Monday was officially the hottest day of the year so far, with the temperature reaching just under 31° at the De Bilt weather station near Utrecht, where official records are set.

The highest temperature was recorded in Westdorpe in Zeeland, where the temperature hit 34°.

The high temperature and humidity drove many people to the coast, and there were jams on some roads late into the evening as people returned home.

Tuesday is likely to be hot with temperatures reaching 34° in the east and there is more cloud around, weather forecasters say. The KNMI weather bureau has also issued a code yellow weather warning for eastern parts of the country because of the threat of thunderstorms.

Storms are also likely on Wednesday but it will be several degrees cooler, the KNMI said.