What Is Buienradar? Your Go-To Dutch Weather Radar
If you’ve moved to the Netherlands, it won’t take long before someone tells you to “check Buienradar.” This popular Dutch website and app is the unofficial weather authority in the country—and for good reason. With Dutch weather being famously unpredictable, Buienradar helps locals and expats alike track rainfall in real time.
What Is Buienradar?
Buienradar (literally “shower radar”) is an online platform and app that provides live weather data, especially focused on rain forecasts. It shows a radar animation of cloud and rain movements across the Netherlands, so you can time your bike rides, walks, or commutes around the rain.
Why Is It So Popular?
- Real-time accuracy: Buienradar updates frequently and is fairly reliable, especially for short-term rain forecasts.
- User-friendly: You can easily see when and where it will rain, down to the minute in many cases.
- Free and accessible: Available as a website (buienradar.nl) and as a mobile app.
How Expats Can Use It
Planning a picnic, school drop-off, or your commute? Open the Buienradar app, input your location, and get a 2-hour forecast of rain. It's especially handy in a country where weather can change every 15 minutes.
Other Features
- Temperature and wind speed forecasts
- UV and pollen data
- Severe weather alerts
Final Thought
While it might not always be 100% accurate, Buienradar is a reliable tool for anyone navigating life in the Netherlands. It’s no exaggeration to say that Dutch people plan their day around it—and you probably will too.