The KNMI weather bureau issued a code yellow weather warning for all of the Netherlands on Friday morning, saying that wintry showers with strong winds, hail and sleet will cause problems on some roads.

In the north there will be further problems as hail and sleet cause slippery conditions in the late afternoon and evening, the KNMI said.

In coastal areas, the winds could be up to 75 kph later in the evening. The temperature will drop to around freezing point away from the coast overnight.

Wintry showers, possibly with thunder, will continue into the weekend, where the east and south east of the country are set to be worse affected. Up to five centimetres of snow may fall in places, weather forecasters say.