A 75-year-old man from Brabant has died after falling through the ice while out skating.

The man was apparently skating on the Gat van Loopgauw waterway near Hank when the ice gave way. Other skaters warned the emergency services who pulled the man out but according to some reports, he had been in the water for some time. He was taken to hospital in Breda where he died.

Police and the emergency services were called out several times on Wednesday to rescue skaters who were in trouble. At least four people in the Utrecht region have gone through the ice, broadcaster NOS said.

The Dutch skating union is warning people to exercise extreme caution because much of the ice cover is unreliable. In particular, people should not skate alone and should carry a whistle, rope and an ice pick, the KNSB said.