From mobile jungles to shadow art: how Dutch people try to beat the heat

Amsterdam is advising residents to hang curtains outside their windows to combat rising summer temperatures, as the Netherlands activates a national heatwave plan. Eline Coolen, heat coordinator at the city's public health institute, shared this recommendation in a viral social media post last week, suggesting that people rig temporary rails or drape sheets outside to block direct sunlight from entering homes. These measures are intended to help moderate the heat in buildings designed for cooler, damper climates. The advice comes as the country experiences increasingly hot summers, prompting a need for adaptation strategies for urban environments. The initiative highlights a broader effort to address the impact of climate change on living conditions within the Netherlands.