The Northern Lights were visible over much of the Netherlands on Friday night and could again be visible on Saturday, meteorologists say.

Dozens of people shared their photographs of the aerial phenomenon on social media. The lights can rarely be seen so far south but could be observed across the country and much of Europe because of a massive solar storm.

The Northern Lights, or the aurora borealis, are created when energised particles from the sun slam into the Earth’s upper atmosphere at extremely high speeds. The Earth’s magnetic field redirects them to the North and South Pole, creating waves of coloured light.

🌌 Wát een bizarre nacht! Urenlang dansend #noorderlicht boven ons hoofd… en dat in eigen land. We wisten wel dat er een goede kans zou komen, maar dit sloeg nergens meer op. Hier alvast enkele beelden van mijn cameraschermpje 👇 #aurora pic.twitter.com/SC9JrMg8fp

— Wouter van Bernebeek (@StormchaserNL) May 11, 2024

#noorderlicht #monnickendam – mijn eerste Noorderlicht en wat een fantastisch schouwspel – klap op de vuurpijl was een vallende ster! pic.twitter.com/DnVFYf204n

— Das Fijn (@Das_Fijn) May 11, 2024

Experts suggest finding a location with minimal light pollution and looking north after 11 pm for the best sightings of the aurora borealis on Saturday night.

Some cloud is forecast for the south of the country on Saturday evening but the skies of Drenthe and Groningen will be clear.