Alcohol has been banned in the popular Sonsbeek park in Arnhem while outdoor spaces in other cities have been closed to the public as people flock outside to take advantage of the spring sunshine.

Arnhem’s mayor Ahmed Marcouch told broadcaster NOS that he was bringing in the ban because a large group of youngsters – up to 100 in total – were ignoring the coronavirus rules and taking crates of beer to the park.

Amsterdam has closed the Vondelpark and in Tilburg, the gates of the Spoorpark have also been closed because it is too busy.

Some local authorities have been introducing measures to try to ensure social distancing, such as chalk circles on the grass on the Museumplein in Amsterdam and in parks in Utrecht.

Wednesday will go down in the record books as the warmest March 31 ever, with the temperature tipping 25 Celsius in Eindhoven and reaching 22.1 Celsius in the Bilt weather station near Hilversum, were records are based.

The weather is set to turn cooler in the next few days and there will be more cloud around.