Winds of up to gale force 10 are battering much of the country on Thursday as the second winter storm of 2018 hits the Netherlands.

The storm is expected to reach its height between 10am and 12am and weather forecasters have issued a code red weather alert for central parts of the Netherlands and code orange for the rest.

In Amsterdam one person has reportedly been taken to hospital after scaffolding collapsed and fell to the pavement.

Motorists are being told to stay home unless their journeys are essential because of problems on some roads as high-sided vehicles are blown over.

Hundreds of flights to and from European destinations have been cancelled at Schiphol airport and Dutch railway company NS says it has reduced services nationwide because of the storm.

NH Nieuws has a camera at Schiphol airport filming incoming flights as they arrive in the strong westerly winds.

De westkust van Nederland zet zich schrap voor de tweede zware westerstorm van het jaar. Gelukkig is het niet alleen kommer en kwel, en valt er ook genoeg te genieten #Vlissingen #molen #storm pic.twitter.com/2jncPQjIGn — Paul Begijn (@PaulBegijn) January 17, 2018

Update A50 bij Heteren. Ook de berger is inmiddels ter plaatse. Zij gaan nu bekijken hoe de vrachtauto zo spoedig mogelijk te bergen. #A50 L 160,0 pic.twitter.com/o7GuuudX69 — RWS verkeer (@RWS_verkeer) January 18, 2018

A27 Gorinchem►Utrecht, op de brug tussen Hagestein en Houten is deze vrachtauto gekanteld. Onze inspecteur is aanrijdend. #A27 R 64.5 pic.twitter.com/lDNVrmGbBS — RWS verkeer (@RWS_verkeer) January 18, 2018