Yellow weather warnings have been issued for almost the whole country on Monday afternoon as forecasters warn of heavy rain and thunderstorms.

The meteorological institute KNMI said up to 40mm of rain and hail could fall in some places, equivalent to half the average rainfall for May.

Yellow warnings are in place from 2pm for all provinces except Zeeland and Overijssel. The unsettled weather is set to last until Wednesday.

Temperatures will reach 22C in the south on Monday, rising to 25C on Tuesday before falling back to around 20C on Wednesday as a drier spell sets in.

On Sunday trains between Emmen and Nieuw-Amsterdam were suspended after a tree was struck by lightning and fell on the line near Emmen.

A points failure that disrupted train services between Sittard and Susteren, in Limburg, was also blamed on a lightning strike.

The promotion play-off match between Dordrecht and Emmen was suspended for 15 minutes because of the risk of thunderstorms, but the players were able to finish the match. Emmen won 1-0 with a late goal to go through to the semi-finals.