity, move into shade and wear light, loose clothing. Use a lukewarm-to-cool shower, soak hands or feet, or wipe the neck and limbs with a damp cloth.
Keep water nearby and take regular small drinks. Water and tea are suitable; alcohol is not hydration.
Passing less urine or noticeably darker urine needs attention. People with heart failure, kidney disease or diuretics should not independently increase fluid intake.
Never stop or change medication by yourself. Ask your huisarts or apotheek about fluids and medicines.

7. Set up for a hot night

Shade bedroom windows during the day and keep large windows shut while the outside air is hotter.
Open windows for cross-ventilation only after it becomes cooler outside, while considering burglary and child safety.
If the bedroom stays hot, sleep downstairs or in the coolest room. Use light sheets and sleepwear and keep water nearby.
Run the fan on low and avoid pointing it directly at the face.

8. If the home will not cool, move people

Start with the coolest room in the home; leave an overheated attic for a lower floor.
If the home remains too hot, consider a library, indoor shopping centre or shaded park, and check whether your gemeente or GGD has opened cool spaces.
Confirm opening hours and bring water, regular medicines and a charged phone. Older adults, ill people and young children should not be left to cope alone.

9. Give extra attention to older adults and medication

RIVM identifies people aged 75 and over as the largest high-risk group. Babies, people with chronic illness, pregnant people and those living alone also need more support.
Make proactive contact, check that the person can stay cool and drink according to medical advice, and watch for changes in alertness or urination.
Some medicines increase the risk of overheating or dehydration, but never change the dose yourself. Ask an apotheek or huisarts.

10. Babies: never dilute formula

For babies under six months, offer breast milk or correctly mixed formula more often as needed. Do not give separate water and never dilute formula.
Offer older children water regularly. If a child drinks less than half their usual amount, or has no urine or wet nappy for 12 hours, call the huisarts or huisartsen-spoedpost that day.
For suspected dehydration under three months, difficulty waking, unusual responses or near-fainting, call a doctor immediately; for a life-threatening emergency, call 112.
Never leave a child alone in a parked car.

11. Rental home overheating: document it in writing

Record hot dates and indoor temperatures and photograph the windows, roof, shading and the home.
Notify the landlord in writing, keep the email or letter and explain what needs attention.
For social or mid-market rent, if the problem remains six weeks after written notice, check the Huurcommissie hittewoning or defects procedure.
Free-sector access to Huurcommissie depends on the tenancy and its opinion is usually non-binding. Persistent overheating may be a defect, but it does not automatically require the landlord to install air conditioning.
Obtain the landlord's permission before installing exterior shading, ventilation or air conditioning.

12. Save this 24-hour no-AC plan

Early morning: release heat while the outside air is cooler; lower shading before sunlight reaches the windows.
Morning: close large windows and doors once the outside becomes hotter, while keeping ventilatieroosters open.
12:00–18:00: stay in the coolest place, pause heavy activity, drink regularly and check on older and younger relatives.
Evening and night: reopen windows only after it is cooler outside, use a fan facing out to expel heat and sleep in the coolest room.
At any time, treat emergency warning signs as described in section 3.

Official sources

Information reviewed 11 August 2026. Recheck the live KNMI and RIVM status on publication day. This guide provides general information and does not replace personal medical or legal advice.