Supermarkets are regularly running out of both ice cubes and crushed ice, forcing people wanting cooler drinks to order directly from the manufacturers themselves, according to the Telegraaf.

Ice cube manufacturers such as Marco Vurens of IJsblokjes.nl are working flat out to meet the country’s almost insatiable thirst for cool drinks.

Vurens, who has been in the ice business for 25 years and produces 800,000 ice cubes a day, told the paper this summer has been exceptional.

‘We had warm weather in May and it has continued. I’ve never seen this before,’ he said. ‘The bars and cafés have contracted their supplies and rarely run out.  Private people buy from us. Supplies of ice cubes are running low.’

Ice cubes are in demand not only at festivals, but at garden and student parties which are exploding in numbers due to the heat.

‘Crushed ice is in this year. There are so many more outdoor events than usual,’ said the owner of IJsblokjes ’t Gooi. When the mercury hits 22C the Dutch move outdoors.  And they are demanding more ice in their drinks.

Clever café owners benefit from this too. Margins increase as ice takes up more room in a glass, the Telegraaf said.