The temperature reached 14.5 Celsius at the De Bilt weather station near Hilversum on Monday, making it the warmest January 6 since records began in 1901.

Monday is also the second warmest January day ever. The current record dates to 1993 when a temperature of 15.1 Celsius was recorded in De Bilt.

Weather forecasters say a new record for January 7 is likely to be set on Tuesday. At this time of year it is normally around 5 Celsius.

So far this winter there have been just five nights when the temperature dipped below 0. By this time of year on average there have been 15 nights of frost.

Although the temperature will drop later in the week, there is still no sign of frost and snow in the long term forecasts.