Easter 2011 hottest since record keeping started in 1901

Previous record of 1949 shattered

DE BILDT - Temperatures soared in the Netherlands during the recent Easter weekend, making it the warmest since the Dutch meteorological service started recording daily temperatures in 1901.

In the central Dutch province of Utrecht the temperature reached a record of 25 degrees on Easter Sunday, breaking the 1949 record, which was 24.5 degrees on a mid April Easter Sunday. This year, Easter is particularly late. It currently is also exceptionally dry for the time of year.

The warm temperatures are due to high pressure in the north-east and south-easterly winds bringing in warm air. Anyone wanting cooler weather only needed to head for the North Sea beach where the temperature reached only 16 degrees due to cool breezes coming in from the sea.