The heavy rainfall on Thursday night caused flash flooding in some parts of Limburg, particularly in Valkenburg aan de Geul and in Venlo, where up to 50 millimetres of rain fell.

In the village of Berg en Terblijt, the heavy rain flooded roadworks, creating a stream of mud and bricks that damaged several houses, local broadcaster L1 Nieuws reported.

“The waste water pipes are full of mud, which first have to be cleaned,” said local water board spokesman Rimko Nijsten.

There was also localised flooding in Venlo and train services between Weert and Roermond were disrupted following a lightning strike. The A2 motorway between Maastricht and Geleen was also closed for a time because there was too much water on the road.

Lightning is also thought to have set fire to a thatched roof on a cottage in Lierop in Noord-Brabant. The building was gutted in the blaze. 

The KNMI weather bureau says Friday will be a damp day with periods of rain everywhere and sunny spells restricted to the south.