King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima cancel visits due to Code Red for weather

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands have cancelled their visits today due to a Code Red weather warning.

King Willem-Alexander was supposed to reveal a restored artwork in the statue garden at the Kröller-Müller Museum on De Hoge Veluwe. This would have required him to climb 300 steps in the open air.

Queen Máxima was supposed to reopen the Beelden aan Zee museum in The Hague. The museum has cancelled its entire program.

Eight provinces of the Netherlands are currently under a Code Red due to the expected extreme heat. It is the first time in history that a Code Red has been issued due to the heat. It concerns the provinces of North Brabant, Gelderland, Utrecht, Limburg, North Holland, South Holland, Flevoland, and Overijssel. Code Orange remains in effect in Zeeland, Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe, and Code Yellow is in effect on the Wadden Islands.

Temperatures between 36 and 39 degrees Celsius are expected inland, with locally higher values up to 40 degrees Celsius.

The Code Red is issued to advise everyone to stay out of the sun as much as possible, and to be aware of signs of dehydration, overheating and heatstroke. A code red indicates that dangerous weather could disrupt society.