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Netherlands · Air quality

Air quality in the Netherlands: where to check and what to do

Check Dutch air on Luchtmeetnet: index from Goed (good) to Zeer slecht (very bad). RIVM warns of moderate smog and raises an alarm for severe smog.

Updated 2026-10-27· 8 official sources· Lees in het Nederlands

Short answer. Check Luchtmeetnet, the Dutch air-quality network, which rates the air from 1 (little pollution) to 11 (a lot) in five classes from Goed (good) to Zeer slecht (very bad) 1. At Onvoldoende (insufficient), consider doing less physical effort; if you are sensitive, do less and talk to your doctor 2. The RIVM issues a smog warning for moderate smog and a smog alarm for severe smog 3.

Where can I check air quality right now?

On luchtmeetnet.nl, an initiative of the RIVM, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, GGD Amsterdam, DCMR and regional environmental services 8. It shows the values measured in the past hour at 99 locations, a 72-hour forecast, and an alert when a smog warning or a wood-burning alert (stookalert) applies 8. It gives a recommended action for your location based on the calculated air-quality index, because air quality can differ a lot over short distances 2. The RIVM also posts current smog warnings on its news page 3.

What do the index levels mean?

Luchtmeetnet's index (LKI) covers nitrogen dioxide, ozone and fine particles (PM10 and PM2.5). Each pollutant is converted to a number from 1 to 11; the highest one sets the overall index 1.

Class LKI PM2.5 (µg/m³) 1 What to do 2
Goed (good) 0 – 3 0 – 20 No need to change your usual activities.
Matig (moderate) 3 – 6 20 – 50 No need to change; if you are sensitive, consider less physical effort.
Onvoldoende (insufficient) 6 – 8 50 – 90 Consider less physical effort; if sensitive, do less and talk to your doctor about medication.
Slecht (bad) 8 – 10 90 – 140 Take it easy and reduce physical effort; if sensitive, talk to your doctor about medication.
Zeer slecht (very bad) above 10 above 140 A smog alarm applies. Take it easy and avoid physical effort.

The legal smog warning and smog alarm levels match the "slecht" and "zeer slecht" classes 4. The RIVM defines three smog levels, slight, moderate and severe: a warning goes out when moderate smog is likely, an alarm when severe smog is likely 3. For ozone, moderate smog means an hourly average of 180 to 240 µg/m³ and severe smog above 240; for fine particles, a daily average of 70 to 100 µg/m³ and above 100 3. See Air quality index explained.

How polluted is the air on average?

The population-weighted median of Dutch cities shows about 9 µg/m³ of PM2.5 (annual mean 2021-2023) 5, close to twice the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³ 7. Nitrogen dioxide is about 11.2 µg/m³ 6, above the WHO guideline of 10 µg/m³ 7. That NO2 figure is a regional background over roughly 80 km: a busy street will be higher.

What should I do on a bad air day, or with smoke or dust?

  • Who is at risk: people with lung or heart and vascular disease, diabetics, children, older people and pregnant women feel moderate smog first; so do athletes and people doing heavy outdoor work 3.
  • Ozone (summer smog): ozone is worst in the late afternoon and early evening; staying indoors then lowers exposure, because ozone levels are lower inside 3. See Ozone days.
  • Fine particles (winter smog, New Year's fireworks): around New Year, people sensitive to air pollution are advised to stay indoors and temporarily close windows, doors and ventilation grilles 3. See Pollution episodes.
  • Medication: people with asthma or COPD should always carry their medicine, especially outdoors, and can ask their GP about using an inhaler during smog 3. See Sensitive people and polluted air and Children and polluted air.
  • Smoke or dust: see Wildfire smoke, A clean-air room at home, Masks for smoke and Dust storms. For official alerts, see our Netherlands alerts page.

A household plan can note who in your home is sensitive to polluted air and which room you would keep closed.

Frequently asked questions

What ozone level triggers a smog warning in the Netherlands?

Moderate smog starts at an hourly average of 180 µg/m³ of ozone; severe smog, which brings a smog alarm, is above 240 µg/m³ 3.

Is the Dutch index the same as the European one?

No. Luchtmeetnet uses its own index, from 1 to 11 in five classes 1.

Where are smog warnings published?

On the RIVM's news page 3.

Should I stay inside during summer smog?

Staying indoors in the late afternoon and early evening lowers ozone exposure 3.

Sources

  1. Luchtmeetnet (RIVM and partners) — Luchtkwaliteitsindex (LKI) — https://www.luchtmeetnet.nl/informatie/luchtkwaliteit/luchtkwaliteitsindex-(lki) (accessed 2026-10-27)
  2. Luchtmeetnet (RIVM and partners) — Handelingsadvies — https://www.luchtmeetnet.nl/informatie/luchtkwaliteit/handelingsadvies (accessed 2026-10-27)
  3. Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM) — Smog — https://www.rivm.nl/lucht/luchtkwaliteit-Nederland/smog (accessed 2026-10-27)
  4. Luchtmeetnet (RIVM and partners) — Smogalarm — https://www.luchtmeetnet.nl/informatie/luchtkwaliteit/smogalarm (accessed 2026-10-27)
  5. Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group (ACAG), Washington University in St. Louis — Surface PM2.5, V6.GL.02.04 (annual mean 2021-2023) — https://sites.wustl.edu/acag/datasets/surface-pm2-5/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
  6. Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) — CAMS global reanalysis (EAC4) — https://ads.atmosphere.copernicus.eu/ (accessed 2026-10-27)
  7. World Health Organization (WHO) — WHO global air quality guidelines (2021) — https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240034228 (accessed 2026-10-27)
  8. Luchtmeetnet (RIVM and partners) — Deze website — https://www.luchtmeetnet.nl/informatie/algemeen/deze-website (accessed 2026-10-27)

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Sources

  1. Luchtmeetnet (RIVM and partners) · Luchtkwaliteitsindex (LKI) checked 2026-10-27
  2. Luchtmeetnet (RIVM and partners) · Handelingsadvies checked 2026-10-27
  3. Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu (RIVM) · Smog checked 2026-10-27
  4. Luchtmeetnet (RIVM and partners) · Smogalarm checked 2026-10-27
  5. Atmospheric Composition Analysis Group (ACAG), Washington University in St. Louis · Surface PM2.5, V6.GL.02.04 (annual mean 2021-2023) checked 2026-10-27
  6. Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) · CAMS global reanalysis (EAC4) checked 2026-10-27
  7. World Health Organization (WHO) · WHO global air quality guidelines (2021) checked 2026-10-27
  8. Luchtmeetnet (RIVM and partners) · Deze website checked 2026-10-27