Spring has arrived in the last days of February with temperatures nudging 20 degrees, according to online weather forecasters.

Weeronline reported conditions would stay sunny and dry across the country until Wednesday, when the maximum temperature is expected to be between 15 and 18 degrees. A few hotspots in North Brabant and Limburg could get up to 19 – the kind of conditions usually seen in late April.

The contrast with 12 months ago could hardly be greater, when freezing conditions gripped the country and a temperature of minus 10.5 degrees was recorded in Woensdrecht.

Nights will remain cool, as low as 2 degrees on higher ground in the south, and the Wadden islands will also be less warm, though still a relatively mild 11 to 14 degrees.

Low cloud or mist may hang over parts of Groningen on Tuesday morning, while coastal areas will be a few degrees cooler on Wednesday as a slight south-westerly breeze begins to pick up.

Clouds will start to gather from Thursday afternoon, bringing the temperature back down below 15 degrees, with the chance of rain increasing through to Sunday.