Netherlands Activates Heatwave Plan as Amsterdam Urges Outdoor Curtains to Cut 110 Annual Deaths
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 22
Netherlands Activates Heatwave Plan as Amsterdam Urges Outdoor Curtains to Cut 110 Annual Deaths
1 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 22
Summary
Amsterdam health officials urged residents to hang curtains or sheets outside large windows, saying blocking sunlight before it hits glass can sharply reduce indoor heat during the Dutch heatwave.
The Netherlands has activated its national heatwave plan, focusing on elderly and vulnerable people as authorities warn heat already causes about 110 deaths a year in Amsterdam alone.
Researchers and experts say simple measures work: awareness campaigns appear to lower deaths, while exterior blinds, white roofs and greener buildings can cool homes without energy-hungry air conditioning.
Urban fixes are also being tested, from fake trees and shaded pergolas to mobile “jungle blocks,” as 23% of surveyed homeowners said their homes become too hot in heatwaves.
Longer term, officials and economists argue cities built for cold northern winters must adapt for hotter summers, with one estimate putting the productivity cost of a single lost night’s sleep near €200.