Water warnings have taken effect across the Netherlands, reports Trouw on Thursday.

After water authorities asked people to take shorter showers, avoid hosing gardens or washing their cars – due to the spell of hot and dry weather – usage has gone down.

PWN, which serves the North Holland region, told the paper that last week usage was up 40%, but now it is back to normal, while BrabantWater saw a rise of 40% instead of the predicted 50%.

Waterbedrijf Vitens said people were spreading their water needs over the day – although they are still up 30%, with particular spikes before and after working hours.

A spokesperson for PWN told Trouw that normally this kind of dry, warm period comes later in the year, when many Dutch people are holidaying abroad. The effects of increasing tourist numbers on the water supply as the summer holidays begin are yet to be seen.

The NOS predicts another warm and sunny day, with a chance of cloud in the north and temperatures from 20 degrees on the cost to 28 degrees inland.