Late last night KLM Royal Dutch Airlines said it would cancel 84 flights to and from Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport for today, Thursday 5th December, after forecasters sounded a “code orange” extreme weather warning for the next 24 hours.

The Netherlands is preparing for heavy storms with surging tides and winds predicted to gust up to 130 km/h (81 miles per hour) in places in the north.In the south, the landmark Eastern Scheldt storm surge barrier has been closed off for the first time in six years, public broadcaster NOS reported.

Inter-continental flights will go ahead as scheduled, but travellers flying KLM to European destinations are advised to check for regular updates on the airline”s website.

Schiphol is Europe”s fourth-busiest airport with between 120,000 to 140,000 passengers passing through daily.