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Data Engineering and Analytics

Looking for Free and Reliable Weather Data in the Netherlands? 🤔

By Farnam Iranpour

The unpredictable weather in the Netherlands is a critical factor for many businesses. By comparing historical weather data with your sales data, you can gain valuable insights into which weather conditions favor the sale of specific products. Whether you’re managing inventory, planning marketing campaigns, or optimizing logistics, weather data can be a game-changer.

But first, you need access to reliable weather data. The good news? The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute (KNMI) provides free and comprehensive weather data through their API. And the best part? No token is required!

Here’s how you can use the KNMI API to retrieve weather data in Databricks or your local Python environment.

Step-by-Step Guide to Using the KNMI API

1. Understand Your Requirements

Before diving into the code, determine what kind of weather data you need. The KNMI API allows you to customize your request by specifying the type of data, weather station, and the date range. For example, you might be interested in maximum temperature (TX) and sunshine duration (SQ).

2. Find the Relevant Weather Station Code

KNMI has various weather stations across the Netherlands. Each station has a unique code. For instance, Schiphol’s weather station code is 240. You can find a complete list of station codes and available weather information here.

3. Write Your Python Script

Below is a sample script to retrieve weather data from the KNMI API. You can run this in Databricks or your local Python environment.

4. Customize and Analyze Your Data

Once you have the data, you can tailor it to your needs. For example, you can merge it with your sales data to find correlations between weather conditions and sales performance.

Conclusion

Accessing and analyzing weather data can provide critical insights for your business operations. The KNMI API offers a convenient and free way to retrieve this data without the hassle of managing API tokens. By following the steps outlined above, you can seamlessly integrate weather data into your decision-making processes.

So, take advantage of the KNMI API today and start making weather-informed business decisions! 🌦️📊

For more details on available data and station codes, visit KNMI’s data platform.