Netherlands: Heavy snow and freezing conditions brought major transport disruption across the Netherlands on Tuesday, forcing a complete halt to train services and causing widespread flight cancellations.
The national rail operator Nederlandse Spoorwegen said all domestic train traffic was suspended early in the day due to snow covered tracks, frozen switches and safety concerns. Rail officials said services were expected to remain disrupted for much of the day, with only limited operations resuming in some areas by late evening.
The severe weather also hit air travel. At Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, hundreds of flights were cancelled as crews struggled to keep runways and aircraft clear of ice. Dutch airline KLM confirmed that operations were under pressure, with de icing processes taking longer than usual because of the persistent cold.
Rail officials acknowledged that the disruption was made worse by technical problems within the rail system, which slowed recovery efforts even where snowfall had eased. Passengers were advised to avoid non essential travel and to check official updates before setting out.
The Netherlands is experiencing one of its sharpest cold spells in recent years, part of a wider winter system affecting several European countries. Authorities have issued weather warnings in multiple regions, urging motorists and travellers to take extra care as icy conditions are expected to continue.
Emergency services across the country reported an increase in weather related incidents, while local governments worked to clear roads, rail lines and public spaces. Officials said restoring normal transport services would depend on both weather conditions and the stability of key systems.
With more cold weather forecast in the coming days, transport authorities warned that delays and cancellations could continue, and asked the public for patience as crews work around the clock to bring services back to normal.