The temperature topped 20 degrees in Eindhoven and Arcen on Tuesday, making March 28 the warmest day of the year so far.

The temperature usually hovers around 11 or 12 degrees in late March. The rest of the week will also be unseasonably warm, with temperatures as high as 20 degrees again on Thursday and Friday. The risk of rain also increases towards the end of the week, the KNMI weather bureau said.

At the same time, the lengthy spell without rain is increasing the risk of heath fires in parts of Gelderland, Overijssel and Noord-Brabant, where a code orange warning has been issued.

This means there is a heightened risk of fire in the region. Fires and barbecues are banned and visitors to the heath lands are also being asked not to smoke.