The air temperature fell to as low as freezing point in sheltered parts of Twente on Wednesday night, broadcaster RTL reported.

At the former Twente airbase, the temperature fell to zero at 10 centimetres above ground level for the first time in August since 1993.

Thursday itself is also set to be one of the coldest on record, weather forecasters said. The temperature could drop to as low as 11 degrees inland and 16 degrees on the coast, which is well below the average 23 degrees normally recorded in August.

Friday, however, the wind is set to turn and it will be warmer over the weekend and into next week.