The Netherlands will return to a partial lockdown from Saturday amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, its government has announced.

Under the three-week lockdown, bars, restaurants and supermarkets will have to close at 8pm, while professional sports matches will be played in empty stadiums.

Stores selling non-essential items will have to close at 6pm, and people are being urged to work from home as much as possible.

The lockdown is the first in Western Europe since a new wave of infections began surging across parts of the continent.

It was announced by caretaker Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who said his government wanted to “deliver a hard blow to the virus”.

He added: “Tonight we have a very unpleasant message with very unpleasant and far-reaching decisions.”