The national heatwave plan has been activated as forecasters expect temperatures to soar past 35 degrees in some parts of the Netherlands this week.

The community healthcare watchdog RIVM has asked people to check on vulnerable neighbours such as the elderly, chronically obese and those with underlying health problems during the hot weather.

The plan also includes advice to stay hydrated, wear light clothing, eat light meals and spend no longer than 15 minutes in the sun during the hottest part of the day, from 11am to 5pm.

The heatwave plan is triggered whenever daytime temperatures are forecast to be consistently above 27C. The meteorological office KNMI expects the temperature at De Bilt weather station to reach 31C or 32C for the rest of the week, while some eastern parts could get above 35C.

Night will bring little respite, with temperatures staying above 20C, and the lack of rainfall has prompted many municipalities to restrict water use.

A heatwave is declared if the temperature rises above 25C on five consecutive days, including three days of more than 30C.

While most of the country continues to be affected by drought, some highly local areas experienced heavy downpours and flooding at the weekend. In Alteveer, near Hoogeveen, Drenthe, a short sharp shower briefly left streets underwater, while an accident on the A50 near Apeldoorn was blamed on the wet surface.

Ze zeiden: “Grootste droogte in 100 jaar”. Ondertussen, in #Hoogeveen. pic.twitter.com/dsxKLYhMKd

— Adam Bazuin 👨🏻‍💻 (@adambazuin) July 21, 2018