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It's Thursday morning, late April. Your weather app says 22°C and you think: finally, short sleeves. You're on your bike in a T-shirt, turn the corner, and get hit by a gust of wind. Within two minutes, you have goosebumps on your arms and wonder if you should go back for a jacket. By midday, sheltered on a terrace, you're sweating in that same jacket.
This might be the trickiest spring weather the Netherlands has to offer: warm on paper, cool in practice. In this guide, we explain how to put together an outfit for 22°C and wind that works in the morning, afternoon, and on your bike—without carrying half your wardrobe in your bag.
Why 22°C with Wind Doesn't Feel Like 22°C
The thermometer doesn't tell the whole story. Wind chill is real: strong wind makes it feel colder than the actual temperature. As an example, 18°C with a strong 30 km/h wind feels like 13°C. The same principle applies at 22°C: in the wind it feels like a crisp spring day, out of the wind it feels like early summer.
Add to this the fact that the difference between sun and shade in spring is significant. 20°C in direct sunlight feels much warmer than 20°C with clouds and wind. On a single day, you constantly switch between "pleasantly warm" and "oh, it's cool"—and your clothing needs to handle that.
The solution isn't to dress thicker, but smarter: one layer that blocks the wind, and underneath, clothing you'd also wear comfortably if that wind layer comes off.
The Basics: Thin Underneath, Windproof on Top
Layering is the key to spring dressing. At 22°C and wind, two layers work well for most people, with possibly a thin third for early morning or late evening. How much you actually need varies by person, activity, and wind strength—someone cycling all day needs something different than someone mostly indoors.
Layer 1: The Base Layer
Choose a T-shirt, thin blouse, or top in a breathable fabric. Cotton is the logical choice here: versatile from spring through early fall, breathable, and easy to wash. The downside: when you sweat, cotton becomes heavy and feels cold. If you cycle a lot, look for a thin merino sweater or a blouse in a lightweight fabric that dries faster.
Linen is the "king fabric" for warm weather above 22°C. At exactly 22°C and wind, you're on the edge: a linen shirt works as a middle layer over a T-shirt, but as a single layer in the wind it might feel too airy for some. Test it on a short ride before trusting it for a full day.
Layer 2: The Wind Layer
This is the piece that makes or breaks the day. You don't want a warm jacket—that's too much within 15 minutes at 22°C—but you do want something that blocks the wind. Think:
- A thin, unlined jacket (windbreaker, light nylon jacket, thin denim jacket)
- An overshirt in cotton or denim: blocks wind, can be worn open when it gets warmer
- A trench coat or light rain jacket without lining, handy because a Dutch spring day can easily change
Good to know: a denim jacket or cotton overshirt is wind-resistant, but not necessarily windproof. How well a garment blocks wind depends on the fabric and model. A thin nylon windbreaker usually blocks more than a loosely woven overshirt; choose based on how much wind you expect.
On a bike with strong wind, a windproof jacket and a closed collar are valuable. At 22°C you don't need to button up completely, but a collar or hood you can close is worth its weight in gold on the bike.
Layer 3 (Optional): The Thin Vest
Leaving at seven in the morning or not home until late? Toss a thin vest or light sweater in your bag. This is exactly the advice for 21 to 22°C: no jacket needed during the day, but bring a thin vest or light jacket for early departure or late arrival.
Shorts, Long Pants, or Skirt?
Opinions differ here, and that makes sense: it depends on how much time you spend outside and whether you're in the wind. Most people switch to bare legs at 20°C, but a cold wind can make that "a bit premature." At 22°C and low precipitation, you have more certainty to comfortably wear shorts.
Practical translation:
- Cycling a lot or long time outside in wind? Choose light, long pants: chinos, relaxed wide-leg pants, or thin jeans. This way your legs are less exposed to wind on the go.
- Mostly indoors, short time outside? Shorts, a skirt, or dress work fine. Combine with a wind layer on top.
- Unsure? Ankle-length pants or a cotton midi skirt is the golden middle: airy, but your lower legs aren't completely exposed to wind.
With skirts and dresses, pay attention to the cut: a wide, light skirt can blow up in strong wind; a straighter or heavier-falling model often has less trouble with this.
Three Concrete Outfits for 22°C and Wind
To the Office
White or light blue blouse + straight chinos or dark jeans + neat sneakers or loafers + thin unlined jacket or trench coat. At the office, the jacket comes off and you're in a blouse that's neat enough on its own. A slightly roomier cut can feel better as it gets warmer in the afternoon; the material also determines how well a blouse breathes.
Free Day in the City
T-shirt + denim or cotton overshirt + light wide-leg pants or ankle-length jeans + sneakers. Wear the overshirt open once you're out of the wind, and close it on the bike. No extra jacket needed, no bag full of layers.
Evening or Waterside Terrace
Thin knit sweater or long-sleeve top + shorts or midi skirt + sneakers or closed-toe sandals + light jacket in your bag for when the sun sets. By the water you're often less sheltered than between buildings in the city, so expect to actually put on that jacket after sunset.
Where to find these pieces? For basics like T-shirts and overshirts, try We Fashion or Zalando and ABOUT YOU, where you can filter by material. For a light trench coat or a blouse that needs something more, a visit to Bijenkorf or Sissy-Boy is worthwhile. As a rough price guide: in the budget segment (€20–50) you'll find T-shirts, basic blouses, and simple overshirts; in the mid-range (€50–120) you'll find most thin jackets, better overshirts, and chinos; and from €120 up you're in the premium segment for trench coats and merino sweaters. Not everything needs to come from that last category—a €25 T-shirt does exactly what it should as a base layer. Fit varies by brand; always check the size chart first and read reviews from other buyers about how the piece fits before ordering.
Common Mistakes with This Weather
Only looking at the temperature. 22°C without wind and 22°C with strong wind can feel completely different: with strong wind it feels colder than the thermometer shows. Check your weather app for wind speed and wind chill too.
Grabbing a lined jacket "just in case." That ends up draped over your arm by ten o'clock. A thin, unlined jacket in a tightly woven fabric often blocks enough wind and is much lighter to carry. Note: a cotton overshirt or denim jacket is wind-resistant, not automatically windproof—how well it works depends on fabric and model.
A thick sweater as a middle layer. A thick wool sweater can quickly become too warm at 22°C once you step out of the wind. A thin merino sweater, thin vest, or overshirt is usually a better option: same function, less chance of a sweaty moment.
Wearing slippers on a windy day. On the bike and in an unexpected shower, slippers aren't the most comfortable choice for many. Sneakers or closed-toe sandals are an alternative—though comfort is personal, and regular sneakers don't keep out every shower.
Combining loose long hair with a wide skirt. A hat, hair tie, or a skirt with more weight saves a day of irritation.
Small Accessories That Make a Difference
A thin cotton or viscose scarf or shawl can be handy at 22°C and wind: around your neck against the wind on the bike, in your bag once you're indoors. A hat or cap that fits well can provide some sun protection and keep your hair in place. And sunglasses belong at 22°C—and in wind, they can also be nice against dust blowing in your eyes.
Your First Step for Tomorrow
Open your weather app tonight and look not just at the 22°C, but also at wind speed and wind chill for the time you're heading out. Then lay out three things: one breathable basic (T-shirt or blouse), one light long or ankle-length pants, and one unlined wind layer—an overshirt, thin jacket, or trench coat. You won't need more tomorrow morning, and you won't be second-guessing yourself at the door while the wind howls around the house.
Don't want to figure this out every evening? Try MyDailyFit: the app is designed to bring together the weather forecast and your own wardrobe, so the choice in the morning becomes much easier.