Very warm weather and oppressive heat coming: extra shade tents at Pinkpop and runners will lose registration fees

To draw attention to global warming, participants in the annual ‘Climate Classic’ will cycle along the “future coastline” of the Netherlands on Friday. Routes lead past Breda, Den Bosch, De Bilt and Zwolle, places that are above the Normal Amsterdam Level. A bitter irony: due to predicted heat, high humidity, possible thunderstorms and gusts of wind, the cycling tour will be “drastically” adjusted, thus the organizer.

“Although current events require attention to climate change, we consider the health and safety of all participants to be of great importance,” continues the organization, which wants to prevent cyclists from still being busy after fourteen hours. For this reason, a number of longer routes are being deleted, for example the one of 375 kilometers (Breda-Groningen).

Some sporting events are completely canceled on the advice of the authorities. Take the running race ‘De Vuurtorenloop’, the route of which was partly plotted over the beach of Hoek van Holland. Riders, who usually trained for months, will not get their entry fee back, say the organization against RTV Rijnmond. “This is force majeure. You stand with your back against the wall. It runs into tens of thousands of euros, costs that have already been incurred.” An “appropriate gesture” is still being considered.

The oldest Dutch pop festival Pinkpop says it is well prepared for “different weather scenarios”. Visitors will set up their tents this Thursday for the festival that takes place from Friday to Sunday in Landgraaf, Limburg. The organization has installed additional water points and organized additional shade areas, reports regional broadcaster L1. The Red Cross, which deploys approximately ninety volunteers on the festival site every day, brings extra ice, cold towels, sponges and fans.

In Amsterdam, drop-in centers for the homeless are open longer, where people can go for cooling, water and sunscreen. Aid providers also make rounds through the city to educate homeless people about the risks of drug use in high temperatures.

Curtains

On Friday the temperature can rise locally to 36 degrees. Wind gusts of 75-90 kilometers per hour are expected in Limburg. Hailstones can be 2-4 centimeters in diameter. Temperatures that could rise to 35 degrees are also expected throughout the country on Monday.

As a precaution, the KNMI’s National Heat Plan, intended to warn informal caregivers and healthcare workers, has been in force since Thursday.

People over 75, who are less likely to get thirsty and have more difficulty controlling their own body temperature, are particularly at risk from the heat. Chronically ill people, people in social isolation, homeless people and (very) young people can also do this according to the RIVM are more likely to experience fatigue, dehydration or heat stroke.

The institute advises informal caregivers to place a jug of water near vulnerable people, close curtains or turn on a fan or air conditioning. Furthermore, it is recommended to only take a walk in the “early hours or later in the evening”, writes the RIVM.

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