After a relatively mild week, temperatures are set to drop sharply this weekend, with frost at night and snow possible on Sunday, according to weather bureau Weeronline.

Daytime temperatures will mostly range between 2° and 4°, and in parts of the north-east it may not rise above freezing. Night-time frost is expected almost everywhere.

Friday is already noticeably colder, with temperatures between 3° and 5° and in Friesland, Groningen and Drenthe a thin layer of snow may form during the morning.

Snow will continue in the north through the morning, easing from the west later on. The far south may have rain while elsewhere it will be largely cloudy and dry.

Saturday will begin with light frost in most places. In the north, daytime temperatures will barely rise above 0°, while the south can expect 2° to 4°. Light wintry showers are possible in the hills of Limburg, but most areas will stay dry.

Sunny spells will spread from the west during the day, although the south-east may remain cloudy for longer.

Temperatures will quickly fall below freezing again after sunset, with moderate frost possible locally inland overnight, and anyone heading out for carnaval celebrations should wrap up warmly.

Sunday will also start out cold. There will be sunshine in the morning, but cloud will increase from the west and rain or snow will follow later in the afternoon. In the east and north-east, snow could persist into the night.

Monday will be wet, with maximum temperatures ranging from 5° in the north to 8° or 9° in the south. Tuesday will bring a mix of showers and sunny intervals.

For the rest of the week, rain is forecast daily, although sunny spells are also likely. Daytime highs are expected to range between 5° and 10°, with minimum temperatures generally just above freezing.