The water levels in the Markermeer and IJsselmeer lakes have peaked and are now beginning to recede, according to infrastructure ministry officials on Monday. In addition, the north easterly wind is helping move water towards the Wadden Sea, officials say.

The high level in the Markermeer led to localised flooding in towns and villages surrounding the lake, where sandbags were used to try to keep the waters at bay.

In Maastricht, the army used helicopters to drop heavy rocks and shore up a small dam which had broken as large volumes of water flowed down the Meuse river from France and Belgium. The repair will be completed on Monday, officials said.

De #Chinooks van @Defensie zijn weer vertrokken nadat zij de laatste netten met stenen hebben laten zakken. Het was een succesvolle dag waarin we het gat in de #overlaatdam een stuk minder diep hebben gemaakt. pic.twitter.com/GTinC2cfsW

— Rijkswaterstaat (@Rijkswaterstaat) January 7, 2024

Officials say they do not expect any “new surprises” in the coming days and that water levels in the river Rhine will have dropped to “normal” by Wednesday.