Persistent drought is causing salt water from the North Sea to flow into rivers and canals, where water levels are low.

The problems are set to get worse as June is likely to see little rain, weather forecaster Weeronline.nl warns.

Inadequate water supplies spell trouble for cooling systems in the country's energy plants and will also affect crops.

This spring was the driest on record, statistical analysis shows, not as a result of little precipitation but due to the high rate of evaporation caused by high temperatures.

(cl/imm)

© Radio Netherlands Worldwide