# Netherlands switches to winter time at 03.00 tonight

> The Netherlands goes back to winter time at 03.00 tonight, so most people get an extra hour of sleep and evenings get dark earlier.

Society · published 2026-10-24 21:01 · https://nlnow.nl/a/clocks-go-back-an-hour-tonight-as-summer-time-ends/

Summer time ends tonight at 03.00, when the clocks go back one hour. Other European countries also switch to winter time overnight. Winter time is the Netherlands' standard time, and summer time returns on 28 March 2027.

Most people can sleep an hour longer tomorrow morning. Mornings get light earlier and evenings get dark earlier.

The Netherlands first introduced summer time in 1916, following Germany, which did so to save coal during the First World War. The clock changes were abolished in 1946 and reintroduced in 1977. During the oil crisis, the change was meant to save energy.

Saving energy was the main argument for bringing summer time back in 1977, but a later study found that it saved only 0.3% of energy.

In 2018 the European Commission wanted to end the twice-yearly clock changes, and a European survey found that a majority of respondents agreed. European countries cannot agree on which time to keep, so the plan for a single standard time has been shelved.

From NLnow, news from the Netherlands in English. How stories are made: https://nlnow.nl/about/