Lifestyle

Not showering during a thunderstorm: fact or myth?

By Amayzine | #!31Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:05:00 +0200+02:000031#31Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:05:00 +0200+02:00-2Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam202531 01pm31pm-31Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:05:00 +0200+02:002Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam2025312025Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:05:00 +0200052057pmTuesday=9#!31Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:05:00 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam7#07-01-2025#!31Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:05:00 +0200+02:000031#/31Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:05:00 +0200+02:00-2Europe/Amsterdam3131Europe/Amsterdam202531#!31Tue, 01 Jul 2025 14:05:00 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam7#

In the summer, tropical warm days sometimes end with a heavy thunderstorm. It is sometimes said that you should not step into the shower during such a storm. But is that really true? Can you the bathroom better avoid during lightning or is that completely unnecessary? In this article, we will dive deeper into this.

Bathrooms must meet strict regulations

A wet space full of metal pipes: it’s not such a good combination with electricity. Because water is an excellent conductor of electricity, strict safety requirements apply to bathrooms in the Netherlands. These are intended to minimize the risk of electrocution or short circuits.

These safety requirements specify, among other things, exactly where you can place sockets and other electrical facilities in the bathroom. It is also stipulated that all sockets must be grounded and that a residual current device is mandatory. These rules ensure that the use of electricity in a wet space like the bathroom remains safe. All guidelines are included in the Building Decree and the NEN standards, such as NEN 1010.

But... to shower or not during a thunderstorm?

Despite the fact that Dutch bathrooms are generally safe (or should be), it is advised not to step into the shower cabin or take a bath during a thunderstorm.

If you don’t know much about electrical installations, it can be quite difficult to assess whether a previous resident or your landlord has properly installed the electrical supply. If lightning strikes and your electrical installation is not in order? In the worst case, you could be electrocuted.

Even in the Netherlands, things sometimes go wrong – despite all safety guidelines. For example, in 2019, a 12-year-old boy from Gouda was struck by lightning while showering. Fortunately, he survived the incident.

You should also avoid this during a thunderstorm

So it’s better to postpone your shower until after a thunderstorm. Other things you should avoid during lightning are:

1. Contact with electrical cables
2. Contact with connected devices
3. Contact with metal pipes
4. Contact with other metal objects that conduct electricity well (such as fences, golf clubs, bicycles, the drying rack, etc.)

Better to wait a bit

Although the chance is very small, the risk is not zero. During a thunderstorm, you should better postpone contact with running water. Safety comes first, even if it means you have to wait a little longer for your refreshment. Better safe than sorry!