Netherlands and France face severe water shortages due to early summer drought

On July 16, 2026, the Dutch government officially declared a state of water scarcity as river levels dropped to historic lows. Temperatures in the Netherlands are currently 4.5 degrees Celsius above normal, while Western Europe is seeing average highs 5.4 degrees above the 1961-1990 baseline. To manage resources, the government has announced limits on irrigation, though drinking water supplies remain unaffected for now. Floating houses near Nijmegen on the Waal river are touching the sandy riverbed due to the receding water. Meanwhile, France is experiencing an unprecedented drought affecting 99 administrative regions, with 43 areas in a state of crisis. Minister Monique Barbut reported that water flows in France have dropped rapidly since early June, with one-fourth of small streams currently completely dry. These events are being attributed to climate change, which is causing severe disruption to hydrological cycles.