A Dutch airport has been evacuated by police after a British man reportedly started shouting that he was carrying a bomb.

Officials at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam confirmed that an incident took place at around 8am on New Year's Day, and witnesses described scenes of panic on social media.

According to Dutch media reports, a 29-year-old British national was detained by police while parts of the terminal were cordoned off and searched.

Broadcaster NOS said the man's luggage was searched with sniffer dogs but no explosives were found, and the airport was reopened after around 20 minutes.

Many European capitals were on high alert as they saw in the new year, with celebrations and some major transport hubs shut down in Paris, Brussels and Munich.