When people hear that you’re moving to Spain, they often immediately think of sunshine, drought and temperatures above thirty degrees. We, too, had that image in our minds. A life under a clear blue sky, spending almost the whole year outdoors, with little rain and warm evenings on the terrace.

But once we moved to Galicia, we soon discovered that northern Spain is completely different from the Spain most Dutch people know from holidays on the Costa del Sol or the Costa Blanca.

And honestly? That turned out to be one of the very reasons why we fell in love with Galicia.

Living in Galicia means living in the green heart of Spain

Many Dutch people looking for information about moving to Spain have no idea just how green Galicia is. The landscape here sometimes resembles Ireland or northern Portugal more than the arid south of Spain.

Everywhere you look, you see:

forests

mountains

rivers

waterfalls

green valleys

rugged coastlines

Even in the middle of summer, nature here remains strikingly vibrant. That’s because Galicia has an Atlantic climate. Unlike southern Spain, it rains more here and the temperatures are much milder.

For us, it felt different straight away. More peaceful, too.

In the Netherlands, we were used to greenery, but Galicia feels less manicured and much more unspoilt. Here, nature still truly sets the rhythm of life.

The weather in Galicia took us completely by surprise

Before we moved there, people often asked:

“But doesn’t it rain a lot there?”

The short answer: yes, regularly.

But the longer answer is more interesting. The rain in Galicia feels completely different from the long grey winter weeks in the Netherlands. The weather changes quickly. A rainy morning can just as easily turn into a sunny afternoon with blue skies over the ocean.

Here, people often say:

“In Galicia, you experience four seasons in a single day.”

And that’s surprisingly often true.

Mist in the mountains in the morning, sunshine at lunchtime and rain in the evening — it’s all part of life here. At first we had to get used to it, but now we actually appreciate it. The landscape comes alive thanks to that changeable weather

Summers in Galicia are much more pleasant than in southern Spain

We only really discovered one of the biggest advantages of living in Galicia during the summer.

Whilst large parts of Spain are struggling with extreme heat and temperatures above 40 degrees, temperatures in Galicia often remain surprisingly comfortable. Of course, there are hot days, but it usually remains bearable.

That means:

better sleep

being able to stay active during the day

walking without extreme heat

eating outside without melting away

enjoying the summer without constantly seeking shade

For many Dutch people considering emigrating to Spain, that is ultimately a huge advantage. Sun is lovely, but months of heat do not always prove pleasant in practice.

In Galicia, the climate feels much more balanced.

Moving to Galicia means living in harmony with nature

Perhaps the thing that has changed us most since we moved to Galicia is our relationship with the weather.

In the Netherlands, we often tried to ‘manage’ the weather. Rain was a nuisance. Grey days felt heavy. Everything had to go according to plan.

Here, life seems to move more in tune with nature. Rain is part of it. Fog is part of it. So is sunshine. People adapt rather than fighting against it.

That creates a different atmosphere.

Less rush.

Less stress.

More living in the moment.

Perhaps that’s because nature is always close by here. Even on rainy days, Galicia feels vibrant.

Why we ultimately fell in love with Galicia’s climate

When we were thinking of moving to Galicia, we never expected that the climate would become one of the main reasons we wanted to stay here.

Not because it’s always sunny.

But precisely because it feels genuine.

The variety.

The fresh air.

The green surroundings.

The milder summers.

The tranquillity that the landscape exudes.

Galicia may not be the Spain of endless heat and mass tourism. But for people seeking nature, space, tranquillity and a more leisurely pace of life, it could well be the perfect place.

And perhaps that is the best thing about living in Galicia: it surprises you in ways you could never have imagined beforehand.