Germany's friendly football match against the Netherlands on Tuesday was cancelled because of "security reasons", police told AFP without giving any details.

Fans at Hanover's 49,000-capacity HDI Arena quickly evacuated the stadium, said an AFP journalist at the scene.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was set to attend the match in Hanover -- the world champion's first since their international in Paris on Friday night was interrupted by the blasts of suicide bombers outside the Stade de France.