An extra hour in bed: clocks go back on 25 October 2026
A little lie-in is something many of us look forward to. On Sunday 25 October 2026, clocks in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and mainland France go back from 03:00 to 02:00. You can enjoy an extra hour of sleep if your plans allow.
How did daylight saving time begin?
Do you know how the semi-annual time-shifts started and got adopted in around 70 countries? You wouldn’t believe it if I told you it had to do with the studies of insects.
Some people consider the American scientist Benjamin Franklin the inventor of DST. According to historical documents, he was the first person to mention the concept of waking up and going to bed earlier in his satirical essay in Journal de Paris in the late 18th century. He said Parisians could use more natural daylight, burn fewer candles and use less oil.
However, it had never got any traction and it was about a hundred years later that George Vernon Hudson, a recreational insect specialist in New Zealand, presented the concept at an academic society. He proposed moving the clock forward by two hours during the summer days to allow people more time for outdoor activities. He was working at the Wellington Post Office and hoped he could use more natural day light studying insects after work. With his and subsequent campaigners’ advocacy, countries started implementing it during the First World War. Germany in 1916, followed by some other European countries within weeks and the US in 1918. The implementation was on and off during and after the Wars until the oil crisis in the 1970s when countries needed DST to save energy.
At first, different places have different DST schedules, causing a lot of confusion. In 1966, the U.S. standardised it for its country. And in 1996, the European Union standardised it for its members.
Do we still change the clocks?
Yes. In March 2019 the European Parliament supported a proposal to end the twice-yearly clock changes. That proposal has not been implemented: the current EU system remains in force. Clocks go forward on the last Sunday in March and back on the last Sunday in October.
Enjoy the extra hour — your clock adjusts itself
NeXtime radio-controlled clocks synchronise automatically when they receive the DCF77 time signal from Germany. Reception depends on your location and where you place the clock. These models are intended for Central European time; they are not suitable for the UK time zone.
Choose Mini (5249), a compact alarm clock with a temperature display; Wake Up (5250), a clear digital alarm clock with temperature display; or Oneforall (5251), a table or wall clock with a weather station. All three are available in black and white.
Explore the radio-controlled clocks
