The Hague, the third city of The Netherlands, was hit by a massive power failure which lasted for most of the morning, local time. Some 50,000 households were without electricity, as were shops and offices, such as the city's police headquarters. Government ministries were also affected. Trams and lightrail in the city ground to a halt.

The power cut also affected the water supply, which is dependent on electric pumping stations. Energy company Eneco says the electricity supply was restored at lunchtime, after a faulty transformer station on the outskirts of the city had been repaired.

(NOS, ANP)