Highways agency Rijkswaterstaat has warned drivers to take care on the roads when the first rain falls after several dry weeks.

The drought-like conditions have left many roads covered in a fine layer of dust and soil that could become slippery when wet.

‘Our advice is for people to adjust their speed if it rains and keep a sufficient distance,’ said a statement on the agency’s website.

Rijkswaterstaat also said there was still a risk of roadside fires on the dry verge and urged motorists not to throw cigarettes and litter out of windows.

No end to drought

‘The small amount of rain forecast by the KNMI [weather bureau] will not help the drought in the Netherlands,’ the agency said. ‘Recently we have seen tailbacks on several motorways caused by verge fires. This will continue to be a big risk in the coming days.’

According to the KNMI a few millimetres of rain are expected to fall in northern, central and eastern areas, while the rest of the country will be mostly cloudy. Temperatures will be cooler than in recent days, between 18 and 21C.

Maar even in de sloot gefilmt, anders zou niemand mij geloven dat het nu daadwerkelijk iets #regen t #doetvreugdedansje… Maar wel dat niemand mij ziet🙈 pic.twitter.com/m6cFUiNUdi

— Gerrit Wermink (@gerritwermink) July 9, 2018