The Hoge Veluwe national park near Arnhem was evacuated on Sunday because of a massive heath fire.

Between 1,500 and 2,500 visitors were in the park at the time. Visitors to the Kröller Müller museum and its personnel were also ordered to leave and according to some reports, the works of art have been moved to a fire-resistant storage depot.

According to Nos television, the blaze is spreading because of the strong winds. Some 40 fire engines and hundreds of fire officers were trying to get the fire under control on Sunday afternoon.

Helicopter

A fire helicopter was also being used and army reinforcements were brought in. Farmers have also been urged to help.

‘This is an operation on an unprecedented scale in the Netherlands,’ a fire brigade spokesman told the broadcaster.

The fire started on Sunday morning and by late afternoon, over 400 hectares of heath had been destroyed.