Koningsnacht, the night before King’s Day when many towns and cities organise music events, passed off without major incidents, but it was so busy in Utrecht and Apeldoorn that local officials urged people to stay away.

In Utrecht, where the market traditionally kicks off at the end of the afternoon, officials said at 10.30 pm that people should avoid the city centre because all the locations where events were taking place were full.

In Amsterdam police said it was busy but not unmanageable while in The Hague, thousands of people turned up for the The Life I Live festival. It was also busy in Groningen, where there were live performances on small stages throughout the city centre.

Nu.nl reported that in Apeldoorn riot police were brought in to break up the crowds in several locations and ordered people to leave because so many had turned up.

It is the first time in three years that Koningsnacht has been celebrated because of coronavirus.