Amsterdam  - A tornado raced through the north-east Dutch province of Groningen, Dutch media reported early Monday.

The tornado struck the villages of Lutjegast, Sebaldeburen and Doezum Sunday night.

Cars were lifted in the air and small boats were tossed hundreds of metres across the water. Many farms were severely damaged.

There were no victims of the tornado, as it occurred in an agricultural area with a very low population density.

The tornado was categorized as an F1, Reinout van den Born, a meteorologist affiliated with the Dutch meteorological institute Meteoconsult told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa on Monday.

F refers to the so-called Fujita scale which designates the strength of a tornado.

An F1 tornado has wind speeds between 117 and 180 kilometres per hour.

The tornado in Groningen had a wind speed of around 100 to 120 kph.

"The wind speed is comparable to a regular Dutch storm, but a tornado causes a lot more damage," van den Born said.

The tornado was caused due to a difference in wind speeds in the lower and upper atmospheres above the province of Groningen, van den Born explained.

"This often causes a difference in air pressure too, forming a tornado."

F1 tornadoes occur in the Netherlands about once a year. Stronger tornadoes are much rarer. (dpa)