This year’s Christmas celebrations are taking place on the warmest December 25 and 26 since official records began in 1906.

On Friday, the temperature reached almost 14 degrees at the De Bilt weather station near Hilversum, smashing the previous record of 12.8 degrees, recorded in 1997.

The temperature reached a similar high on Saturday, beating the previous record of 12.1 degrees which was set in 1974, broadcaster Nos said.

Normally at this time of year the temperature is around five degrees, dropping to as low as one degree at night. This year, it remained as high as 13 degrees all night.

The warm weather means the sea will be a relatively comfortable nine degrees for the traditional swim on New Year’s Day, Nos said.