After a cool and unsettled start to June, the Netherlands is heading into a spell of very warm summer weather, weather bureau Weeronline said on Thursday.

On Thursday itself, temperatures will climb to between 27° and 29° degrees inland and could top 30° in some places for the first time this year.

Friday will be even warmer, with inland areas likely to reach highs of 30° to 32° degrees but it will be slightly cooler on the coast.There will be little wind, making conditions feel humid and oppressive.

Friday will start sunny but thunderstorms bringing heavy rain and hail will move  into southern parts of the country by late afternoon and early evening. Utrecht, South Holland and North Holland could also see storms later on.

Saturday will be even hotter, particularly in the east, where temperatures could hit 33°.  In the west, the wind will shift in the afternoon and bring some cooler air but inland areas will remain warm into the evening.

Most of the day will be dry and sunny, but the chance of thunderstorms will increase again later — mainly in the east, where localised downpours, hail and strong winds are possible.

On Sunday, temperatures will fall to more comfortable levels at around 19° on the coast and up to 23° inland. It will remain mostly dry and sunny, though an isolated shower cannot be ruled out.

Next week looks set to bring more dry, sunny weather, with temperatures gradually rising again. It will reach well over 20° in coastal areas and a little warmer inland.

According to the KNMI long term forecast it will remain dry towards the end of the month with sunny spells. Temperatures are more likely to be warmer than average, than cooler, the KNMI said.