After several days of lower temperatures, the heat is heading back to the Netherlands and the temperature will hit at least 33 degrees in southern and eastern parts on Saturday, weather forecasters say.

Sunday will also be hot, but with more cloud, and the temperature will drop again next week to the low 20s, the KNMI weather bureau said. Some rain is also likely early next week.

The forecast of more tropical heat at the weekend has led to several big outdoor events being put on hold.

A European regional football tournament for refugees has been scrapped, Apeldoorn’s marathon has been postponed and several other events involving exercise or animals have been cancelled.

The organisers of The Hague’s Parkpop festival say they are working hard to ensure sufficient shade and water supplies for the tens of thousands of people expected to attend.

And a spokesman for the Dutch veteran’s organisation, which holds its annual festival on Saturday, said the event will go ahead as planned. ‘We are busy organising thousands of straw hats to distribute,’ a spokesman told local broadcaster Omroep West.