Government health advisors are suggesting Christmas get-togethers could have an upper limit of six guests, if ministers agree that the current limit can be further relaxed during the festive period.

However, this would also entail people planning to spend time with elderly or vulnerable people limiting their contact with others in the 10 days prior to the event, experts from the Outbreak Management Team have told health minister Hugo de Jonge in an update.

In addition, people should limit their festive events to close family members, and preferably those who live in the locality, the OMT said.

Prime minister Mark Rutte told Tuesday evening’s news conference that it is still too early to say what the options will be for the Christmas period.

However, it remains unlikely that foreign travel will be sanctioned and returning holidaymakers remain a source of coronavirus, the OMT briefing said.